Choosing suitable software

There is a huge variety of software that can be used for various tasks in a community-based monitoring system. Some of these have been developed for specific tasks, while others support multiple tasks. Different software can be cloud, mobile or computer based. In many cases software are compatible and interchangeable, enabling projects to pick and choose the most appropriate.

The comparative table below shows some of the most widely used software programmes in this rapidly evolving space, to help with selecting the right option for a particular project or context (click on each name for more details).

Namesort ascending Internet Phone Network Smart Phone Literacy Level of Expertise
SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) No No No Yes Medium
Smap No No Yes No High
Sapelli Yes Yes Yes No Low
OpenForis No No Yes Yes Medium
Open Street Map Yes No Yes Yes Medium
Open Data Kit Yes Yes Yes Yes High
Moabi DRC Yes No Yes Yes Medium
iNaturalist No Yes Yes Yes Low
Google Earth Engine Yes No No Yes High
Global Forest Watch - mobile version Yes No Yes Yes Medium
Geographical Open Data Kit Yes No Yes Yes High
Geo-Wiki Yes No No Yes Low
CyberTracker Yes No Yes No Low
C7-LDFN Yes Yes Yes Yes Medium

The tasks that can be performed by software include:

  • Creating data collection forms
  • Checking data collection forms
  • Hosting data collection forms
  • Mobile data collection support i.e. GotoFunction for navigating and Mavarick for GPS
  • Managing and cleaning data
  • Analysing and visualising data

Currently the most energy and resources have been spent on developing applications for mobile data collection, with data management, analysis and visualisation still a major challenge. The time and effort needed for data analysis can create bottlenecks for projects, slowing down data sharing whether with forest communities or policy-makers. This needs to be planned for from the start.

Key criteria to consider when choosing software include:

  • Open source
  • Cost
  • Icon or text based (level of literacy required)
  • Multi-lingual
  • Data analysis and visualisation options
  • Compatibility with other software i.e. GIS etc.
  • Cloud or computer based
  • Ease of use: e.g. what level of coding is required
  • Flexibility – can it serve all the needs of the project?
  • Support network and continued innovation