PDA-based Data Collection Food Security, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping

1. PDA-based Data Collection Food Security, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping George Mu’ammar Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia: 27-28 November 2008

2. WFP’s Mission • “WFP is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as the access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life.” • “WFP will concentrate its efforts and resources on the neediest people.” • “WFP will focus on those aspects […] where food-based interventions are most useful.

3. WFP Programming challenge • Locating the hungry and neediest • Who are the most hungry and at risk populations? • where do they live? • How many they are? • why they are hungry/ what are risk factors? • What are appropriate responses? • Ensuring their effective and timely integration into WFP's programming.

4. Assessment Activities CFSVA ENA FSMS

5. What is a PDA? • PDA Stands for Personal Digital Assistant • A PDA is basically a computer that can fit into the palm of your hand. • Most PDA’s do not have keyboards due to their size • They usually consist of: • A screen which is touch sensitive. • A stylus (a pen for PDA’s) which functions like a computer mouse. • A few buttons

6. Why Use PDAs in VAM Surveys ? • To save time • To reduce errors • Economies of scale • Ease of use • To save paper

7. To Save Time • Data immediately available for analysis • No waiting for data entry clerks to capture data • Data cleaning is hardly required • No need to distribute database

8. To Reduce Errors • Immediate Validation • Compulsory skips • Compulsory fill-ins • Values can be checked such as percentages cannot add up to greater than 100% • No data entry errors from paper to database

9. Economies of Scale • Once developed a questionnaire will become part of an online repository accessible to all future authors. • The same PDAs can be used for many different data collection systems. • More questionnaires do not require more paper/printing. • Only one database needs to be created and maintained regardless of how many surveys there are.

10. Ease of use • Successfully completed more than 40 surveys in 12 countries and 3 languages (Arabic will also be implemented) • Users have been Food Aid Monitors, staff members and students. • The PDAs are completely managed by the in country teams. • Data is fed into the database either via web upload, or using a locally installed software.

11. Timeframe for a Survey • Create the PDA questionnaire – 1 Day • Training – 3 practice with PDAs (or 1 additional day to normal enumerator training) • Field testing and Feedback – 1 Day • Data Collection – 30% less than paper-based • Export the data to SPSS - 1 Day

12. Practical example - 40 enumerators Completing 2000 questionnaires To pay for the PDAs you only need to collect 4000 records!

13. GPS Location Data • Coordinates (Latitude / Longitude) • Elevation • Accuracy of coordinates (number of satellites, HDOP) • Date and Time

14. 5. Data is available for download into analysis software 1. Questionnaire creation from template repository and online collaboration VAM SIE 4. Data is uploaded to VAM-SIE via the Field Kit 2. Server creates a Field Kit software for questionnaire finalization and deployment 3. Field data collection takes place Workflow

15. Wizard Driven Questionnaire Creation

17. Data Management Web upload Web download Online database

18. Training and Capacity Development • If enumerator training is taking place then 2 half days are required in addition to the normal enumerator training. • If enumerators are familiar with the questionnaire on paper (FSMS for example) and require only PDA training then 2 full days are required. • During the training the questionnaire on the PDA is reviewed and many changes are made on the spot (or as evening homework)

19. Current Software Developments • Polygon capture by GPS and Area Calculation for Agricultural Surveys and Mapping • GPS Track Capture for Road Mapping and Assessment for UNJLC / WFP Logistics branch

20. Proposed Partnerships • International Household Survey Network (IHSN) • IHSN web portal to publish WFP household data • WFP PDA software endorsed for household surveys • Vodafone • Software development for PDA / Smartphones • Wireless transmittion of data on daily basis (GSM / GPRS)

21. Area Calculation Test Area calculated by PDA: 5.2428 haArea calculated by GIS: 5.2655 ha

22. Advantages of using PDA & GPS for polygon capture Hardware related advantages • Bluetooth external GPS does not require external antenna (useful for Garmin) • GPS data integrated with other questionnaire data (regarding production, crop type etc.) • Saves data on removable flash memory (large capacity, easy to download data) in standard GIS format • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

23. Advantages of using PDA & GPS for polygon capture Potential Software Advantages: • Tailor-made software will be user friendly and made for capturing 2D geometry for mapping and 3D geometry for slope-area calculation • Data saved in standard GIS format (GML) • User friendly and password protected configuration (time / distance settings) • Minimal required accuracy (PDOP) can be enforced • Reliability can be calculated on the spot • Average HDOP / PDOP • Perimiter / Area (P/A) ratio