Parks and Trails Mobile Data Collector

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

The Parks and Trails Mobile Data Collector application was developed to bridge the gap between field and office staff in the Parks and Trails Division. In the past, data collection and field information were trapped in handheld Garmin GPS units. The collected data lacked standardization, was prone to inaccuracies and was difficult to integrate into other GIS platforms. With the development of the Parks Mobile Data Collector, the county has a fully developed tool that allows quick and easy data dissemination for more than 20 features, ranging from hazards to herbicide treatment areas. Field staff are able to use smartphones, along with ESRI’s Collector application, to collect field data. This environment allows staff to take photos, gather GIS data, and use GIS measurement tools - all on their smartphone. This data is instantaneously transmitted to office staff using web services, and is backed up each night. The Parks Mobile Data Collector also allows for supervisors to track field staff, providing supervisors a tool to account for day-to-day activities while doubling as a safety mechanism. If field staff have an emergency, acquiring the location of that employee in a rural area could be challenging. Thanks to the Parks Mobile Data Collector, supervisors can ensure that their staff are safe.