Adventures in Data Collection - PowerPoint Presentation

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Adventures in Data Collection

Robbyn JF AbbittGIS CoordinatorDept of Geography, Miami University

2015 Ohio GIS Conference

September 21 - 23, 2015 | Hyatt Regency Columbus| Columbus, OhioSlide2

Data Collection Timeline

2000-2005

20052010

2013

2015Slide3

Issues we always face…GPS Accuracy

How to connect field data attributes to the GPS dataPaper? Computer in the field?Equipment – what do we buy? Smartphones and Tablets are great – but how do you get the data off of them?Geotagged photos are great – but where’s the tag?Where you’re standing? The object that is focused on?Do we store photos on a server or with the actual data?Need for WIFI or Cell serviceThis translates to $$GPS AccuracySlide4

The Game ChangerESRI Collector App’s ability to go off-line

No need for wifi or cell connectionAllowed us to use the cheaper Android tablets to allow students to collect field data Including photos!Allowed students to use their own devices to collect field dataSlide5

Some hurdles…Users must be part of and AGO organization

Users must also be part of a GROUP within the organizationNeed for intimate understanding of ArcGIS OnlineUsers must know what Collector is capable of and how it is best usedSetting it up requires knowledge of geodatabasesDomainsAttachmentsMust understand proper options when publishing data as a service for use in collectorIn order to offline and have a basemap – you have to know WHERE TO FIND THE OFFLINE BASEMAPSSlide6

Some hurdles…

Users must be part of and AGO organizationUsers must also be part of a GROUP within the organizationNeed for intimate understanding of ArcGIS Online

All students had to be added to the University AGO organizationThey were then added into a group for our class so they could view the class mapsStudents were introduced to ArcGIS Online and its functionality through an exercise using premade dataBased off of the Fall 2012 ArcUser article “A Workflow for Creating and Sharing Maps” by Keith MannSlide7

Some hurdles…

Users must know what Collector is capable of and how it is best used

Students had to download the appCourse instructor created testing data that students simply had to download through Collector to useSlide8

Some hurdles…

Setting it up requires knowledge of geodatabasesDomainsAttachments

Students had already learned about geodatabases, domains, and attachments through a week-long module and lab assignmentSlide9

Some hurdles…

Must understand proper options when publishing data as a service for use in collector

Students were given detailed instructions on how to create their feature class data, publish their data and mapSlide10

Some hurdles…

In order to offline and have a basemap – you have to know WHERE TO FIND THE OFFLINE BASEMAPS

Students were given instructions and the url link for the offline basemapsSlide11

But LOTS of successes!!!Slide12

Beyond the Classroom….Lava flow core collection in Mexico

Parking spot inventory on campusShoreline trash data collection Bike rack inventory on campusFourth grade science week activitySlide13

Lava Flow Core CollectionProject needed to give researchers access to a

geoferenced map with historic lava flow data Needed to include their location on the mapNeeded to be on a deviceNeeded to be offlineSlide14

Lava Flow Core CollectionPhD student digitized historic lava flows into geodatabase feature classes from georeferenced images

GDB was published as a serviceWeb map was created with sync capability for CollectorSlide15

Lava Flow Core CollectionSlide16

Lava Flow Core CollectionLessons learned:

Visiblity settings within ArcGIS online matter – A LOT!Adding the offline basemap as a BASEMAP is importantSlide17

Parking Spot Inventory on CampusClient project for Advanced GIS students – Miami University Police Department and Parking Services were the clients

Clients needed a database of all parking spots on campusDatabase needed to include XY locationPicture of any signage (with condition of signage)Type of parking (red, yellow, handicap, etc)Slide18

Parking Spot Inventory on CampusStudents were tasked with testing various field data collection methodsSlide19

Parking Spot Inventory on CampusLessons learned:

Accuracy of different devices variesTurning OFF WIFI helps with more accurate locationsDevice GPS just isn’t accurate enough for this type of projectAbility to use Collector would have greatly increased the production efficiency for this projectSlide20

Shoreline Trash Data CollectionClient project for Advanced GIS students

Client desired a digital method for collecting location of and type of trash along shorelinesStudents created a Collector Application and dealt with privacy settings for individual collectorsSlide21

Shoreline Trash Data CollectionStudents had to develop a database schema for the collected data (based off of paper shoreline data collection sheets)

They then published and tested the appSlide22

Shoreline Trash Data CollectionLessons Learned:

Map must be downloaded the device prior to site visitIf GPS isn’t working well, can manually plot pointsData security can be managedStudents are REALLY creativeSlide23

Bike Rack Inventory on CampusGraduate Student initiated project for Office of Sustainability

Student had been in the Advanced GIS class and knew tablets and collector could help!Slide24

Bike Rack Inventory on CampusAnna used Android tablets from the

Dept of GeographyCollected location, condition, and imageSlide25

Bike Rack Inventory on CampusLessons learned:

The weather will affect your data collectionYou can’t count on all devices working properlyThe sharing options on both the data and the web map must be set properly for the end product to be seen by the intended audience Slide26

Elementary STEM Fun!Talawanda

Science Week – 4th grade activityBy now they have visited me to Play with Google EarthUse GPS units to collect waypointsLearn about cardinal directionsI wanted to take advantage of mobile technology (tablets) that they all use at home to do “scientific” data collectionThe result: What is this mysterious bird that we keep finding signs of in Cook Field?Students were given tablets to go off and collect dataThere were “feathers” and “eggs” to locate and tree ages to estimateAt the end they were asked about what inferences they could make about this mysterious birdSlide27
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What did they infer?Orange and Blue birds like to live near each other

Purple and Yellow birds like to live near each otherGreen birds are lonersGreen, blue, and purple birds tend to live in trees close to where they lay their eggsYellow and orange birds lay their eggs relatively far from their nests in treesBlue and Orange birds tend to prefer younger trees to make their nestsSlide29

Elementary STEM Fun!Lessons learned:

Kids love to play with technology – pass out the tablets AFTER you have explained what they will be using them forSome tablets will cease to work – roll with itSome kids will hate this activity – make them do it anywaySome kids are awesome data collectors…others are not VSYOU (the professional) will learn A TON by setting up & deploying this projectSlide30

So what’s next?The Trimble R1 GNSS Receiver

Can be used with Android and Apple phones and tabletsIt should increase our positional accuracy so the Collector App can be used for detailed data collection in the field+>=+Slide31

THANK YOU – Questions?

Special Thanks to Mark YandrickKen CarrierChris Whitmore