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Is GPS position in mobile field surveys important?

By oferiko

This is question that initially the answer sounds like it should be a big fat YES, right?

For this reason we are now working on adding this functionality as an integral part of SurveyToGo  so that if you will be using a GPS enabled device SurveyToGo will automatically attach the GPS location to each survey that you conduct.

We are also adding the ability in the operation console to show you on the actual location on the map so that you will be able to track exactly who did what WHERE :)

GPS Map of Mobile Survey

GPS Map of Mobile Survey

 

However, the question that bothers me is, given the fact that field surveys are also conducted inside a building, and since GPS devices do not get a signal when inside buildings the location you will be getting isn’t that accurate after all… in SurveyToGo we are preparing a smart mechanism to get the most accurate place even if you are inside a building – but this is still a valid question…

I am still wondering what the answer is….

Let me know what you think!

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This entry was posted on July 24, 2008 at 1:40 pm and is filed under MCAPI, survey software. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Is GPS position in mobile field surveys important?”

  1. Ben Says:
    September 16, 2008 at 12:44 pm | Reply

    How is the state of this GPS-feature?
    Your approach of SurveyToGo sounds pretty interesting. I found e.g. this survey application, which uses geocoordinates, too (http://www.citeulike.org/user/jweisberg/article/2450138).
    Your combination of MCAPI and gps tracking is exactly what I wanted to discuss in my thesis paper.
    In Germany we have a company who can track the participants for example in the zoo (http://www.bvm.org/user/PDM/2008/videos/Film_Ariadne_Zoo_IM.wmv?PHPSESSID=0c56b04217255e80d02e3b8e320f443c
    )

  2. oferiko Says:
    September 16, 2008 at 1:45 pm | Reply

    This feature is working and will be released in our next version release of SurveyToGo, scheduled in 1.5 week. Let me know if you want me to notify you once the version is out.

    The GPS combined with MCAPI is indeed a very requested feature, specially in regards to house hold surveys in parts of the world where addresses are not exactly available.

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