EMIT Data Consulting

The brief

What the researcher needed.

An independent researcher working on seed conservation needed a reliable way to collect data in the field. Collection was happening on paper: unstructured notes, inconsistent field labels, and no clean path from the field to analysis.

The constraints were real. Fieldwork happens in areas with no internet. Enumerators use Android phones, not laptops. The data needed to be consistent enough to analyze without a cleanup phase eating the research timeline.

The ask: build a digital form that works offline, enforces structure at the point of collection, and exports cleanly for analysis.

What we built

A field-ready data collection system.

  • +Custom XLSForm built to the ODK/KoboToolbox specification
  • +Branching logic to surface only relevant questions per seed type
  • +Controlled vocabularies for species names and collection sites
  • +GPS coordinate capture at the point of collection
  • +Validation rules to catch entry errors before submission
  • +Fully offline-capable via ODK Collect on Android
  • +Clean export to Excel and CSV for immediate analysis

The result

Deployed and field-ready.

Offline

Works without internet

Android

Runs on field devices

Zero

Manual data cleanup

The form deployed to KoboToolbox and synced to ODK Collect on the researcher's field devices. Data collected offline syncs automatically when a connection is available. Exports arrive clean, structured, and analysis-ready, with no post-collection wrangling needed.

How it works

From field to spreadsheet.

01

Open ODK Collect

Enumerator opens the form on their Android device. No internet required.

02

Complete the form

Branching logic shows only relevant questions. GPS auto-captures location.

03

Submit when online

Completed records queue locally and sync to KoboToolbox when connected.

04

Export for analysis

Download to Excel or CSV directly from the KoboToolbox dashboard.

Testimonial reserved. Coming once we receive it.

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