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FNR User Manual

Inherited from the Fall 2025 team. We keep this page for reference only. We do not update it for Fall 2026.

Stewards of Alberta's Protected Areas Association

Complete Guide for Mobile and Web Applications

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Getting Started

  3. Mobile Application Guide

  4. Web Application Guide

  5. Common Tasks

  6. Troubleshooting

  7. Frequently Asked Questions

  8. Contact Information

Introduction

About SAPAA

The Stewards of Alberta's Protected Areas Association (SAPAA) applications help stewards, coordinators, and administrators monitor and track site inspections across Alberta's protected areas. Whether you're in the field or at your desk, SAPAA provides the tools you need to:

  • View all protected sites in one place
  • Track when sites were last inspected
  • Review inspection details and trends in naturalness scores
  • Monitor overall program health (Admins only)
  • Manage user accounts (Admins only)

Who Should Use This Manual

This manual is written for:

  • Stewards: Field workers who visit and inspect protected areas
  • Coordinators: Program managers who oversee multiple sites
  • Administrators: System managers who handle user accounts and overall program health

You don't need to be technically experienced to use SAPAA. If you can browse websites and use a smartphone, you can use these applications.

System Requirements

Mobile App:

  • Android 5.0 or iOS 10.0 or higher
  • At least 100MB of free storage space
  • Internet connection (for initial download and syncing)
  • GPS capability (for map features)

Web App:

  • Modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)
  • Laptop or desktop computer recommended
  • Stable internet connection

Getting Started

Creating Your Account

You can create your own SAPAA account or, in some deployments, have one created for you by an administrator.

Option 1: Self Sign-Up (Mobile or Web)

  1. Open the SAPAA mobile app or web app.
  2. On the login screen in the Web, under “Don’t have an account?”, click the “Create one” button. On the mobile App, click "Sign Up".
  3. Choose how you want to create your account:
    • Continue with Google – sign up using your Google account.
    • Continue with Microsoft – sign up using your Microsoft / organization account.
    • Email and Password – enter your email address and choose a secure password.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the sign-up process.
  5. After successful sign-up, you will be logged in or redirected to the login screen.

Option 2: Account Created by an Administrator

  1. Contact your SAPAA administrator or coordinator.
  2. They may create an account for you and provide:
    • Your login email address
    • A temporary password (if not using Google/Microsoft sign-in)
  3. You’ll receive login details via email or direct communication.

Logging In

You can log in using Google, Microsoft, or email and password.

Mobile App:

  1. Open the SAPAA app on your device.
  2. On the login screen, choose one of the following:
    • Continue with Google – tap and select your Google account.
    • Continue with Microsoft – tap and sign in with your Microsoft / organization account.
    • Email and Password – enter your email address and password, then tap “Login”.
  3. If your credentials are valid, you’ll see the Analytics screen.

Web App:

  1. Open your web browser.
  2. Navigate to the SAPAA web app URL (provided by your coordinator).
  3. On the login page, choose one of the following:
    • Continue with Google – sign in using your Google account.
    • Continue with Microsoft – sign in using your Microsoft / organization account.
    • Email and Password – enter your email address and password, then click “Login”.
  4. If login is successful, you’ll be directed to the Protected Areas page.

First-Time Login Tip: If you received a temporary password, consider changing it to something memorable (contact your administrator for assistance).

Understanding User Roles

There are two types of users in SAPAA:

Stewards (General Users):

  • View all protected sites
  • Read inspection details and history
  • Search and sort site information
  • Download sites for offline use (mobile app)
  • Generate site reports (mobile app)

Administrators:

  • All steward features, plus:
  • Access admin dashboard with program-wide statistics
  • View data visualizations and heatmaps
  • Create, edit, and delete user accounts
  • Manage user roles and permissions

How to Tell Your Role:

  • Mobile: Look for the "Admin Dashboard" option in the menu
  • Web: Look for the "Admin" button on the Protected Areas page

If you don't see admin features, you have a steward account.

