The CSV Observation Import Wizard allows administrators to bring historical tracking data into EarthRanger from a standard CSV file. Rather than entering records manually, you upload your file and use the wizard's interface to match your existing data columns to the fields EarthRanger requires for an observation.

Before you begin

Make sure your data is prepared in a standard CSV format before starting. Your file should include columns for the core observation fields you want to import, this typically includes location coordinates and a timestamp. Review your data for consistency before uploading to reduce mapping errors.

How to import observations

Step 1: Upload your CSV file

1. Navigate to the CSV Observation Import Wizard in EarthRanger Admin Home > Observations > Import Observations
2. Click Upload File and select your CSV from your device.
3. Once uploaded, the wizard will display a preview of your file's columns and a sample of the data.

Step 2: Map your columns

1. For each required EarthRanger observation field, use the dropdown to select the corresponding column from your CSV.
   • Example: Match your spreadsheet's "Lat" column to EarthRanger's Latitude field, or your "Date/Time" column to the Timestamp field.
2. Required fields must be mapped before you can proceed. Optional fields can be left unmapped if your data does not include them.
3. Review your mappings before continuing to confirm they are correct.

Step 3: Import your data

1. Once all required fields are mapped, click Import.
2. The wizard processes your file and converts the rows into observations within EarthRanger.
3. A confirmation message will display when the import is complete, along with a summary of how many records were imported.

Notes

• Large files may take additional time to process. Do not close the browser tab while an import is in progress.
• If any rows cannot be imported due to missing or invalid data, the wizard will flag them. Rows with errors are skipped and will not appear as observations.
• Imported observations will appear in EarthRanger alongside observations entered through other methods. There is no visual distinction between imported and manually created records after import.

Troubleshooting

My columns aren't mapping correctly. Check that your CSV uses clear, consistent column headers and that the data in each column matches the expected format (e.g., decimal degrees for coordinates, ISO 8601 or a standard date format for timestamps).

The import completed but some records are missing. The wizard skips rows that contain invalid or incomplete data for required fields. Review the error summary shown after import to identify which rows were skipped and why.