The Office of Legacy Management (LM) Environmental and Spatial Data Management (ESDM) team is improving its methods of collecting data in the field by adding ArcGIS tools on Apple iOS phones and tablets to its repertoire of existing field data collection technology.
The ongoing data project to develop tools that support additional types of data collection not only complies with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (IDEA), signed into law in December 2018, but will also minimize the use of hard-copy spatial data recording for site inspections and other purposes. Digital data collection also improves the efficiency of compiling data and enhances the quality of all types of data in use.
The main mission of ESDM is to ensure the integrity, quality, and accessibility of environmental and spatial data for LM’s various programs, sites, and operations. The ESDM team comprises technical analysts and scientists who collect, manage and curate data that is important for the long-term surveillance, maintenance, and environmental stewardship of each site. Historically, a large amount of geospatial data and associated photographs has been collected on paper forms and with marked-up paper maps including information collected during site inspections, environmental sampling, and site operations.
With this new method of collecting data, LM will not only be able to collect non-survey grade geospatial data faster, but also pass it on to other teams more easily and with greater confidence in the quality.
“LM saw a need to reduce human error and the time spent processing general field data by manual data handling. Since we just built an enterprise geospatial database, now it is possible to make this data accessible in handheld devices instead of using paper and separate files everywhere,” said LM’s Annette Moore. “Moving to a current technology, we can collect real time discrete data in the field, and send it directly to its authoritative source database, speeding up data access for end users from several days to just hours.”
Beginning in 2019, the team took on the project in several phases. Phase 1 examined current data collection and processes across many sites, how they could be improved, and the type of technology required to do it. Phase 2 determined which applications would work best within the current LM infrastructure.
LM recently moved to Phase 3, applying information from the previous phases to develop new workflows, conduct several tests and pilot studies, and build out training processes to improve data collection capabilities and enable the flow of data into the database.
“With the Field Maps and other tools now in use, the team can configure an application for iPhones and iPad tablets to accommodate whatever data needs to be collected,” Moore said. “Field teams can take the tablet to the field and use it to field-check issues identified and to answer questions asked in the office. Finally, we can see where we are and find what features we need using a digital map just like people do on their cell phones every day.”
“Handling and managing paper maps and their potential for loss and damage are becoming an unnecessary risk for field work. Field teams can click on anything in the interactive map, get more information about the feature, log it, and even upload photos,” she said.
Although the integration is still in its early stages, LM staff are pleased with the preliminary results. There is already a backlog of tools to be created for additional field data collection opportunities.
“We are already seeing rapid turnaround of updated maps and photo features,” Moore said. “Since it only takes a few minutes to upload and sync the device, at least when there is cell service, it can streamline a lot of the workload for us. We are looking forward to continuing to evolve this technology and keep improving the geospatial program.” If there is no cell service, user data will sync once the device is back in coverage.
Original source can be found here.
