Having worked with digital field systems for some 20 years a Hi Tania, Having worked with digital field systems for some 20 years and having spent a fair amount of time (including recently, in the new "tablet\app" world) hoping for and investigating just the kind of system that you describe, I'd personally suggest that you look towards bundling a lower-end Garmin GPS units (e.g. eTrex line, which are very field-worth and run $150-250) for delineating your location values and simply rolling out paper survey forms, which are input every day into a spreadsheet on a laptop. Cheap webooks or laptops now run $300-400 range for very capable systems (for simple spreadsheet and email use), which, if the locations work, could be shared by your field teams as input terminals.
Unfortunately (and really kind of surprisingly) a reasonably capable digital data logging\GPS system that you describe, one way or another, still runs $1-3k (or better for a Trimble, Leica etc...). Some USGS folks out in CA have customized a GPS\data logging software app with an integrated iPod Touch & GPS cradle, but their app is custom and proprietary, so you still need a datalogging software package (such as something like HandBase http://www.ddhsoftware.com/) which, as I currently understand, still requires progamming to "grab" the GPS signal from a data stream to integrate it with point survey attributes. What is available commercially for under $1k, (IMHO) will really just get you reasonably accurate GPS value (not the integrated digital field survey values). The older Dell Axim V51 PDA (which can still be had via eBay and Amazon used for $<1-150.00 or less) run the older Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, can be integrated with an effective survey software suite (like ESRI's ArcPad) combining automated GPS locations as well as point attributes. The determining price factor will be whether your EDU agency can get ArcPad for you at a reasonable cost, as street-price runs $1500-$2k just for the software. This small and mobile field computer can be linked to a wireless, blue-tooth GPS unit like the Pharos Bluetooth Dock for Microsoft and Pharos GPS-500 (PXT22) ($40-$80 on Amazon, used). The whole unit, assuming you go for a: extra battery (strongly suggested), ruggedized field case (also suggested) extra charging cables, etc... would probably run you $300-400 ea., possibly less. Best of luck, John Mickelson Geospatial and Ecological Services 501 Stage Rd. Monroe, NY 10950-3217 (845) 893-4110 [email protected] ________________________________ From: Tania Bird <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 10, 2012 3:32 PM Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Recommendation needed for a PDA with GPS Dear Ecologgers, I am seeking (urgent) advice for the best device to use as a field data logger for my PhD project in Zambia. I am looking for something moderately cheap and VERY simple to use and rugged. I will be training local enumerators to collect field data on crop damage in rural farms- they will need to know the GPS location, and then to enter various measurements. There will not be anything heavy needed in terms of memory.. just a simple spreadsheet for an Access database. I assume it is easier to get a PDA that has a GPS built in rather than to have a separate GPS unit. I will need about 20 devices and am looking for recommendations as to which make and model in order to price out a budget line for them in the next few days.... Garmin? Palm?.... Any suggestions will be very welcome. Many thanks Tania Tania Bird MSc www.taniabird.com There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed ~ Mahatma Gandhi
