4.4 Managing N/A Photo Requirements

Overview

Not every photo requirement applies to every job. Differences in site structure, equipment types, customer requirements, and project scope may make certain items irrelevant. Pathwave provides a clear, consistent way to manage these scenarios through the Mark as N/A feature.

Both the field app and the portal allow users to mark photo list items as N/A. During a Quality Review, reviewers can validate all N/A selections to ensure accuracy before completing the review.

This keeps photo lists clean, prevents unnecessary corrective actions, and ensures documentation aligns with the actual job conditions.

Where N/A Can Be Applied

1. Marking a Photo N/A from the Portal

When viewing the photo list in the Pathwave portal, users can:

Select a photo requirement
Mark as N/A by selecting the three dots (...) next to the photo requirement

This is commonly used by office teams when scoping jobs or when job-specific conditions are known in advance.

2. Marking a Photo N/A from the Field App

Field crews can also mark requirements as N/A directly from the mobile app while working through a photo list.

This is valuable when:

Certain equipment is not present
A requirement does not apply to the specific job variant
A customer-required item is irrelevant for this site
Conditions onsite differ from the expected configuration

Marking items N/A prevents field teams from being blocked on items that do not apply.

How N/A Items Surface During a Quality Review

When a Quality Review is in progress, reviewers can use the View N/A button in the category toolbar to see all items that have been marked N/A either:

From the portal, or
From the field app

This allows reviewers to validate that each N/A selection is appropriate and intentional.

Why N/A Validation Matters

Reviewers should confirm:

Whether an N/A selection is correct
Whether the item truly does not apply to this job
Whether a photo was incorrectly marked N/A to avoid capturing it
Whether additional context or documentation is needed

This ensures that N/A items do not hide missing documentation or create gaps in customer deliverables.

Changing or Removing an N/A in a Review

If a reviewer determines that an item was incorrectly marked N/A:

Open the item from the View N/A category
Remove the N/A selection
The item will reappear in the appropriate review category based on its status:

- Photos Not Taken, if no photos exist
- Need Review, if a photo has been captured
- Rejected Photos, if previously rejected

This maintains review integrity and ensures accurate documentation.

When N/A Should Be Used

N/A should be applied when:

The photo requirement does not apply to the job’s scope
The equipment referenced is not present
The job uses a different configuration than what the photo list anticipated
The customer or site owner does not require this item for this project
Optional items do not apply to this site
Regional variations make certain photos irrelevant

**When N/A Should Not Be Used**

N/A should not be used when:

A photo should exist but was not captured
The requirement applies but cannot be captured due to poor conditions
The field crew is unsure how to capture the photo
The photo was submitted incorrectly (should be rejected, not N/A)
Documentation is still required by the customer or site owner

In these cases, N/A hides required documentation and will cause issues downstream.

Benefits of Managing N/A Correctly

Correct N/A usage leads to:

Cleaner, more accurate photo lists
Faster reviews with fewer unnecessary items
Reduced field frustration
Higher-quality closeout packages
Accurate deliverables for customers and site owners
More predictable PQA outcomes
Stronger differentiation between “not applicable” and “not completed” work