Mobile Application Guide

Installing the App

  1. Open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS)
  2. Search for "SAPAA" or the full name provided by your coordinator
  3. Tap "Install" or "Get"
  4. Wait for the download and installation to complete
  5. Tap "Open" to launch the app

The app has three main sections, accessible via tabs at the bottom of the screen:

  1. Analytics Tab (📊): View statistics, charts, and search for sites
  2. Sites Tab (📋): Browse, search, and manage the list of protected areas
  3. Map Tab (🗺️): View sites on an interactive map

Menu Options (Top Right, Three Dots):

  • Settings
  • Admin Dashboard (admins only)
  • Logout

Viewing Site Analytics

Purpose: Get a quick overview of program status and site health.

Steps:

  1. Tap the Analytics tab at the bottom of the screen
  2. Review the dashboard sections:

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Total Sites Inspected: Number of sites with at least one inspection
  • Last Inspection: Date of the most recent inspection across all sites

Naturalness Score Distribution Chart:

  • A pie chart showing how sites are rated:
    • Excellent (green)
    • Good (light green)
    • Fair (yellow)
    • Poor (red)
    • Cannot Answer (gray)
  • Tap any slice to see the count for that category

Site Locator (Heatmap):

  1. Type a site name or keyword in the search bar
  2. Tap "Search"
  3. Sites matching your search appear on the map
  4. Toggle "Show Markers" to switch between heatmap view and individual pins

Refreshing Data:

  • Tap "Sync Now" to manually update all data from the server

Browsing and Searching Sites

Purpose: Find and view protected areas you're interested in.

Steps:

  1. Tap the Sites tab at the bottom

Browsing the List:

  • Scroll through the list to see all available sites
  • Each site card shows:
    • Site name (bold)
    • Location/county
    • Last inspection date (or "No inspection date")
    • Status badge (color-coded):
      • 🟢 Recently Visited
      • 🟡 Visited This Year
      • 🟠 Visited Recently
      • 🔴 Needs Review

Searching for a Site:

  1. Tap the search bar at the top
  2. Type part of the site name or location
  3. The list updates automatically to show matching sites
  4. Clear the search to see all sites again

Sorting the List:

  1. Tap the "Sort" button
  2. Choose how you want to organize sites:
    • Name (A-Z): Alphabetical order
    • Name (Z-A): Reverse alphabetical
    • Newest First: Most recently inspected sites first
    • Oldest First: Least recently inspected sites first
  3. The list updates immediately

Understanding Online/Offline Status:

  • Look for the badge at the top of the Sites tab:
    • 🟢 Online: Connected to the internet, showing all sites
    • 🔴 Offline: No internet, showing only downloaded sites

Working Offline

Purpose: Access site information when you're in remote areas without internet.

Downloading Sites for Offline Use:

  1. While online, go to the Sites tab
  2. Tap the checkbox (☐) next to each site you want to download
    • You can select multiple sites
  3. Tap the "Download" button (appears when sites are selected)
  4. Wait for the download to complete
  5. A checkmark (✓) appears next to downloaded sites

Using the App Offline:

  • When you lose internet connection, the app automatically switches to offline mode
  • Only downloaded sites will appear in your list
  • You can still:
    • View site details
    • Read inspection reports
    • Generate PDF reports

Managing Storage Space:

  1. Go to the Sites tab while offline
  2. Select sites you no longer need offline
  3. Tap the "Delete" button
  4. Confirm deletion
  5. This frees up space on your device

Tip: Download sites before heading to the field. Common strategies:

  • Download all sites in your assigned region
  • Download sites you plan to visit this month
  • Download frequently referenced sites

Viewing Site Details (Mobile)

Purpose: Get complete information about a specific protected area.

