Question 1

How do I set up the My Site Witness app for my project?

Accepted Answer

Tap on the watermark area normally located at the bottom of the start screen (shown below). 
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This will open up a user input area (shown below). Allowing you to quickly enter your company name, the project name and plot number and select the appropriate photo reference. This will ensure the automatic file naming is correct and also helps easily identify the project and type of photo evidence to others such as your building control and energy assessor.
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You only need to input the company, project name and plot once. You can select previous entries by using the dropdown icon (shown below) to help speed this up.
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Once you have entered all the project details, simply hit save and return to your camera view. You are now ready to take your first photograph.

Question 2

How do I ensure my photos meet the 2021 Building Regulations requirements?

Accepted Answer

Within the app, you will find a drop-down menu listing various photographic options that correspond with those specified in Appendix B of Building Regulations Part L 2021. This feature aims to streamline the process and guide users in capturing the required images.

Please note however, the specific photographs needed will vary depending on the type of project. It is advisable to discuss these details with your energy assessor and building inspector, who can provide precise guidance on the necessary images.

The app ensures that all photographs are geotagged with location, time, and date information and automatically prepares file names for easy sharing. However, some manual selections are required before taking each photograph include the photo reference, project name and plot number.

Question 3

Can I change the photo information after I’ve taken it?

Accepted Answer

No, once you’ve captured the photo, the user input details (e.g., company name, project name, plot number, notes and photo reference) are watermarked into the photo and cannot be changed. Make sure all information is correct before taking the photo, alternatively you'll need to retake the photo.

Question 4

Why the need for adding notes to a photo?

Accepted Answer

The app requires you to add a (free text) note to before allowing you to capture a photo. This will helps you identify key information about the photo that can help the energy assessor better understand the photo. This may include denoting the thickness of insulation, draw attention to something in the photo, highlight the serial number of a product.
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Question 5

Why are my photos named automatically in the app?

Accepted Answer

The app automatically names the photos to include the company name, project name, plot number, photo reference number and post fixed with date and time to ensure all photos are unique. This help you ensure compliance with Building Regulations Part L 2021.

This is an important feature of the app as many geo-location devices will give random naming, usually just a series of numbers and letters, meaning someone will have to download and rename the photo separately to ensure it is named correctly. This is a requirement of Part L 2021 section B8, which requires the following:-

" Each image file name should include a plot number and detail reference according to the numbers used 		in paragraph B7. For example, Plot 1 eaves detail would be P1/3b"

Additionally, this helps other users understand what the photo is without the need to open the image. This can really reduce time spend managing and organising photos.

Here's a quick look at what the My Site Witness file naming looks like when viewed using an iPhone.
 
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Question 6

Can I email photos instead of using Dropbox?

Accepted Answer

You can email photos, but iPhones using the standard mail app usually embed the image into the email body rather than attaching it as a file, making it harder for recipients to save and organize. This is because when a photo is embedded into an email instead of attached the file naming is lost together with the native metedata.

Dropbox is preferred method by many users for its ease of setup, sharing and organizing. If you really need to email photos we'd suggest using a mail service such as Outlook as this is known to attach a photo rather than embedding them.

Question 7

If our site should be in a location that doesn’t have a mobile phone signal or wifi access, can we still use the app?

Accepted Answer

While the app does not require Wi-Fi access to function, it does rely on GPS to geolocate the photographs and embed that information into the photographic evidence. This means that while you don't need a full mobile signal, a basic level of connectivity is required for the GPS to work correctly. Often, even in areas with weak mobile signals, there’s enough connectivity for satellite location to operate.

Once the photographs are taken and the GPS data is embedded, you can upload the photos to what ever storage platform you like once a stronger signal or Wi-Fi is available, as the photos are always stored locally on the device until such time you choose to share them.

Question 8

Will photos taken on one users device be seen on another users device?

Accepted Answer

No, to clarify photos taken on one user's device are not visible on another user's device, even if they are part of the same company. Each user requires their own license, and each license is tied to a single user. The photos and evidence captured via the app are stored locally on the device and are not automatically shared or uploaded to cloud storage.

This design ensures that the app remains functional in environments with limited connectivity, such as building sites, where Wi-Fi or strong mobile signals may not be available. That said, if users need to share photos, they can do so through third-party file-sharing services like Dropbox. We provide recommendations and guides for this in our help area to assist with seamless file sharing if needed.

Question 9

Can I upload photos not taken using the app into the My Site Witness App?

Accepted Answer

No, only photos taken on the device using the My Site Witness are available in the photo album.

Help & Advice

Tips & Tricks

What are the Building Regulations requirements for photographic evidence under AD Part L1 2021?