Hello Danny Hanson, I've been struggling with the same issue! Pendragon has updated itself to be iOS and android compatible, which is nice because you can use any smartphone or tablet on the market. You can even use the same forms from the previous version.
Alternatively, you can use EpiCollect, which is an ESRI tool. Benefit is that you can collect geospatial data and also have all the info you need for that particular location, and it's all online. You can work with your data either online or in ArcGIS when you get back from the field. Let me know what you think and what you end up doing! I am curious to see what else is out there. Michiko On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 9:26 PM, Echinacea angustifolia < [email protected]> wrote: > Hello All: > > > > Our research team is currently looking for a new electronic data > collection system. > > > > For the past fifteen years, we have used PDAs along with Pendragon Forms > to collect field data. Unfortunately, these PDAs are >10 years old and the > version of Pendragon forms that communicates with the devices is no longer > supported and only runs on Windows XP and earlier, so we think it will stop > working within the next couple of years. > > > > This means that we would like to find some potential electronic data > collection systems to replace our old one and test them out this summer. > Our main requirements are as follows: > > · Some type of application that would enable us to develop data > entry forms with numeric, dropdown menu, checkbox, and text fields, > preferably something open source & free > · Portable hardware – can be held with one hand > > · Durable hardware – won’t break every time it’s dropped > · Reasonably battery life (1 full day) OR portable rechargers > > · Something that will last a long time – the individual devices > don’t have to last forever, but the system should be something we won’t > need to change for a while > > · Not too expensive > > · Optional: basic GPS capabilities > > > > So far, we’ve considered refurbished Android devices and we are trying to > find a free forms app. We wanted to know if anyone has any other ideas for > an data collection system or any places that we might look to find > possibilities. We’re also wondering if anyone has used phones or tablets > previously and has advice for places to get refurbished devices or what > apps you’ve used. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. > > > > Sincerely, > > > Danny Hanson > > on behalf of Team Echinacea > > http://echinaceaproject.org/ > > > > -- Michiko Squires Wildlife Biologist University of Florida - FLREC 3205 College Ave Davie, Florida 33314 (954) 577-6304 http://crocdoc.ifas.ufl.edu
