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OpenMapKit: create and systematize surveys in the field

OpenMapKit: create and systematize surveys in the field

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Paper records are still quite common for field data collection in many housing agencies, where the infrastructure required to create, implement, manage and maintain survey data often includes paywalls or high levels of technical expertise. OpenMapKit solves one of the most immediate needs for government agencies to collect and manage data from the field, incorporating automatic georeferencing into the collection process.

OpenMapKit is a set of free and open source tools that can be used to create, perform and systematize surveys electronically on an Android mobile. It can be used to collect georeferenced data, such as surveys, active mappings, street-level images, etc. It helps enumerators with the collection of geospatial information when conducting surveys in the field.

In addition to its main purpose of collecting data in the field in a structured and automated manner, the main functions of the OpenMapKit includes:

  • Data collection including text capture, numbers, photographs, videos, annotations and signatures as part of the survey.
  • Geo-referencing connecting directly to the GPS of the cell phone and also allows the manual location of points or polygons directly on a map.
  • Geo-referencing allows the interoperability of information with other spatial-type databases.

OpenMapKit requires the use of mobile devices with Android system and includes three software components:

  • The OpenMapKit server (which allows you to store and manage collected data).
  • The OpenMapKit survey application (which allows you to create and edit survey instruments).
  • The OpenDataKit collection application (the main interface through which the survey is conducted in the field).

Surveys are created and edited through the OpenDataKit Build, which uses a simple drag-and-drop interface. Surveys to be filled can be uploaded and distributed to the participating devices through the OpenMapKit Server, allowing to upload and distribute blank surveys to all the pollsters in the field. Once the surveys are completed, the server stores them and the administrators can review the data and download them in CSV format. Check out the OpenMapKit guide.

This tool is part of our Open Urban Planning Toolbox, a set of open-source tools to support each step of the urban development planning process, from early design through implementation and evaluation of projects. Open-source software is made stronger by the community that contributes to it. We welcome users to apply the tools in their own cities, share ideas for improvement, and help identify areas of need that could be addressed with new open-source tools.

Download now this open code! OpenMapKit: create and systematize surveys in the field.


Patricio Zambrano Barragán

Patricio Zambrano-Barragán was a Housing and Urban Development Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank. He currently led urban development projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, including housing policy and finance projects; resilient urban infrastructure; and geospatial and civic data analytics. Prior to joining the IDB, he led research on territorial management and climate-ready infrastructure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Patricio has worked with the Office of the Deputy Mayor in Quito, Ecuador; with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on distressed asset financing; and as a management consultant with New York-based Katzenbach Partners. Patricio is a doctoral candidate in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Master's in City and Regional Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University.

Jordan Fischer

Jordan Jasuta Fischer trabaja en inteligencia artificial y análisis cognitivo en la división de sector público de IBM. Previamente, se especializaba en proyectos de código abierto, tecnología cívica y análisis geoespacial en Latinoamérica con el BID. Su experiencia en soluciones tecnológicas, gerencia de datos, y análisis avanzado en el campo del desarrollo internacional ha cubierto temas tan diversos como la administración pública, la salud pública, y los derechos humanos. Jordan tiene una maestría en Análisis de Negocios de la Universidad de George Washington y un bachillerato en Economía de la Universidad de Utah.

Edgar Lemus

Edgar is a map-maker and civic technologist with a background in Environmental Science, Policy and Management. At the IDB, he explores strategies in public service innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Particularly, through the deployment of open software for geostatistical analysis to improve the technical capacities of local governments, bridge the geographic data gap in the region, and build climate change resiliency.

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