Hi Qiang,
I started using GIS Cloud <http://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection> in the beginning of last year and was very impressed with the accuracy, off-line data capture, design, and ease of use. Here is a quick list of pros and cons I found with this app: *Pros:* - Very easy to design custom field forms. Form has options for dependencies and rules, and allows you to create custom drop-down lists, etc. - Field forms allow you to take and store pictures and audio recordings. - Very precise GPS locations using Verizon on my Droid RAZR. Note: GIS Cloud states that precision can depend on mobile/tablet device. - Offline data capture – ability to capture data when there is no cell service. - App settings allow you to automatically upload to your online database using your cell carrier or wait to upload through WiFi. - Ability to view data in list or map format online or data can be exported in a .csv - After using for a year, I haven’t lost any data. - It’s free but “limited to one device and public map”. There is a premium plan for $20/month but I don’t know what that entails. -Easy to make edits to field form entries while in the field or back at the office. *Cons:* -Sometimes the field form gets a little cranky. However, I’ve never had it mess up or lose data. I just close out and reopen the app. - It doesn’t appear that photos or recordings can be exported out of GIS Cloud. I believe you can only view/listen while in GIS Cloud. Hope this helps. Good luck to you! Laura Steger Chicago Botanic Garden On Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 6:34 AM, Mark Frey <[email protected]> wrote: > Anna > > We have shifted our data collection to mini tablets with no data plan > outfitted with an external GPS device. We use iPad minis and a Bad Elf Pro+ > but there are many other options. Having no data plan means no monthly cost > but requires WiFi to upload data which can be a pain if the WiFi is down at > the office. We use ArcCollector on the tablets. We have had just as good > luck with ArcCollector on smart phones although the smaller screen size > means data collection is more challenging. > > Mark Frey > National Park Service > > On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:44 PM, Anna Patterson <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Hi Qiang-- >> >> As part of my Masters I did a comparison study between the Android G1 >> (1st Android smartphone) and A Trimble Juno. The G1 (on pure GPS mode, no >> cell service or assisted GPS) performed more "truthfully" than the Trimble. >> I have it written up here: >> >> >> https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285698231_Smartphones_in_the_field_preliminary_study_comparing_GPS_capabilities_between_a_smartphone_and_dedicated_GPS_device?ev=prf_pub >> >> This is ONLY for Android, and technologically dated. I have no research >> data for iPhone (at the time iPhone only offered aGPS and I wanted >> stand-alone GPS for comparison to the Trimble) >> >> At conference presentations I often received audience stories of how they >> found anecdotally the phone to be more reliable than the stand-alone GPS >> (my favorite being the researchers in Greenland). I have several colleagues >> who have switched to deploying smartphones for fieldwork, as well as >> individuals at state gov't agencies. >> >> As for apps, it depends if you're what you're interested in doing... >> >> Hope that helps some =) >> >> -Anna Klimaszewski-Patterson >> Ph.D. Candidate >> Department of Geography >> University of Nevada, Reno >> >> >> On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 6:23 PM, Qiang Zhou <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Dear colleagues, >>> >>> Does anyone have experience in using Cell Phone GPS and Google map for >>> field work? >>> It seems that iCloud is a plus for data safety. But I am not sure about >>> the data quality. >>> If anyone had tried this before, would you please let me know: is there >>> any APP for the task, and what to be careful? >>> >>> Thank you very much. >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> Qiang Zhou, Land Change Scientist >>> ASRC Federal InuTeq, contractor to USGS EROS >>> 47914 252nd Street >>> Sioux Falls, SD 57198 >>> tel: 605-594-2843 >>> fax: 605-594-6529 >>> [email protected] >>> >> >> >