Steps:

  1. From the Sites tab, tap on any site card
  2. The Site Detail screen opens

Overview Section:

  • Site Name (large heading)
  • Type: E.g., Provincial Park, Natural Area
  • Region: Geographic area
  • Area: Size in hectares
  • Recreational Activities: Available activities at the site

Naturalness Score:

  • Large number showing the average score (e.g., 3.4)
  • Color-coded slider:
    • Red (1.0): Poor condition
    • Yellow (2.0): Fair condition
    • Light Green (3.0): Good condition
    • Dark Green (4.0): Excellent condition
  • An indicator shows where this site's score falls on the scale

Viewing Inspection Reports:

There are two ways to view inspection data:

Option 1: By Date

  1. Tap "By Date" at the top of the reports section
  2. You'll see a list of all inspections, newest first
  3. Each inspection shows:
    • Inspection date
    • Naturalness score for that visit
  4. Tap any inspection to expand it and see:
    • Steward name
    • Naturalness details (comments)
    • Individual observations (Q1, Q2, Q3, etc.)

Option 2: By Question

  1. Tap "By Question"
  2. You'll see a list of all inspection questions (Q1, Q2, Q3, etc.)
  3. Each question shows:
    • Question ID and text
    • Number of responses across inspections
  4. Tap any question to see how answers have changed over time
  5. Responses are shown from newest to oldest

When to Use Each View:

  • Use "By Date" when you want to read a complete inspection report
  • Use "By Question" when you want to track changes to a specific aspect over time (e.g., "How has trail condition changed?")

Navigating Back:

  • Tap the back arrow (←) at the top left to return to the Sites list

Using the Map

Purpose: See where protected areas are located geographically.

Steps:

  1. Tap the Map tab at the bottom
  2. The map loads showing all sites as pins
  3. Zoom in/out using pinch gestures
  4. Tap any pin to see the site name
  5. Tap "Open in Google Maps" to:
    • Launch the Google Maps app
    • Get navigation directions to the site

Requirements:

  • Internet connection (to load map tiles)
  • GPS enabled (for showing your current location)

Tip: Use this before a field visit to plan your route.

Generating Reports

Purpose: Create a PDF summary of a site's status and inspection history.

Steps:

  1. Open any site's detail page
  2. Scroll to the bottom
  3. Tap the "Generate Report" button
  4. Wait a few seconds while the PDF is created
  5. The report opens in your device's PDF viewer
  6. From there, you can:
    • View the report on screen
    • Share it via email or messaging
    • Save it to your device

What's Included in the Report:

  • Site overview (name, type, region, area)
  • Naturalness score
  • List of all inspections with dates and scores
  • Detailed observations from recent inspections

Tip: Generate reports before going offline to have them available in the field.

Managing Your Profile (Mobile)

Accessing Settings:

  1. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right corner
  2. Select "Settings"

Logging Out:

  1. From the menu, tap "Logout"
  2. Confirm you want to sign out
  3. You'll return to the login screen

Admin Dashboard (Admins Only):

  1. From the menu, tap "Admin Dashboard"
  2. This opens admin-specific features (see Web Application Guide for details)

Web Application Guide

Accessing the Web App

Steps:

  1. Open a modern web browser on your computer
    • Recommended: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari
  2. Navigate to your SAPAA web app URL
    • This is provided by your coordinator (e.g., https://sapaa.yourorg.ca)
    • Bookmark this page for easy access
  3. If you don't have the URL or an account, contact your administrator

After Login:

  • You'll land on the Protected Areas page
  • This is your home screen

Viewing Protected Areas

Purpose: See all sites at a glance and quickly identify which need attention.

Understanding the Header:

At the top of the Protected Areas page, you'll see:

  • Title: "Protected Areas" with the SAPAA logo
  • Tagline: "Monitor and track site inspections across Alberta"
  • Admin Button (top right, admins only): Access admin features

Quick Statistics Cards:

Four cards show program-wide stats:

  1. Total Sites: Total number of registered sites
  2. Total Inspections: Number of sites with at least one inspection
  3. Active This Year: Sites inspected in the past year
  4. Needs Attention: Sites not inspected for 2+ years

These give you an instant snapshot of program health.

