GIS has become a newly cherished friend to the environment, standing out as the only tool multi-faceted enough to create predictive models. These models incorporate the multiple relationships and compound effects involved in environmental impact decisions. To gather the data for these essential models, fieldwork requires many man-hours. Read on to learn how environmental data collection has evolved.
GIS then and now
Traditionally, environmental data collectors would have to lug clipboards with forms, writing utensils, maps, a GPS, a digital camera and whatever other necessary testing equipment out to the field – imagine that on a windy day! Now, environmental sensors can be purchased as smartphone attachments, like the Sensordrone or the Sensorex PH-1 accessory. Nearly everything the modern environmental worker needs can be found on a standard smartphone equipped with a Fulcrum environmental app.
Carrying just one cellphone offers both convenience and efficiency. A data collector bypasses the need to read the GPS, fill out extensive paperwork, transport it to the office, and manually enter the data into a database. The Telephone Game and the saying “To err is human” highlight the error risks in manual data transfer. Furthermore, digital data has a higher likelihood of sharing, a feature particularly valued by geo-nerds.
A tech-savvy environmental worker should opt for a smartphone with a data collection app like Fulcrum. Budget constraints are a significant concern for environmentalists. Mobile GIS devices and their software often come with astronomical costs. Therefore, using a smartphone for data collection proves more economical. This approach allows for efficient field data gathering. Additionally, workers can analyze the data in a comfortable office setting. Consequently, this saves money for more critical environmental efforts.
Some GIS devices are made to only be compatible with one software developer. If the software isn’t able to handle the magnitude or complexity of the job, it could take as much time, money, and troubleshooting as the developer sees fit. Environerds love diversity and so should their hardware.
Whether you are a park ranger, wetland delineator, or an educator who primes future environmentalists, you can easily customize Fulcrum to suite your needs. If you want to know if Fulcrum is right for you, try it for free (no gimmicks, no tricks, no strings attached) or talk to us about your project because we’re all about creative solutions.