For Field Teams

Field Verification Guide

How to use the screening dashboard to plan and execute site verification visits. This guide is designed for field team members and partners conducting on-the-ground investigations.

Quick Start: Using the Dashboard

1

Filter by Risk Level

Use the Risk Threshold slider in the left sidebar to focus on the highest-risk sites first. We recommend starting with a threshold of 0.80+ for initial field campaigns, then lowering as resources allow.

2

Select a Site

Click any marker on the map to open its detail panel. Review the risk score, "Why Flagged" explanation, and feature importance bars to understand what triggered the detection.

3

Plan Your Route

Use the map to identify geographic clusters of high-risk detections. Group nearby sites into a single field visit to maximize coverage per campaign.

4

Export for the Field

Click Export CSV to download a spreadsheet of all filtered sites with coordinates, risk scores, and detection details. This can be loaded into Google Maps or other navigation tools.

Interpreting Risk Scores

Each detected site receives a score from 0.0 to 1.0 reflecting the model's confidence that contamination activity is present. Here is how to interpret these scores in the field:

0.85 - 1.00

Critical Priority

Very high model confidence. These sites show multiple strong indicators. Schedule visits within 2 weeks. Expect to find active operations or significant contamination evidence.

Action: Immediate field verification. Bring full sampling kit and PPE.
0.70 - 0.84

High Priority

Strong indicators present but with some uncertainty. These sites merit investigation and may involve smaller-scale or intermittent operations.

Action: Schedule visit within the current campaign cycle. Standard field investigation protocol.
0.50 - 0.69

Moderate Priority

Some contextual indicators present but model is less certain. Could be early-stage activity, recently closed sites, or false positives from legitimate businesses.

Action: Include in extended campaigns or verify remotely via satellite imagery updates if resources are limited.

What to Look For On-Site

ULAB Recycling Sites

  • Piles of used lead-acid batteries (car/truck/motorcycle)
  • Battery cases (plastic shells) stacked or discarded
  • Lead ingots or lead plates drying in open air
  • Open-air smelting fires or makeshift furnaces
  • Dark-colored soil or dust (lead contamination indicator)
  • Acid stains on ground (sulfuric acid from batteries)
  • Workers without protective equipment (gloves, masks)
  • Proximity to residential buildings, schools, or water sources

Industrial Smelters

  • Large industrial buildings with chimneys or emission stacks
  • Visible smoke or dust emissions
  • Surrounding vegetation die-off or discoloration
  • Slag heaps or waste piles on the facility perimeter
  • Heavy vehicle traffic (trucks carrying raw materials or products)
  • Storage areas with metal ingots, scrap, or ore
  • Absence of visible pollution control equipment
  • Strong metallic odors in the surrounding area

Field Data Collection Checklist

When visiting a flagged site, document the following to feed back into the model improvement cycle:

📍 Location & Access

  • GPS coordinates (confirm or correct the predicted location)
  • Physical address or landmark description
  • Accessibility notes (road conditions, security considerations)

📸 Site Documentation

  • Photographs of the site (overview + details)
  • Estimated facility size (footprint in m²)
  • Activity level (active, intermittent, abandoned)

👤 Community Context

  • Estimated number of workers observed
  • Use of protective equipment (yes/no)
  • Distance to nearest residential buildings
  • Distance to nearest school or healthcare facility

🔬 Environmental Observations

  • Visible contamination (soil discoloration, acid stains)
  • Vegetation condition in surrounding area
  • Water sources nearby (open drains, wells, rivers)
  • Waste disposal practices observed

✅ Verification Result

  • True positive: Contamination activity confirmed
  • False positive: No contamination activity found (note what IS there)
  • Inconclusive: Unable to determine (note reason)
  • Contamination type: ULAB / Smelter / Other / None

📝 Recommended Follow-up

  • Urgency level for remediation
  • Soil/water sampling needed (yes/no)
  • Blood lead level testing recommended for community
  • Regulatory notification required

Safety Protocols

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