Searching for a Site:

  1. Click in the search box below the statistics
  2. Type any part of a site name or county name
  3. The site list updates automatically
  4. A line below shows "X sites found"
  5. Clear the search box to see all sites again

Sorting Sites:

  1. Click the "Sort" button
  2. Select an option:
    • Name (A–Z): Alphabetical by site name
    • Name (Z–A): Reverse alphabetical
    • Most Recent: Sites with newest inspections first
    • Oldest First: Sites with oldest inspections first
  3. The list updates immediately

Reading Site Cards:

Each site appears as a card showing:

  • Site Name (bold)
  • County (with location icon 📍)
  • Inspection Date: Friendly format (e.g., "Apr 12, 2024") or "No inspection date"
  • Status Badge (color-coded):
    • 🟢 Recently Visited
    • 🟡 Visited This Year
    • 🟠 Visited Recently
    • 🔴 Needs Review
  • Last Visit Age: E.g., "10d ago", "3mo ago", "2yr ago"

Opening a Site:

  • Click anywhere on a site card
  • You'll navigate to the Site Detail page

Exploring Site Details (Web)

Purpose: Get in-depth information about a single site and its inspection history.

Accessing Site Details:

  1. From the Protected Areas page, click on any site card
  2. The URL changes to /detail/[site-name]

Header Section:

  • Back to Sites button (←): Return to the main list
  • Site Name (large, bold)
  • County (with map pin 📍)
  • Last Inspection: Date displayed if available
  • Last Visit Badge: Time since last visit (e.g., "3mo ago")

Site Statistics Cards:

Three cards summarize the site:

  1. Total Reports: Number of inspection records
  2. Avg. Score: Average naturalness score (e.g., 3.2) or "N/A"
  3. Condition: Text label based on score:
    • Excellent
    • Good
    • Fair
    • Poor

Naturalness Score Gradient:

If scores are available, you'll see:

  • Large numeric value (e.g., 3.4)
  • Color gradient bar from red → yellow → green
  • Small indicator showing where this site's average falls
  • Scale labels:
    • 1.0 Poor
    • 2.0 Fair
    • 3.0 Good
    • 4.0 Excellent

Interpretation:

  • Toward red: Site is degraded or disturbed
  • Toward green: Site is in good/excellent natural condition

Comparing Inspection Data

Purpose: Analyze inspection history in two different ways.

Switching Views:

Below the Naturalness Score section, you'll see two buttons:

  • View by Date
  • Compare by Question

Click either to switch between viewing modes.

View by Date:

When to Use: Read complete inspection reports one at a time.

What You'll See:

  • Heading: "Inspection Reports (X)" where X is the total count
  • Each inspection is a collapsible card showing:
    • Inspection date
    • Naturalness score for that visit (or "N/A")

Steps:

  1. Click "View by Date"
  2. Click on any inspection card to expand it
  3. You'll see:
    • Steward Name: Who conducted the inspection
    • Naturalness Details: Free-text comments about site condition
    • Observations: Individual question responses (Q1, Q2, Q3, etc.)
  4. Each observation shows:
    • Question ID
    • Answer text from that inspection

Tip: Use this to read through what a steward observed on a specific date.

Compare by Question:

When to Use: Track how a specific aspect has changed over time.

What You'll See:

  • Heading: "Question Comparison (X questions)"
  • Each question is a card showing:
    • Question ID (e.g., Q3) in a badge
    • Question text/label
    • Number of responses (e.g., "3 responses across inspections")

Steps:

  1. Click "Compare by Question"
  2. Click on any question card to expand it
  3. You'll see all responses to that question, sorted newest to oldest
  4. Each response shows:
    • Inspection date
    • Answer text

Example Use Case:

  • Question: "Trail condition"
  • You can see: "Good" (2024), "Fair" (2023), "Good" (2022)
  • This shows the trail has been mostly well-maintained

Tip: Use this to identify trends or recurring issues at a site.

Using the Admin Dashboard

Purpose: Monitor program-wide statistics and locate sites geographically.

