Field Data Collection

Mobile Data Collection

Field data for the NFMS can be collected on smartphones and tablets, online or offline, with GPS location and photographs. The following tools can be used to design forms and collect data:

• KoboCollect (KoboToolbox)www.kobotoolbox.org

  Free, open-source forms for field surveys: design the form in KoboToolbox, collect on Android phones and tablets with the KoboCollect app, online or offline. Suitable for patrol reports, community monitoring and restoration checks.

• ODK (Open Data Kit)getodk.org

  The open standard behind Kobo: ODK Collect on phones and ODK Central as the server; strong offline and GPS support.

• ArcGIS Survey123survey123.arcgis.com

  Form-based field app used by KFS rangers for forest alert verification and incident reports (NFMS document, Chapter 5.3.3).

• Open Foris Arena and Collectopenforis.org

  FAO tools for national forest inventory data: designing the survey, collecting plot and tree data (Arena Mobile) and analysis.

• QFieldqfield.org

  Field GIS app for QGIS projects: mapping and editing boundaries, plantations and restoration sites offline.