Mapping actors and interventions
There is the perception that the collection of location data is very difficult and expensive. Sure, professional GPS equipment could easily amount to a few thousands of US dollars, and extensive training is needed for a proper use of the equipment, but the precision level that is obtained is not really needed for our purpose. When you are happy with an accuracy of one or a few meters instead of one centimeter, there is a much cheaper option: your (smart)phone. This little device has revolutionized the way we can collect information in the field. And to make things easier, there are a wide array of apps available to help you with the collection and the organization of your data. Some of these are freely available, while others need to be bought. In cameroon we have decided to use KoBoCollect (available in Play Store).KoBoCollect is based on the OpenDataKit and is used for primary data collection in humanitarian emergencies and other challenging field environments. With this app you enter data from interviews or other primary data -- online or offline. There are no limits on the number of forms, questions, or submissions (including photos and other media) that can be saved on your device. An additional advantage is that it possible to manage and store the data (in the cloud or offline) and share the data with project staff. The next step is to combine the collected field data with other information for further analysis.
Organising and managing your data
Field data is usually not collected by just one person within the project. As everybody has their own way of working, it is key that data standards are introduced before the data collection even begins! Just a few examples are: data and time formats, naming conventions, which coordinate system to use, and whether to collect point-data versus polygons or lines. This uniformity in data is essential for bringing all the data together, and making it again available.Projects typically do not have a clear plan on what to do with all the collected data, and information is exchanged on an ad-hoc basis. However, to get the most out of the data, and to facilitate its use, it pays off to organise your data in a database. This will allow people, with the right permissions, to view and use the data when needed. This also allows keeping the data up to date in an easy and transparent way. In the ideal case, this data organization occurs on a higher level than the project level. This ensures data remains available over the lifespan of the individual projects. In Cameroon, the General Census of Agriculture and Livestock (CGAL) has been setting up a geospatial database for this purpose, centralising the data and making it available to a broader public.
Creating meaningful output
Collecting and managing the information on the location of different project interventions or relevant actors of your case, is only the beginning. Once your data and data infrastructure are in place, the real added value can be created for the project. An easy win is the visualisation of the accomplishments of your project. These are typically shown in a table, denoting the interventions such as newly created warehouses, repaired roads, new or improved field infrastructures and so on. However, showing this information on a map makes it not only visually more appealing, it also makes the sometimes large amount of data easier to interpret and understand.
A better visualisation of you data is only a start of what you can do with your database. You can also start using this data to study the complete value chain of your production system. For example, by studying the distance from the roads or warehouses to the agricultural fields, areas which are poorly connected can be identified and prioritized for the upcoming investments.
Do you think this is something for you?
In this blog we only scratched the surface of what is possible when you start georeferencing your project interventions and relevant actors. However, we hope we were able to show you the importance of collecting and properly storing your data. If you would like to receive more information on the collection and management of project data, and how to create meaningful output from it, do not hesitate to contact us!
Who we are?
Earth Observation for better-informed Decision Making (EODM) is a three year WCA grant that has supported different IFAD initiatives in Cameroon (but also Senegal and Mali). We trained AEP-Youth and PADFA project staff on the Kobotoolbox for proper data collection, helped GCAL with setting up a geospatial database, as well as provided satellite-based information and support to ongoing projects.