Who Can Access: Administrators only

Steps to Access:

  1. From the Protected Areas page, click the "Admin" button (top right)
  2. You'll navigate to /admin/dashboard

Dashboard Overview:

The dashboard has four main sections:

1. Header & Summary Stats:

Two cards at the top show:

  • Total Records: Total inspection records in the database
  • Last Record: Date of the most recent inspection

2. Naturalness Distribution (Pie Chart):

  • Shows how all inspections are distributed across naturalness categories
  • Each slice represents:
    • Excellent
    • Good
    • Fair
    • Poor
    • Cannot Answer
  • Slice colors match the condition (green for good, red for poor, etc.)

Use This To:

  • See overall site health across the program
  • Identify if most sites are in good condition or need attention

3. Top 5 Sites (Pie Chart):

  • Shows the five sites with the most inspection records
  • Each slice shows:
    • Site name
    • Total inspection count

Use This To:

  • Identify heavily monitored sites
  • See which sites get the most attention from stewards

4. Site Heatmap (Keyword Search + Map):

Purpose: Locate sites geographically based on search terms.

Steps:

  1. Type a keyword in the search box (e.g., "river", "park", part of a site name)
  2. Click "Search"
  3. The system:
    • Searches for matching sites in the database
    • Counts inspection records for each site
    • Uses geocoding (OpenCage API) to find coordinates
    • Plots sites on the map as a heatmap or markers

What You'll See:

  • If sites are found: Map with colored points or heatmap
  • Below the search bar: "Found X locations for 'keyword'"
  • If no matches: "No sites found"
  • If geocoding fails: Message about locations not being available

Tips:

  • Use short keywords (e.g., "lake" instead of "lakeside recreation area")
  • Try different variations if results are unexpected
  • Use this to identify geographic clusters of certain site types

Managing User Accounts

Purpose: Add, edit, and remove user accounts.

Who Can Access: Administrators only

Steps to Access:

  1. Navigate to /admin/account-management
    • Or click the link from the admin menu if available

Header & Summary:

At the top, you'll see:

  • Title: "Account Management"
  • Subtitle: "Manage user accounts and permissions"
  • Add User button (top right)

Three summary cards show:

  1. Total Users: Number of accounts
  2. Admins: Count of administrator accounts
  3. Stewards: Count of steward accounts

Searching for a User:

  1. Click in the search bar labeled "Search by email..."
  2. Type any part of a user's email address
  3. The user list filters automatically
  4. Clear the search to see all users

Filtering and Sorting Users:

  1. Click the "Filter & Sort" button
  2. Choose an option:
    • All Users
    • Email (A–Z)
    • Email (Z–A)
    • Stewards Only
    • Admins Only
  3. The user list updates immediately

Understanding User Cards:

Each user appears as a card showing:

  • Avatar: Circle with first letter of email
  • Email Address
  • Role Badge:
    • Admin
    • Steward

Editing an Existing User:

  1. Click on any user card
  2. An "Account Details" modal opens
  3. You can update:
    • Email address
    • Role (admin or steward)
    • Password (if supported)
  4. Click "Save" to confirm changes
  5. The user list updates

Adding a New User:

  1. Click the "Add User" button (top right)
  2. Fill in the required fields:
    • Email: User's email address
    • Role: Select "Admin" or "Steward"
    • Password: Set an initial password (if required)
  3. Click "Save"
  4. The new user appears in the list
  5. Important: Share login credentials with the new user securely
    • Encourage them to change their password if possible

Deleting a User:

  1. Click on a user card to open the edit modal
  2. Click the "Delete" option (if visible)
  3. Confirm you want to delete the user
  4. The user is removed from the list

Warning: Deleted users can no longer log in. Use this carefully.

Best Practices:

  • Regularly review user accounts and remove inactive users
  • Assign admin role only to trusted personnel
  • Use secure, unique passwords for each account
  • Document who has admin access for accountability

Common Tasks

This section walks through common tasks you'll perform, regardless of which application you're using.

Finding a Specific Site

Scenario: You need to look up "Elk Island Provincial Park" to check its status.

Mobile App:

  1. Open the app and go to the Sites tab
  2. Tap the search bar at the top
  3. Type "Elk Island"
  4. The site appears in the filtered list
  5. Tap the site card to view details

Web App:

  1. Log in and go to the Protected Areas page
  2. Click in the search box
  3. Type "Elk Island"
  4. The site appears in the filtered list
  5. Click the site card to view details

Tip: You can search by partial name or by county/location.

