Field Data Collection using Open Source Software

Vincent BruscasEverett Transit

Everett WA

Background

• I am a project coordinator with a small bus company on the north end of Puget Sound.

• Worked my way up from driver.

• Limited computer skills.

• Tasked with data collection:

– Where are the bus stops?

– What equipment do we have at the bus stops?

– What condition are they in?

Opportunity

Open source software that allows for data collection in the field. Easy to build forms that do not require coding skills. Can be used on an android device that I already own. Can be shared with others. Easily transfer data from device to desktop.

The solution is

Open Data Kit

• Open Data Kit (ODK) is a free and open-source set of tools which help organizations author, field, and manage mobile data collection solutions. ODK provides an out-of-the-box solution for users to:

• Build a data collection form or survey (XLSForm is recommended for larger forms);

• Collect the data on a mobile device and send it to a server; and

• Aggregate the collected data on a server and extract it in useful formats.

Open Data Kit-Build

• Go to http://build.opendatakit.org and sign in.• Add a new prompt, by dragging the elements

from the bottom of the screen onto the blank canvas.

• For each prompt, modify its properties on the right portion of the screen.

• Prompts can also be rearranged through drag and drop.

• When the form is finished, go to the File menu, Save and then Export to XML.

Open Data Kit - Collect

• You will need an Android device (like the Google Nexus One) to install ODK Collect. If you don't have an Android device and you have some technical expertise, you can follow our instructions for installing the emulator.

• There must be an external SDCard on the device. Most Android 4.x devices have one of these built-in. Older Android 2.x devices generally do not and require that one be installed (typically in a slot near your SIM card). If ODK Collect fails to start, it is likely because the SDCard has become unseated or is missing. Re-seat or install the SDCard and try again.

Open Data Kit - Aggregate

• ODK Aggregate provides a ready-to-deploy server and data repository to:

• provide blank forms to ODK Collect (or other OpenRosaclients),

• accept finalized forms (submissions) from ODK Collect and manage collected data,

• visualize the collected data using maps and simple graphs,

• export data (e.g., as CSV files for spreadsheets, or as KML files for Google Earth), and

• publish data to external systems (e.g., Google Spreadsheets or Google Fusion Tables).

Overview of ODK System

Aggregate

data store

ODK Build creates forms

Forms exported

to Aggregate

Collect loads

forms from Aggregate

Field data collected

then uploaded

ODK Build

NRTAP 2015 Conference Form

Android device form

Android fill form

Android fill form

Android finish form

Android finalized form

Android upload Success

Aggregate

Aggregate - Export

Aggregate - Visualize

Aggregate - Publish

How does it all help?

• Transit Asset Management

• Customer relations

• Visualizing GIS type data

• Data that is easily collected

• Data that is easily shared across organization.

ET Time point map

Useful links

• https://opendatakit.org/

• https://opendatakit.org/use/build/

• https://opendatakit.org/use/collect/

• https://opendatakit.org/use/aggregate/

• https://www.youtube.com/user/odkteam

• http://www.slideshare.net/wlia_upload/workshop-using-open-source-software-for-mobile-data-collection-workshop-andrew-faust

Vincent BruscasProject Coordinator City of Everett || Everett Transitvbruscas@everettwa.gov 3225 Cedar Street || Everett, WA 98201