Web-Based Application for Enhancing on-Site and Remote Data Collection Process During Pandemic: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way data collection for research takes place around the world. Such adaptation has forced a turn of research methodologies in conducting research. This study focuses on on-site and remote digital data collection methods that can be adopted during the pandemic. The method of research and data collection often requires a group of researchers to travel to a specific site to meet communities for data collection, which is not permissible during the pandemic. This paper explores the use of web-based application for documentation of the existing natural and built features, and land management system for identification of the rural community’s land information. In this paper, the use of a web-based application, namely i-LULACAST, is highlighted. The application was designed and used for data entry and management of the rural community with fewer human resources on-site while still maximizing the number of datasets needed for analysis. The system was built using Codelgniter Application 4.0.4 to develop libraries to link databases and perform operations such as data entry, location, and uploading pictures for particular data. This system has also shown prospects for other purposes, such as census, landscape data entry, and contact tracing for medical purposes.