Checking When a Site Was Last Inspected

Scenario: Your supervisor asks when "Writing-on-Stone" was last visited.

Mobile App:

  1. Search for "Writing-on-Stone" in the Sites tab
  2. Look at the site card:
    • Inspection date is shown (e.g., "Sep 15, 2024")
    • Or "No inspection date" if never inspected
    • Last visit age (e.g., "2mo ago")

Web App:

  1. Search for "Writing-on-Stone" on the Protected Areas page
  2. Look at the site card:
    • Inspection date is shown
    • Or "No inspection date"
    • Last visit age (e.g., "2mo ago")

Alternative: Open the site detail page for more information.

Reviewing Inspection History

Scenario: You want to see all past inspections for a site to identify trends.

Mobile App:

  1. Open the site's detail page
  2. Scroll to the Inspection Reports section
  3. Choose your view:
    • By Date: See each inspection in chronological order
    • By Question: See how specific questions were answered over time
  4. Tap any inspection or question to expand and read details

Web App:

  1. Open the site's detail page
  2. Scroll to the inspection section
  3. Toggle between:
    • View by Date: Read complete reports
    • Compare by Question: Track changes to specific aspects
  4. Click to expand and review details

Tip: Use "By Question" to spot trends like increasing trail erosion or improving naturalness.

Identifying Sites That Need Attention

Scenario: You're planning field visits and want to prioritize sites that haven't been inspected recently.

Mobile App:

  1. Go to the Sites tab
  2. Tap "Sort"
  3. Select "Oldest First"
  4. Sites that haven't been inspected (or inspected longest ago) appear at the top
  5. Look for sites with:
    • 🔴 "Needs Review" badge
    • "2yr ago" or longer in the last visit age

Web App:

  1. Go to the Protected Areas page
  2. Look at the "Needs Attention" stat card
    • Shows count of sites not inspected for 2+ years
  3. Click "Sort" → "Oldest First"
  4. Sites needing attention appear at the top
  5. Look for sites with:
    • 🔴 "Needs Review" badge
    • Old last visit dates

Tip: Combine with search to find sites in your assigned region that need visits.

Understanding Naturalness Scores

What is a Naturalness Score?

The Naturalness Score is an average value (typically 1.0 to 4.0) that summarizes how natural or disturbed a site is based on inspection reports.

Score Ranges:

  • 1.0 – Poor: Highly disturbed, significant human impact
  • 2.0 – Fair: Some disturbance, but still functional
  • 3.0 – Good: Mostly natural with minor disturbances
  • 4.0 – Excellent: Pristine, natural condition

How It's Calculated:

  • Each inspection includes a naturalness rating
  • The score shown is the average of all inspections
  • "N/A" means no scores have been recorded

Why It Matters:

  • Helps identify sites that may need restoration or management
  • Tracks whether site condition is improving or declining over time
  • Guides resource allocation for conservation efforts

Where to Find It:

Mobile App:

  • On any site detail page, under the overview section
  • Color-coded slider shows where the score falls

Web App:

  • On any site detail page, in the statistics cards
  • Gradient bar visualizes the score from red (poor) to green (excellent)

Interpreting Trends:

  • If scores are declining: Site may be experiencing increased impact
  • If scores are improving: Management actions may be working
  • Use "Compare by Question" to see what specifically is changing

Troubleshooting

Mobile App Issues

Problem: App Won't Open or Crashes on Launch

Possible Causes:

  • Corrupted installation
  • Insufficient storage space
  • Outdated operating system

Solutions:

  1. Restart your device
  2. Check for app updates:
    • Open the App Store or Play Store
    • Search for SAPAA
    • Tap "Update" if available
  3. Check storage space:
    • Go to device Settings → Storage
    • Free up space if needed
  4. Reinstall the app:
    • Uninstall SAPAA
    • Restart your device
    • Reinstall from the store
    • Log in again

Problem: Cannot Log In

Possible Causes:

