1. Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia: 27-28 November 2008
PDA-based Data Collection Food Security, Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping
George Mu’ammar
Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia: 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
PDA Solution
Paper Solution
PDAs $ ($400 each, re-usable for many surveys)
Preparation paper questionnaires $500
Database $0
Database $2 500
Data Entry: N/A
Data Entry $3 500 ($35/day for 20 qs)
Data Cleaning: N/A
Data Cleaning $1 500 ($150/day for 10 days)
Total = $16 000
Total = $8 000
If the PDA will be used for 8 such surveys Cost per questionnaire = $1.00
Cost per questionnaire = $4.00
Data preparation Time: 1 day
Data preparation Time: 30+ days
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. Workflow 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

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: ha Area calculated by GIS: 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