Field Sync — Export/Import Between Nomad Instances

[spydmobile]

Summary

Enable Nomad instances to export and import model data, supporting the field-use workflow: a user takes a laptop to the field, runs models offline, then syncs those models and results back to the central office Nomad instance when they reconnect to the network.

Motivation

Fire modelers go into the field. They need to run Nomad on a laptop without network access to the office server. When they return and reconnect, their field work needs to flow back to the central instance seamlessly. Without this, field work stays siloed on a laptop and must be manually recreated — wasting time during active fire response when time matters most.

Use Case

1. Office has a central Nomad server. Everyone uses it daily.
2. User goes to the field with a laptop running its own Nomad instance (SAN).
3. User creates and runs models offline in the field.
4. User returns to the office, laptop reconnects to the network and can see the central Nomad again.
5. Field models and results sync to the central instance.

Design

Sync Modes

• Automatic — When the field instance detects the central instance is reachable, it syncs automatically
• Manual — User explicitly triggers sync via the UI
• User toggle — Setting to switch between auto and manual sync modes

Central Instance Configuration

• Central Nomad URL configured in settings or .env
• Field instance knows where "home" is

Data Flow

• Sync is push from field to central (field instance pushes its models/results to central)
• Models are unique (no conflict resolution needed — each model has a unique ID)
• Sync includes: model configuration, results, weather data, any associated files

Sync Status

• UI indicator showing sync state (synced / pending / syncing / offline)
• Log of what was synced and when

Acceptance Criteria

• Export models and results from one Nomad instance
• Import models and results into another Nomad instance
• Auto-sync mode: detects central instance, pushes automatically
• Manual sync mode: user-triggered push
• Toggle between auto/manual in settings
• Central instance URL configurable
• Sync status indicator in the UI
• Works for the laptop-to-office field workflow
• Supports both Nomad and OpenNomad deployments

[spydmobile]

Progress note: #213 (Export All) has been completed, which builds the export half of Field Sync:

• /api/v1/models/:id/export-manifest — enumerates all sim files by category (inputs/aggregated/final)
• /api/v1/exports/files — ZIPs selected files from sim directory with metadata.txt
• metadata.txt describes model, user, mode, all files included

Remaining for #137: Import endpoint (accept ZIP, unpack to sim dir, create model/result DB records) and sync UI.