  • Incorrect email or password
  • Account not created yet
  • Network connection issue

Solutions:

  1. Double-check your credentials:
    • Ensure Caps Lock is off
    • Verify email is spelled correctly
  2. Check your internet connection:
    • Try loading a website in your browser
    • Connect to Wi-Fi if available
  3. Contact your administrator:
    • They can verify your account exists
    • They can reset your password if needed

Problem: Sites Not Loading or Showing "No Sites Found"

Possible Causes:

  • No internet connection
  • No sites downloaded for offline use
  • Server issue

Solutions:

  1. Check online/offline status:
    • Look at the badge at the top of the Sites tab
    • If offline, only downloaded sites appear
  2. Try syncing:
    • Go to the Analytics tab
    • Tap "Sync Now"
    • Wait for data to refresh
  3. Download sites for offline use (see "Working Offline" section)
  4. If problem persists: Contact your administrator

Problem: Map Not Loading

Possible Causes:

  • No internet connection
  • GPS disabled
  • Map service issue

Solutions:

  1. Check internet connection: Map tiles require internet
  2. Enable GPS:
    • Go to device Settings → Location
    • Turn on location services
    • Allow SAPAA to access location
  3. Try again later: Map services occasionally have outages

Problem: Cannot Generate PDF Report

Possible Causes:

  • Insufficient device permissions
  • Low storage space
  • Missing data

Solutions:

  1. Check app permissions:
    • Go to device Settings → Apps → SAPAA
    • Ensure storage permissions are granted
  2. Free up storage space
  3. Ensure the site has inspection data: Reports require at least one inspection

Web App Issues

Problem: "Unable to Load Sites" Error

Possible Causes:

  • Internet connection lost
  • Server maintenance
  • Database issue

Solutions:

  1. Check your internet connection:
    • Try loading another website
    • Refresh the page
  2. Click "Try Again" on the error screen
  3. Clear browser cache:
    • Chrome: Settings → Privacy → Clear browsing data
    • Select "Cached images and files"
    • Click "Clear data"
  4. If problem persists: Contact your administrator

Problem: "Unable to Load Site" on Detail Page

Possible Causes:

  • Site was deleted
  • Database error
  • Incorrect URL

Solutions:

  1. Click "Back to Sites"
  2. Search for the site again
  3. If it doesn't appear: The site may have been removed
  4. Contact your administrator if you believe the site should exist

Problem: Cannot Log In

Possible Causes:

  • Incorrect credentials
  • Browser cookies disabled
  • Account issue

Solutions:

  1. Verify email and password:
    • Ensure Caps Lock is off
    • Check for typos
  2. Enable cookies:
    • Browser Settings → Privacy
    • Allow cookies for the SAPAA site
  3. Try a different browser
  4. Contact your administrator for password reset

Problem: Admin Dashboard Shows "No Data Available"

Possible Causes:

  • No inspection data in database
  • Database permissions issue
  • Chart rendering error

Solutions:

  • Refresh the page
  • Check other admin features:
    • If Account Management works, it's likely a data issue
  • Try the heatmap search:
    • Search for a known site
    • If it works, the database is accessible
  • Contact your administrator if charts remain empty

Problem: Heatmap Returns "No Sites Found"

Possible Causes:

  • Search term doesn't match any sites
  • Geocoding service issue
  • Database query error

Solutions:

  • Try different keywords:
    • Use shorter terms (e.g., "lake" instead of "lakeside park")
    • Try partial names
  • Check spelling
  • Try a site you know exists
  • If the map appears but is empty: geocoding may have failed for those sites

Problem: I Don't See the "Admin" Button

Cause: Your account has the steward role, not admin.

Solution:

  • Ask an existing admin to check your role
  • Go to Account Management (if you have another admin account)
  • Edit your user and change role to Admin

Data Sync Problems

Problem: Mobile App Shows Old Data

Cause: Data hasn't synced recently.

Solution:

  1. Go to the Analytics tab
  2. Tap "Sync Now"
  3. Wait for the sync to complete
  4. Check the "Last Inspection" date to confirm it updated

Problem: Changes in Web App Don't Appear in Mobile App

Cause: Mobile app data is cached and needs to be refreshed.

