Does anyone have any experience with designing surveys using ArcGIS collector, or other similar software (or App) for collecting biodiversity data? Microsoft Access? Magpi? Open Foris?
I have been working through a tutorial with Collector but I am stuck with working out a design for the table in order to enter multiple species data into one sample- e.g each sample is a quadrat for plant diversity. Should I have a separate column for each species and then the data entered is the abundance? This would create a huge form with many fields and I would have to search for the correct species each time... Or should I create one column for manually entering a species name and the next column for its corresponding abundance.. then repeat as many times as needed. If i understand it correctly, in this way I would have columns containing mixed names and columns contain 'random' abundances so could not carry out any meaningful analysis on this. Ideally I would like a form with a drop down list of my (±50) species (which perhaps could even each have associated characteristics such as functional group or conservation status).. which I could then select and enter an abundance, then add species fields as many as needed. Perhaps there is another survey app/ database software that is better suited for this kind of multiples species data form that can then be linked to GIS data afterwards with a gps location? Thanks Tania Tania Bird MSc PhD Student, Dept. of Geography & Environmental Development, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva "There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed" ~ Mahatma Gandhi
