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FieldToTable: An Open Source Tool Using AI to Rapidly Convert Paper Records to Electronic

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By Community for Data Integration (CDI) May 12, 2026

Reduce time and effort necessary for digitizing present and past field data records into a ScienceBase ready database.

Digitization of past and present handwritten data records requires extensive effort and cost by any project that collects field data. To reduce these limitations, we will develop the FieldToTable tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) large language models to automatically create a database from photographs of handwritten data records. The tool will also allow for model tuning through the inclusion of training data samples of the handwriting of data collectors to further refine models. Once model accuracy meets the user’s expectations, our tool will create databases that are ready for distribution to the public via ScienceBase. FieldToTable will therefore meet the Community for Data Integration’s (CDI) objectives of the development of tools that enable the free distribution of data within a persistent archive

Reduce time and effort necessary for digitizing present and past field data records into a ScienceBase ready database.

Digitization of past and present handwritten data records requires extensive effort and cost by any project that collects field data. To reduce these limitations, we will develop the FieldToTable tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) large language models to automatically create a database from photographs of handwritten data records. The tool will also allow for model tuning through the inclusion of training data samples of the handwriting of data collectors to further refine models. Once model accuracy meets the user’s expectations, our tool will create databases that are ready for distribution to the public via ScienceBase. FieldToTable will therefore meet the Community for Data Integration’s (CDI) objectives of the development of tools that enable the free distribution of data within a persistent archive

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