Mobile GIS & LBS 
Matt Sheehan
Matt holds an MSc in Geography and GIS. He has been working with clients solving problems with GIS for over 17 years. Matt founded WebMapSolutions whose mission is to put innovative, intuitive GIS driven applications into the hands of new and existing users. Searching for Low Cost GIS Data Collection Solutions?October 23rd, 2013 by Matt Sheehan
We are often approached by new clients who are searching for low cost GIS data collection solutions. It was once the case that data collection: 1) Required specialized, expensive equipment Thankfully those days are now gone – though you will still find some (expensive providers) trying to pursued you otherwise. So what has changed? Low Cost Mobile DevicesOnce upon a time the only mobile hardware one could buy – see Trimble, F4 Tech etc – were expensive and highly specialized. Costing many thousands of dollars a unit, these were once the work-horses of mobile GIS data collection. Today all that has changed. Grab an iPad; install a low priced mobile GIS app and you are good to go.
No More Need for Specialized Mobile GIS TrainingEsri’s ArcPad is cool software. It comes with every bell and whistle you could ever wish for to do data collection. But, ArcPad demands specialized training for GIS savvy staff. Workflows are also challenging; involving often multiple steps. As mobile GIS application development becomes easier so mobile apps provide simpler workflows and are built for both GIS and non-GIS users. Low Cost Mobile GIS AppsWith ever tighter budgets, the demand for low cost data collection solutions is ever greater. Sure data collection can still be costly, but far less than was once the case. WebMapSolutions have just released a mobile offline GIS data collection solution. The application is integrated closely with Esri’s ArcGIS, and runs on both iPad’s and Android tablets. With simple workflows the application is designed for both GIS trained and non-GIS field staff. It allows point, line and polygon editing and supports image attachments. Priced to fall within the budgets of both small and large organizations; the mobile app can be seen demonstrated in the video below:
Searching for Low Cost GIS Data Collection?Give us a call on 801-733-0723, we may well be able to help.
Tags: Android, cheaper, cost, data collection, disconnected, GIS, IOS, mobile, offline Categories: ArcGIS Online, Mobile ArcGIS, Mobile GIS, Web and mobile GIS 2 Responses to “Searching for Low Cost GIS Data Collection Solutions?” |
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Hi Matt
data collection is certainly becoming much less expensive. However high accuracy is still cost prohibitive here in Australia. Do you have any solutions for low cost sub-meter data collection? No free WAAS in Oz so non-differential GPS can have 20+ metre errors – not good enough for GIS. Equipment with differential GPS functionality is still extremely expensive.
cheers
Paul
You should check out the GeoRover mobile app, its pretty slick
http://leidos-193650344.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/products/software/georover/mobile