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Privacy Policy

FieldBound

Last updated: May 26, 2026

FieldBound is a single-user field-research notebook for iPhone and Apple Watch. This Privacy Policy describes what data the app handles, where it goes, and what choices you have. We have written it in plain language; the short version is: we do not operate a server, we do not collect analytics, we do not run advertisements, and we do not sell or share any of your data with anyone.

1. Who is responsible for FieldBound

FieldBound is developed and maintained as an independent application. References to "we," "us," and "our" in this policy refer to Spatial Learning Lab, LLC. You can reach us at the contact address at the bottom of this page.

2. What information stays on your device

When you use FieldBound, the following data is created and stored locally on your device (and, if you choose, synced through your private iCloud account — see Section 3):

  • Field notes: titles, body text, tags, custom field values, and any other text you enter into observations or projects.

  • Geographic information: GPS coordinates, altitude, accuracy, heading, and multi-point path geometry for transects, routes, and areas you record.

  • Media: photos, video, audio recordings, sketches, and annotated images you create within the app.

  • Sensor readings: barometric pressure and barometric altitude derived from your device's motion sensors.

  • Spoken dictation audio: when you use the voice-capture feature, your voice is processed by Apple's on-device Speech Recognition framework. The audio and resulting transcript are processed entirely on your device and are never transmitted to FieldBound or to any third party.

  • AI-structured notes: when you choose to run "Structure with AI" on a dictated note, the transcript is processed by Apple Intelligence using Apple's on-device Foundation Models. The transcript and the resulting structured note never leave your device.

  • App preferences: your active project, basemap selection, downloaded basemap tile cache, observation templates, and similar configuration.

We have no access to any of this data. None of it is sent to a server we operate, because we do not operate one.

3. iCloud sync (optional)

If you are signed in to iCloud on your device and have iCloud Drive enabled for FieldBound, the data described in Section 2 is synced through your private iCloud account using Apple's CloudKit service. This sync:

  • Is end-to-end encrypted in transit and stored within Apple's iCloud infrastructure under your account.

  • Stays entirely within your own iCloud — only your other Apple devices signed into the same Apple ID can read it.

  • Is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.

  • Is not visible to FieldBound or its developer in any form.

You can disable iCloud sync at any time in iOS Settings → [your name] → iCloud → FieldBound.

4. Third-party services FieldBound contacts

FieldBound makes a small number of network requests, all of which transmit only the minimum information required for the request and do not include any account, identifier, or personal information:

Open-Meteo (weather data)

When you create or refresh an observation's environment readings, FieldBound sends the GPS coordinate of that observation to the Open-Meteo public weather API to retrieve current temperature, humidity, wind, and weather conditions. Open-Meteo does not require an account or API key and does not associate requests with users. Their data handling is described in the Open-Meteo Terms of Use.

OpenStreetMap (map tiles)

When the offline OpenStreetMap basemap is selected or being downloaded, FieldBound retrieves raster map tiles from the OpenStreetMap tile server. Tile requests are anonymous and follow the OpenStreetMap Tile Usage Policy. OpenStreetMap's privacy practices are described in the OpenStreetMap Privacy Policy.

Apple system services

FieldBound uses standard iOS system services (Core Location, MapKit, Core Motion, Speech, Photos, Foundation Models, WatchConnectivity, CloudKit, Push Notifications) provided by Apple. These are governed by Apple's privacy policies and run within the device's normal sandbox.

That is the complete list. FieldBound contains no third-party analytics SDK, no advertising SDK, no crash-reporting service of our own, no marketing pixel, no fingerprinting library, and no tracker of any kind. We do not embed any web content or framework that could perform tracking on our behalf.

5. Permissions FieldBound requests, and why

When you first use the relevant feature, iOS will ask your permission for the following. You may grant, deny, or revoke any of these at any time from iOS Settings without affecting other parts of the app.

Permissions and why FieldBound asks:

  • Location (While Using): To geotag observations, draw your live position on the map, and snap recorded paths to your current coordinates.

  • Location (Always): Only if you choose to record long routes or transects in the background — used to keep GPS logging running while the screen is off.

  • Camera: To capture field photos, video, and LiDAR spatial scans inside an observation.

  • Microphone: To record audio field notes and ambient-sound documentation.

  • Speech Recognition: To transcribe spoken field notes on-device. Recognition is forced to on-device mode; no audio is sent to Apple's servers.

  • Photo Library: To save captured field media to your library, and to import existing photos as observation attachments.

  • Motion & Fitness: To read the barometric pressure sensor for altitude and pressure logs attached to observations.

  • Notifications (optional): Reserved for future use; FieldBound does not currently send marketing notifications.

Revoking any permission only disables the corresponding feature. The rest of the app continues to work.

6. Apple Watch

If you have a paired Apple Watch with the FieldBound companion app installed:

  • Observations you capture on the Watch are sent to the paired iPhone over Apple's encrypted WatchConnectivity channel.

  • The Watch app receives a snapshot of your project list from the iPhone so it can show a project picker.

  • No data leaves the Watch other than over the WatchConnectivity link to your own paired iPhone.

7. Export and sharing

FieldBound includes export features (PDF field reports, ESRI Shapefile bundles, image and audio file shares) that let you share your data with whomever you choose. These exports are produced on-device and handed to iOS's standard share sheet. FieldBound does not see, retain, or transmit any copy of these exports. What you do with an exported file is up to you.

8. Children's privacy

FieldBound is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect any data from anyone — including children. If you believe a child has used FieldBound and you have concerns, please contact us at the address below.

9. Data retention

Because we do not collect or store your data on any server we operate, there is nothing for us to retain. Data lives on your device and (if you've enabled it) in your private iCloud account until you delete it from there. Uninstalling FieldBound removes the locally-stored copy; you can additionally clear your iCloud copy from iOS Settings → [your name] → iCloud → Manage Account Storage.

10. Security

FieldBound relies on the standard security model of iOS and iCloud:

  • App data is stored inside the iOS application sandbox, protected by the device passcode/biometric lock and full-disk encryption.

  • iCloud sync uses Apple's encrypted CloudKit service.

  • Network requests to Open-Meteo and OpenStreetMap use HTTPS.

  • The app contains no proprietary encryption beyond standard system TLS.

We cannot guarantee absolute security of any data transmitted over the Internet, but we have designed FieldBound to minimize attack surface by not collecting or storing data outside your own device and your own iCloud account.

11. Your rights

Because FieldBound does not collect personal data on any server we operate, there is no FieldBound-side database from which to retrieve, correct, or delete your data — you have direct and complete control of your data on your own device. You can at any time:

  • Edit or delete any observation, media item, project, site, template, or custom field directly inside the app.

  • Disable iCloud sync to keep data device-local only.

  • Revoke any permission in iOS Settings.

  • Uninstall the app, which removes the locally-stored data.

  • Delete the iCloud copy from iOS Settings → [your name] → iCloud.

If you are located in a jurisdiction that grants additional privacy rights (such as the European Union's GDPR or California's CCPA/CPRA), those rights still apply with respect to any data we might hypothetically process — but in practice we do not have any of your personal data to disclose, correct, or delete, because we never collect or receive it.

12. Changes to this policy

If we make material changes to this policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top and post the new version at the same URL. For substantive changes that affect how data is handled (for example, if a future version of FieldBound added an optional cloud feature), we will also note the change inside the app on next launch. Continuing to use FieldBound after a change indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

Questions, concerns, or requests about this Privacy Policy or FieldBound's privacy practices can be sent to:

treylee@ou.edu

We respond to all reasonable inquiries promptly.

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