[OSGeo-Discuss] Mobile GPS data collection...

[Dave Patton]

map it out wrote:
> Hello group,
> It's my first posting here, and I would like some input/ideas/collaboration on
> the development of an open source data collection application with GPS.

> So, first I would like to know if people think this is a good idea


There has been lots of discussion and ideas about this,
but it strikes me that all of the "what OS/database/platform"
discussions may be premature.

One approach would be to 'sit down' with some 'potential
actual users' (i.e. field personnel, not 'techies') to
see what they want, take their ideas, and, on paper,
build the 'ideal system'. Then start designing/coding.

A more practical approach might be to ignore the
form factor altogether for now, and build a 'prototype'
using a laptop plus 'the extra bits'. Don't worry for
now if that means having to mount a laptop plus a
battery onto a backpack frame, and have 'a bunch of
cables' to connect external devices such as a GPS
receiver, camera, compass, data logger, etc.

Having a working prototype, no matter how crude,
would allow for 'proof of concept' demonstrations,
and I'm sure lots of people would give useful feedback
(beyond just "make it smaller"!) based on such a prototype.

-- 
Dave Patton

Co-Lead Developer, Punt
http://punt.sourceforge.net/

Canadian Coordinator, Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/

Personal website - Maps, GPS, etc.
http://members.shaw.ca/davepatton/