Collection of spatial data, analysis and mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is complex, time-consuming and expensive. Wireless internet and the growing popularity of Android devices with GPS (Geographic Positioning System) and WiFi capability, in combination with web-based tools, has changed this fundamentally.
Open Data Kit (ODK), a free, open source suite of tools for collecting, analysing and sharing (spatial) data and information has become popular as a fast, easy to use and efficient digital replacement for paper-based data collection, analysis and GIS mapping. It solves the bottleneck of many surveys, the time-consuming and error prone manual data entry, through automatic data upload to a server database. ODK also addresses data security.
As open source software it is constantly developed further and thus will continue to meet the needs of users in a fast-changing digital world.
The session will provide a practical example from the Philippines.
