Using Tablets for Field Data Collection:

How the MDC’s Resource Science Division is using tablets for data collection.

Philip Marley & Joel Sartwell

Outline

• Risks and Benefits • MDC Tablets & Projects • Joel

What is a Tablet??

• A mobile computer with the display, circuitry, and battery in a single unit.

• 2 Types of Tablets 1. Slates or Booklets 2. Hybrids on Convertibles

• Typically 7 inches or larger (diagonally) • Touchscreen (finger or stylus)

Why Use a Tablet?

Benefits • Efficient & Accurate Data • Simplify Process • Program can Guide Users • Error Checking • Immediate Calculations • Take Photos/Location Data • Scalable

Risks • Costs (Technology vs paper) • Training • Tech Support • Programming • Failure in Field • Battery Life • Disconnected Editing

Outline

• Risks and Benefits • MDC Tablets & Projects • Joel

Tablets and Projects

Tablet • Apple iPad • Motion CL910 • Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

• Xplor XC6 Dual-Mode • Samsung Nexus7 (coming soon)

Project • Nature Center Survey • ECS Project • RAM • Endangered Stream Fish • Aerial Surveys • Aquatic Habitat Monitoring • Shooting Range Survey

iPad / Nature Center Survey

• iOS • Not Rugged • Lightweight ~1lb • Thin ~ 7.5 mm • Wifi only • $700

• Volunteer Survey Clerks • Extreme Weather

Motion / ECS Project

• Windows 7 OS • Semi – Rugged • Weight ~1.85lbs • 64GB SSD & 2GB RAM • Atom Processor (1.65Ghz) • Broadband Capable • IP52 rated • $1,500

• Vegetation Data Collection • Soil Properties • Plot/Site Data Collection • Run Access Database

• Drop down fields

Toughpad / RAM

• Windows 7 OS • Ruggedized • Weight ~ 2.4lb • Intel Core i5 Processor • 128 GB SSD & 8BG RAM • Built in GPS • MIL-STD810G & IP65 • $2,500

• Riparian Area Monitoring • Complicated Program

• 12 Tables • 12 users interfaces

Toughpad / Endangered Stream Fish

• 3 Endangered Fish Species • ArcPad with built in GPS • Built in Camera Feature • Harsh Conditions

Toughpad / Aerial Survey • DNRSurvey • Windows Based • Beta • Collect Data via ArcMap

Xplor / Aquatic Habitat Monitoring

• Windows OS • Fully Ruggedized • Weight ~ 6lb • Intel Core i5 Processor • 128Gb SSD & 4 GB RAM • Warm Swappable Battery • MIL-STD 810G & IP67 • $6,000

• Harsh Wet Environment • Aquatic Habitat Monitoring • Depth • Velocity • Demersal velocity

Nexus 7 / Shooting Ranger Survey

• Android OS (Kit Kat) • $200

• Low Cost • Small Lightweight • OS Updates

Field Testing

• iPads

• Motions

• Toughpad

• Xplor

• Talk to our network • Easy to use • Issues with temperature

Field Testing

• iPads

• Motions

• Toughpad

• Xplor

• Talk to our network • Windows based • Semi rugged • Issues with processing power

Field Testing

• iPads

• Motions

• Toughpad

• Xplor

• Talk to our network • Windows Based • Built in GPS & Camera • Very powerful • MIL-STD 810G & IP65 • Some Issues w/ Water • Limited Accessories

Field Testing

• iPads

• Motions

• Toughpad

• Xplor

• Talk to our network • Windows Based • Very Rugged - IP67 • Heavy ~ 6lbs • Expensive ~$6,000

Outline

• Risks and Benefits • MDC Tablets & Projects • Joel

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• Inserts & Updates Only – (On Upload or Download) • All records get TimeStamp – If Incoming Record Newer Update • Deletes must be reconciled between Db Admin and PI

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• When using paper data sheets PIs would budget 3-6 weeks of data clean-up and entry time.

• Using Trimble Rangers and Nomads PI’s needed maybe 3-6 days to ensure all the data was compiled properly

• Now, the PIs can begin analysis within 3-6 minutes (right after they’ve sent the email out thanking everyone for their good work!!!).

• Communication between the mobile devices over a network with Sql Server: • Simple Access Protocol (SOAP) using the ASP.NET framework (ASMX) . • ASP.NET Web API (HTTP API) using representational state transfer (REST).

• Data is always transferred in a Javascript object notation (JSON) or JSON with

padding (JSONP)

• Transferring Images ??? • 3rd Party Cloud Image Server • Custom Cloud Image Server • Open to Ideas…

{ "id": 1, Foo", "price": 123, "tags": [ "Bar", "Eek" ], "stock": { "warehouse": 300, "retail": 20 } }

{ "id": 1, "name": "Foo", "price": 123, "tags": [ "Bar", "Eek" ], "stock": { "warehouse": 300, "retail": 20 } }

Device Programming (Data Entry Platforms) • Initially web only data entry platform within a browser (html5, css3,

Javascript, jQuery and SQLite). These could be pushed as apps…

• Windows based tablets: C#. Able to convert existing Windows mobile programs to Windows 7 and 8 programs.

• Java (Android) University of Missouri Comp. Sci Interns…

• C# (to Native Android or iPad using Xamarin).

Additional Features and Functionality

• GPS • Navigation • Prevent Cheating – data validity

• Voice/Camera/Video: Store images directly in database (byte array)

• Wifi – Endless list of device additions…

• Gyroscope/Accelerometers – Imaging, drop detection, pedometer

QUESTIONS?

Thank You!