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

[Mateusz Loskot]

Gary Lang wrote:
> We've been talkiing about this at Autodesk, this is because in 
> general users don't want to work (I'm not talking about consumers) 
> with maps through a tiny keyhole of a screen. We see much more 
> interest in the 'Toughbook' form factor.
> 
> And for that I think that we have what people want to use for their 
> work.

Hi,

I've been developing mobile GIS applications for Windows CE
platform for last 5 years.
In Poland, the mobile GIS started to become very popular especially in
forestry. So, the Forest Department decided to buy hundreds of mobile
devices with GIS apps.
The GIS app is used as a real GIS system with forest inventory
database + GPS connection for navigation and data collecting (small
surveying with accuracty lower than that used in geodesy, but sufficient
for the application in forestry).

The evolution of usage of mobile devices in this field started with
bussines class devices, forest ranges used iPAQ's.
Everyone knew it is not a good device to use in field, but costs are
very low for start-up.
During recent months, more rugged and professional devices are promoted
like Mobile Mapper CE or Symbol devices.

At first, we had doubts about small screen, no keyboard, etc.
But I have to say, those small mobile devices was really usable.
And, what was very important, the battery was working for whole working
day (7-9 hours).

Tablets seem to be good or even better, bigger screen etc. but holding
2-3 Kg device for 6-7 hours when walking through forest in mountains or
other difficult terrain could be very hard. Such situations are very common.

Another interesting thing was that people had troubles with using ESRI
ArcPad. This program was too complex for them, with not very
intuitive UI and ... lack of polish language documentation, what was
very important.

IMHO the most important thing is a UI. It should be clean, simple and
configurable (for example, support switching to kiosk,
fullscreen mode, etc.)
Next, good mobile application should provider automation of most of
tasks (with suggesting default values, etc.)
and support of hardware elements of the device.
For example, our application supported catching GPS points on the layer
manually using hardware keys, high/low PDOP was signaled by sounds,
GPS activity was signaled by LEDs available in particular device, etc.

I'd say such facilities caused those programs succeeded in hundreds of
forest ranges in Poland.

Note, when I was working in mobile bussines, we did not do any research
to find Open Source mobile GIS. We did not considered OSS area for this.

Best regards
-- 
Mateusz Loskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net