Geospatial IT for mobile field data collection

Abstract

Federal statistical agencies generate critical data about the nation's population, economy, and natural resources. This data is gathered largely by mobile field data collection. Although geospatial information is an essential reference material in the field and serves as a base for recording spatially linked data, it is nearly always used in printed form due to limitations in mobile computing systems and tools for handling geospatial data. The ability to interact with digital geospatial data in the field offers significant enhancements for data quality and operational efficiencies. However, basic research is needed on extensible infrastructure designs for limited field computing environments and appropriate field tools for mobile data gatherers.