You need the Civic.ly app installed and configured on your phone. If you have not done this yet, follow Configure Your Mobile Device first.
In this step you will take a photo of something nearby and watch Civic.ly map it and describe it using AI. Then you will check the results in the web app. This is the same process you will use to build your full asset register — just with a test asset to start.
Take a Photo and Create an Asset
- Open your phone's camera and take a photo of something nearby — your laptop, a desk, or ideally something outdoors like a lamppost or a bin.
- Open the Civic.ly app.
- Tap the + (plus) button.
- Tap Asset.
- Tap Gallery to find the photo you just took.
- Select the photo and tap to upload it.
Civic.ly will now process the photo. The AI analyses the image and automatically assigns an asset type (for example, "Laptop Computer" or "Litter Bin"), writes a description, and gives a condition rating. This takes a few seconds.
Once processing is complete, pull down to refresh the asset list. You should see your new asset appear. Tap on it to see the full details — the name, asset type, description, and condition the AI has assigned.
Check the Map in the Web App
- Switch to the web app on your computer (log in at your Civic.ly URL if you are not already).
- Click Map in the left-hand menu.
- You should see your asset plotted on the map at the location where you took the photo.
If the pin is in the right place, your phone's GPS and permissions are working correctly. This is worth checking now — if the location is wrong, it is usually a permissions issue that is easier to fix before you start adding real assets.
- Take photos with your camera app first, then upload via Gallery. You can take photos from inside the Civic.ly app, but it is much faster to use your phone's camera directly — you can snap photos one after another without waiting for each one to upload. When you are ready, open the Civic.ly app, tap + > Asset > Gallery, and select multiple photos at once. This is the recommended workflow when you are out in the field adding lots of assets.
- Take one photo indoors and one outdoors (like a lamppost or bin in the street). This lets you see two different map locations and confirms GPS is working properly.
- Do not worry about getting the AI results perfect at this stage. When you add your real assets later, you can review and adjust the AI's suggestions in the web app.
- The AI works best with clear, well-lit photos taken from a reasonable distance. Close-ups of small parts of an asset may not classify correctly.
Common Questions
This usually means the username or password is incorrect. Double-check both, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters. Try logging in to the web app first to confirm your details work.
The location comes from your phone's GPS at the time the photo was taken. If you were indoors, GPS can be less accurate. Make sure location services are enabled for the Civic.ly app and for your camera. Try taking a photo outdoors to test.
Yes. For this quick start you do not need to fix it, but when you add real assets later, you can edit any field in the web app. Open the asset, change the type or description, and save.
Your asset is on the map and described by AI. Now let's create an inspection for it.