Archaeologists have long searched for an answer to the question of how to effectively collect and manage archaeological data in an application. The Field Desktop (iDAI.field) application developed by the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) offers very effective solutions to the problem of archaeological field data collection and database, with over 15 years of experience since its earliest version.

The application has been developed to be compatible with computers and tablets on Windows, MacOS and UNIX operating systems. Versions that can run on Android and IOS devices will be offered soon.

The most recent and free installation files of the application: https://github.com/dainst/idai-field/releases

User manual of the application (Turkish, English and German): https://field.idai.world/manual

The featured advantages of the application:

Open-source development and technical transparency

The application’s GitHub page (https://github.com/dainst/idai-field/) provides information on development stages, technologies used, and applications. The application is usable in scientific research thanks to the “white box” approach.

Scalable for projects in different scopes

It is an application that can be used in archaeological excavations, surveys, architectural documentation or mixed projects. Also, it can be installed and run on local servers in project facilities or excavation houses.

Capability for editing graphical and tabular data tables from the main screen

Field Desktop is a tool developed for field data collection and storage rather than a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program. However, spatial data can be stored and the images associated with the data records can be easily managed.

Online/offline working and data synchronization

Geolocation and information collected from the field can be processed offline with Field Desktop even in places that have no network. After returning from fieldwork, Field Desktop can synchronize the collected data with the main project database via the network connection. The Field Desktop application has been developed to synchronize with a compatible database in local networks or with the cloud.

Turkish language support

German Archaeological Institute Istanbul Department translated the application’s interface and manual. To contribute to the translation work or to provide feedback, please contact idai.field-turkce@dainst.de.