Page 109 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

10.3 Electronic data collection

Hand-held electronic devices are useful for completing correctly located the sampling sites and the time of sampling.
site description and field data forms in the field and adding Results can be uploaded and sent back to base in real time.
photographs to them. Transcription errors when transferring The Environment Agency also uses electronic systems for
data from paper forms to databases are avoided, although scheduling sampling runs, so that field staff can use the same
typos can still happen. Point of entry data validation can warn devices to check what types of measurements and samples
of errors that are easy to correct while you are still on site. they need to collect at each site, what type of equipment they
Connected to GPS, they can also record where field staff are, should take, and their travel route.
for safety, and can confirm to surveyors and others they have

Figure 2.13
Electronic field recording form on iPad tablet computer, as used by the Environment Agency.
This example shows a page for recording physico-chemical measurements taken with field meters.

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