Using Digital Geospatial Information to Locate Sample Units in the Field

Digital geospatial information is now widely available via the Internet, commercial software, and computer-assisted tools. Examples include electronic map and route services, digital photographs, and coordinates obtained from global positioning system (GPS) receivers. Digital geospatial data could be used to increase the efficiency of field staff operations by providing spatial resources in a mobile computer-assisted environment. However, little is known about the effectiveness of alternative formats and how best to present this information to assist field representatives. In this paper, we focus on methods for using digital geospatial information to find sample units. Locating establishments and housing units in the field can be challenging, especially in recently developed neighborhoods, when maps are out-of-date or poorly labeled, or when address information for the sample or reporting unit is inaccurate or incomplete. Field representatives often require additional resources to identify difficult-to-locate units in the field. We will describe preliminary research and a field study design to investigate the effectiveness of digital geospatial materials for locating sample units in the field. The specific goals of the research are to explore the uses and challenges associated with different kinds of digital geospatial data for locating a sample unit and to understand how screen size impacts one’s ability to use these resources in a mobile field environment.