Having trouble determining when to use epic/version/sub task. ie. how best to break up a project into its parts, ie inspection into data input, field visit, report, review, finalize

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

I'm afraid we can't help you.  JIRA provides a basic structure (issues in projects, which can have subtasks) and fields, but you need to use them in a way that suits your process. 

We don't know what your processes or reporting are, so we simply can't make any specific recommendations.

I'd take a look at what you want from your reporting and see what system fields and structures suit that best, then take a look at turning your desired process into a workflow.  But there's not much more we can tell you.