This document discusses the opportunities for using mobile devices for data collection. It describes how smartphones and tablets can be used to digitally collect and store data instead of using paper forms. This allows for faster data collection and compilation. Data is more accurate since it is digitized at the source and there is no manual data entry. The document outlines some costs associated with mobile data collection as well as different types of data that can be collected including location data, multimedia, and sensor data. It provides examples of specific mobile data collection tools and considerations for selecting a tool. Potential use cases for mobile data collection in organizations are also presented.
DBA Basics: Getting Started with Performance Tuning.pdf
Mobile Data Collection Opportunities
1. Mobile Data Collection - opportunities
Brownbag Centre for Development Innovation
mirjam schaap, May 2014
2. Data collection approaches
respondent enumerator data-entry
respondent enumerator
respondent
respondent
enumerator
a-synchronous
wifi/GPRS/3G
SMS - USSD
F2F paper
F2F mobile
Direct
response
Phone
interview
IVR
call centre
respondent
Online
survey wifi/GPRS/3G
synchronous
Challenges and Opportunities of Mobile Phone-Based Data Collection, Demombynes
5. Advantages
Manage surveys across regions;
Faster to fill + compile;
Data more accurate:
● collect+digitize at source
● no more data entry
● data cleaning limited
● pre coded ranges,
restrictions, skip logic
user friendly / motivating;
easy monitoring of data
collection team
6. Costs
Hardware
Training
Collection form design
Data transmission (recurring)
Data aggregation (hosting)
Management
7. Data types - what to collect
Geographic data
GPS coordinates
Choice boxes
Radio buttons
Multiple choice
Multimedia data
Videos
Audio
Pictures
Sensors
Signatures
Barcodes
Electronic sensors
Manual entry
Text
Numbers
Time - date
Time
Date
9. Possible use cases
Surveys
Assessments
Tracking
M&E
etc.
kivafellows.wordpress.com
10. In CDI
ISSD – with KIT Genevieve
Cascape ?
SBN ?
IFAD evaluation
11. Many possible tools
Magpi (episurveyor)
Formhub
Mobenzi researcher
Commcare
m-farm
Do forms
AKVO flow
Text to change
CSPro
mOpenMRS
Epicollect
FrontlineSMS
RapidSMS
Ushahidi
ODK – Open Data Kit
12. Considerations in selecting tool - provider
Survey question types
Control + management
(self or pay service provider)
Data security
Time-frame
Costs (set-up / service)
Customizability (by whom)
Tools already used (partner)
13. Things to keep in mind before deployment
How ‘fast’ do you need the data? Real time, daily, ...
Network availability / affordability
Materials
● Smartphone – tablet?
● Screensize?
● Operating System (Android, iOS, windows mobile)
● Extra spare devices
● Settings + installing device
● Battery pack
15. Yaw Anokwa http://nafundi.com
ODK - open data kit version 1.x
Open Source + free, used by many (10s of thousands)
Basis for many other apps (Enketo, Magpi, Kobo toolbox)
http://opendatakit.org/
16. ODK Build or XLSform
http://opendatakit.org/use/xlsform/
http://opendatakit.org/help/form-design/
20. Pitfalls - risks
Data security
Broken devices / power
Training enumerators – teamleaders
21. Resources
ICT for Data Collection and Monitoring & Evaluation: Opportunities and Guidance on Mobile Applications for Forest
and Agricultural Sectors (Worldbank, December 2013)
Mobile based technology for monitoring and evaluation (Thakkar, M. et al, 2013)
Multi-Channel Data Collection for Social and Economic Development (Froumentin, M. 2013)
Collecting data with smart forms on mobiel phones (Anokwa, Y, 2013)
Mobile applications for monitoring and evaluation in agriculture (USAID briefing paper, December 2012)
Challenges and Opportunities of Mobile Phone-Based Data Collection (Demombynes, G. et.al, January 2013)