Chapter 17

Mobile GIS & Field Data

Taking GIS into the wild. Learn how smartphones and high-precision GPS sensors allow us to collect and sync data from anywhere on the planet in real-time.

At a Glance

Prereqs: Chapters 04, 05 Time: 25 min read + 30 min practice Deliverable: Field form + QA checklist

Learning outcomes

  • Design a mobile data collection form that reduces errors.
  • Explain how location accuracy and metadata affect analysis.
  • Connect field data to remote sensing validation workflows.

Key terms

offline, domains, validation rules, positional accuracy, privacy, metadata

Stop & check

  1. Why use domains (restricted value lists) in a field form?

    Answer: To prevent typos and enforce consistency.

    Why: Consistent categories enable reliable summaries and training labels.

    Common misconception: Free text is more flexible; it often breaks analysis later.

  2. What metadata is critical for a field photo point?

    Answer: Date/time, accuracy estimate, and a clear class/label.

    Why: Validation requires knowing when/where and what the observation represents.

    Common misconception: A photo alone is enough; without metadata it is hard to trust and reuse.

Try it (5 minutes)

  1. Write 5 fields you would collect for a land cover validation point.
  2. Mark which fields should be required.

Lab (Two Tracks)

Both tracks produce the same deliverable: a form schema and a one-page QA plan for field collection.

Desktop GIS Track (ArcGIS Pro / QGIS)

Create a feature layer schema (fields + domains) and draft collection instructions for a team.

Remote Sensing Track (Google Earth Engine)

Design a validation sampling plan (how many points, where, what classes) that your field form would support.

Common mistakes

  • Not recording accuracy or confidence in the observation.
  • Collecting points without privacy/safety considerations.
  • Inconsistent class definitions across collectors.

Further reading: https://www.ucgis.org/site/gis-t-body-of-knowledge

Geographic Inquiry: Asking Questions of Where

Before ever opening software, a GIS analyst starts with a question. "Where" is not just a coordinate; it is a relationship.

  • Concentration: Where is the phenomenon clustered?
  • Boundary: Where does it change sharply vs. gradually?
  • Uncertainty: Where is the data missing or biased?
  • Verification: Where would you stand on the ground to prove it?

📱 The Digital Clipboard

In the past, field data was collected on paper and typed in manually. Today, tools like ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123 allow us to digitize data directly onto a live map, including photos, videos, and GPS coordinates.

Critical GIS: The Gig Economy Map

For millions of gig workers (Uber, Amazon, DoorDash), "Mobile GIS" is not just a tool—it is their boss. Algorithms determine where they go, how fast they drive, and which route they take. This "algorithmic management" turns the map into a mechanism of control, where the worker is just another dot moving on a screen.

🎨 GIS as an Art: Designing the Interface

Field data collection is high-pressure work. A well-designed mobile form is a work of art—it flows logically, minimizes clicks, and anticipates the user's needs. The "art" here is User Experience (UX) Design. A clumsy form leads to frustrated workers and bad data; a beautiful form feels invisible.

Field Inventory
GPS: 29.65 N, 82.32 W

🤝 Interdisciplinary GIS: Public Health

During the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks, Mobile GIS became a critical tool for epidemiologists. "Contact Tracing" apps used spatial proximity algorithms to alert people of exposure. This fusion of Medical Science and location technology saved lives, proving that "Where" matters in medicine.

Summary of Big Ideas

  • Real-Time Sync: Data collected in the field appears on the office dashboard instantly.
  • Offline Maps: Modern apps allow workers to download maps to their device for use in remote areas without cell service.
  • Attribute Validation: Survey forms use "logic" to prevent errors (e.g., preventing a user from entering a negative value for tree height).
  • Crowdsourcing: Mobile GIS enables regular citizens to report issues like potholes or water leaks to the city.

Chapter 16 Checkpoint

1. Which of the following allows field workers to collect data without an internet connection?

Live Satellite Link
Offline Map Areas (Syncing)

2. In a mobile survey app, a "logic jump" is used to:

Show or hide questions based on previous answers.
Automatically calibrate the GPS sensor.

📚 Chapter Glossary

Location-Based Services (LBS) Software applications that use location data to control features (e.g., finding the nearest gas station).
Feature Service A data service that allows vector features to be queried, visualized, and edited over the web.
Offline Mode A capability of mobile GIS apps to download map packages to the device storage, allowing data collection in areas with no cellular connectivity.
← Chapter 16: Spatial Modeling Next: Chapter 18: Storytelling →

BoK Alignment

Topics in the UCGIS GIS&T Body of Knowledge that support this chapter.