Table 1.
Characteristics of software applications assessed
| GeoODK | ArcGIS Survey123 | ePAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Types of spatial data collected | Points, polygons and GPS tracks | Points, lines and polygons | Point |
| Able to load background maps offline | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Format of offline maps | MBTile | ArcGIS Tile Package | PNG format tile dataset |
| Access to satellite imagery | External data only | Access to World Imagery and other ArcGIS layers | External data only |
| Storage space for imagery | Tablet internal memory | Tablet memory or external storage | Tablet memory or external storage |
| Questionnaire set up | XLS form | XLS form | Integrates with other data collection software |
| Integration | Integrates with barcode scanner and other software | Limited | Integrates with CommCare and ODK |
| Downloading data | Upload to server or download as XML file offline | Upload to server or download as SQLite database offline | Download as part of data from CommCare or ODK |
| Technical knowledge required | Some programming required to create MBTiles | Basic GIS knowledge only | Basic GIS knowledge only |
| Analysis | Summary statistics available from data on online server | Summary statistics available from data on online server | None |
| Cost and licencing | Free, open source software | Purchase of licence required (over USD 5000 for multiuser licence) | Limited purchase costs (less than USD 5000 developer costs) |