Developing a mobile GIS-based component to collect field data

Abstract

Collecting field data is a useful method to address current gaps in information and to establish thematic databases. Nowadays, mobile geographic information system (GIS) applications are extensively used in collecting field data to enhance the decision-making ability of investigators while on the field. However, although the traditional object-oriented mode for developing GIS functions generally follows a modular approach to reduce repeated tasks, this mode still cannot take advantage of the fact that GIS requirements are similar for different data-collection applications. Furthermore, changing data formats or contents requires a demanding program modification workload. In this article, a component, which can be embedded into different applications for collecting field data to provide mobile GIS functions, is designed and implemented. This component provides different types of interfaces. Moreover, it can adapt dynamically to different applications by modifying these interfaces. The developed component is tested by using it to provide GIS functions to three different applications, namely, locust data collection, land-quality data collection and land reclamation engineering inspection. Result shows that the component exhibits advantages such as high development efficiency, ease of application, low power consumption, and extension flexibility. The shortcomings and issues of the component, as well as suggestions for future work, are also presented.