Before starting this section you should have completed Section 3: “Getting Started”

Sapelli tools enable you to collect a range of different types of data for your project.

Photo

Adding the option to take photos to your project can be useful for a range of different data collection activities.

For example, you may wish to take photos to help with identifying different bird types. This is particularly useful if your users are not likely to know the names of all the different types of birds in a local area. Taking a photo means that you are able to collect data which can be reviewed and added to later on.


Photos can also be used to show evidence of activities in specific places. For example, Sapelli users have taken photos of logging and poaching activities, which can then be sent to local authorities as evidence of where a problem exists.

Audio

Audio data has a number of different uses. You could record audio of different bird calls to help with identifying birds that may not be able to be seen. You could also use audio data to record short interviews (with the interviewee’s permission) or even the sound of chainsaws to provide evidence of logging activities from a safe distance.

Location

Location data is what makes it possible to collect geographic data using Sapelli. By collecting the location of your data point, you can plot your data on a map.

Attribute data

Attribute data takes two forms, “Choices” and “Pages”.

Choices are pre-set options from which your user can select the choice they want to record. Choices can be visual icons (pictures or drawings), captions (text) or both.

Below is an example of using pictures as choices. The user can select the choice they want by selecting the picture of the bird they want to collect data on:

Pages enable you to record other types of data such as text (the user types in an answer), or lists (the user selects one or multiple options from a list of options).