📋 Creating a Survey
Surveys pull geometry and sampling units from a survey plan (recommended) or a past survey. The wizard has three steps: Details → Method → Review.
What you need first
- An Organisation and Project (Org guide, Project guide)
- A Site with geometry (Site guide)
- Ideally a Survey Plan for this protocol (Plan guide)
Step 1) Details & Source
- Go to Surveys → Create Survey (https://marimap.com/app/surveys/new (opens in a new tab)) and pick a starting point:
- Import from plan — reuse the units defined in a survey plan.
- Clone past survey — copy units from a previous field day (observations stay empty).
- Fill:
- Site (required)
- Survey date (required)
- Survey ID (required) — click Generate to auto-build an ID from org/project/site/date/protocol.
- Description (optional)
- Under Survey source:
- If using a plan, choose a plan for that site. Refresh the list or open the plan builder (https://marimap.com/app/surveys/plans/new (opens in a new tab)) if needed.
- If using a past survey, pick the survey to clone.
- The Protocol and allowed Method are locked to the selected plan/past survey. Any plan filters are shown in the summary.
Screenshot: Survey creation with plan/past survey source picker
Step 2) Method (protocol-specific)
- Benthic transect: pick PIT, LIT, or CIT. For PIT, set the interval (m); the app enforces a minimum based on transect length.
- Fish transect: optionally set Belt width (m) and Quadrat size (cm) for the belt method.
- Other protocols: no extra inputs.
Screenshot: Method step with PIT interval / belt width inputs
Step 3) Review & Create
- Confirm site, date, Survey ID, protocol/method, geometry summary from the chosen source, and any description.
- Fix any warnings about missing/invalid units, then click Create survey.
Tips
- To change protocol, switch to a different plan or past survey.
- Use a survey plan whenever possible to keep transects/plots consistent.
- If no plans exist for the site, open the plan builder from the source picker to create one in a new tab.