Solution:

  1. Open the mobile app
  2. Go to Analytics → "Sync Now"
  3. This pulls the latest data from the server

Problem: Offline Data is Outdated

Cause: Downloaded sites were cached before recent updates.

Solution:

  1. Connect to the internet
  2. Go to the Sites tab
  3. Select the outdated sites
  4. Delete them from offline storage
  5. Download them again (this gets the latest data)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What's the difference between a steward and an admin?

A:

  • Stewards can view all sites, read inspection details, search and sort data, and generate reports (mobile app).
  • Admins have all steward features plus access to the Admin Dashboard (statistics, heatmap) and Account Management (create/edit/delete users).

Q2: What does "Needs Attention" mean?

A: A site is flagged "Needs Attention" (or "Needs Review") when it hasn't been inspected for approximately 2 years or more. This signals to coordinators that the site may need a new visit.

Q3: Why do some sites say "No inspection date"?

A: This means no inspection date has been recorded in the database for that site. Possible reasons:

  • It's a newly added site
  • It's an older record without a date
  • Inspections were conducted but dates weren't entered

Q4: What is the Naturalness Score?

A: The Naturalness Score is an average value (1.0 to 4.0) summarizing how natural or disturbed a site is based on inspection reports:

  • 4.0 = Excellent: Pristine, natural condition
  • 3.0 = Good: Mostly natural, minor disturbances
  • 2.0 = Fair: Some disturbance
  • 1.0 = Poor: Highly disturbed

Higher values indicate better natural conditions.

Q5: Can I change my own password?

A: This depends on your deployment configuration. If you don't see a "Change Password" or "Reset Password" option in the app or web interface, contact your SAPAA administrator for assistance.

Q6: How do I download sites for offline use?

A: (Mobile app only)

  1. Go to the Sites tab while online
  2. Tap the checkbox next to sites you want to download
  3. Tap "Download"
  4. Sites are now available offline

Q7: Why doesn't a site show up on the heatmap?

A: Possible reasons:

  • The site name didn't match your search keyword
  • The site couldn't be geocoded (no coordinates found)
  • Temporary issue with the geocoding service

Try a different keyword or contact an admin.

Q8: How often should I sync the mobile app?

A: It depends on your workflow:

  • Daily field use: Sync daily or before heading out
  • Occasional use: Sync weekly or before important meetings
  • After major updates: Sync immediately if you know new data was added

Q9: Can I use the mobile app without internet?

A: Yes, but with limitations:

  • You must download sites while online first
  • Only downloaded sites are available offline
  • You can view details, read inspections, and generate reports
  • You cannot sync new data or access the map

Q10: Who do I contact if I have a problem?

A: Contact your SAPAA program coordinator or system administrator using the contact information provided by your organization.

Q11: How do I know which version of the app I'm using?

A: (Mobile app)

  • Go to device Settings → Apps → SAPAA
  • The version number is listed there

Q12: Can I access SAPAA from a tablet?

A:

  • Mobile app: Yes, if you have an Android or iOS tablet
  • Web app: Yes, any device with a modern web browser can access it

Q13: What happens if I lose internet connection while using the web app?

A: You'll see error messages when trying to load data. Reconnect to continue. The mobile app is better suited for offline field work.

Q14: How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?

A: Contact your SAPAA coordinator with details about:

  • What you were trying to do
  • What happened instead
  • Which device/browser you were using

Contact Information

For help with accounts, data issues, or technical problems:

Contact SAPAA at https://sapaastewards.com/contact-us/.

For Urgent Field Support:

  • Save offline sites before heading to remote areas
  • Contact your coordinator before departures if you anticipate issues

Feedback and Suggestions:

  • We welcome your input to improve SAPAA
  • Share your ideas with your coordinator

Document Version: 1.0
Last Updated: November 2025
Prepared for: Stewards of Alberta's Protected Areas Association

Thank you for using SAPAA to protect Alberta's natural areas.