Mobile GIS to Support Fisheries Research and Management

Data for fisheries research and management are still commonly collected using paper-based methods, which often involve many repetitive steps and can be prone to errors.  Data recorded on paper forms requires time-consuming data entry in the office and results in another opportunity to introduce errors, as well as increasing the time between initial data collection and analysis and reporting.  We developed a mobile Geographic Information System (GIS) strategy designed to support a large-scale telemetry tracking effort documenting the movement and ecology of the endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in the Lower Missouri River.  ArcPad (ESRI Inc.) mobile GIS software was customized to streamline data collection efforts, and ensure data integrity by validating data directly in the field.  The ability to capture geospatial location and attribute data in the field has improved data accuracy, eliminated data entry by office personnel, and reduced lag-time associated with paper-based data collection methods.  Additionally, mobile GIS has improved the quality and the efficiency of fieldwork by giving researchers access to a wide variety of digital datasets while in the field.  We discuss the development of a mobile GIS application and some technical challenges and solutions we’ve developed while using this technology since 2005.