About the Course
The transition from paper-based surveys to digital workflows is no longer a luxury but a requirement for organizations demanding verifiable and timely field intelligence. This course addresses the core challenges of field data integrity by teaching you how to build a structured system for mobile data collection. You will move beyond basic form creation to master advanced capabilities such as skip logic, hierarchy-based data entry, and the integration of GPS and multimedia metadata. Organizations today require results they can prove, and this course provides the technical foundation to demonstrate data provenance and accuracy in diverse operational environments. You will practice hands-on with the EpiCollect5 web and mobile interfaces, while being introduced to the broader ecosystem of Open Data Kit (ODK) standards and API-driven data integration.
What you will learn is a comprehensive methodology for digital field research. Specifically, you will gain the ability to design complex survey architectures using the EpiCollect5 Form Builder, manage remote field teams through the project dashboard, and implement rigorous data validation rules to prevent entry errors at the source. The curriculum covers the entire data lifecycle: from initial project scoping and logic design to field deployment, data cleaning, and spatial visualization. You will also explore how to handle modern constraints such as limited internet connectivity in remote regions and the necessity of maintaining data security during transit. This training is built for professionals who must deliver high-quality data under real-world pressures, ensuring that every data point collected is accurate, georeferenced, and ready for immediate stakeholder reporting.
Target Audience
This course is essential for professionals responsible for field-based evidence gathering and data management across various sectors.
This course is designed for:
- Public Health Field Officers managing community-based surveillance programs
- Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists tracking project performance indicators
- Environmental Impact Researchers conducting biodiversity and habitat assessments
- Social Science Researchers implementing large-scale household surveys
- Disaster Response Coordinators gathering rapid needs assessment data
- Agricultural Extension Officers monitoring crop yields and soil health
- Urban Planning Analysts conducting infrastructure and asset mapping
- Supply Chain Auditors verifying field-level compliance and logistics
- Data Managers overseeing the integrity of remote data repositories
- Project Leads responsible for digital transformation in field operations
Course Objectives
This course equips you to design, execute, and manage mobile data collection initiatives that improve data accuracy, ensure compliance with research protocols, and support strategic decision-making.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Assess field research requirements using a structured data needs assessment framework
- Apply advanced skip logic and validation rules within the EpiCollect5 Form Builder
- Construct multi-layered survey hierarchies to capture complex relational field data
- Execute field deployment strategies that ensure data security and offline synchronization
- Measure data quality using real-time monitoring dashboards and validation checks
- Navigate the technical requirements for capturing high-accuracy GPS and multimedia metadata
- Implement automated data cleaning workflows using CSV and JSON export formats
- Synthesize field findings into spatial visualizations and comprehensive stakeholder reports
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have a basic understanding of survey methodology and be comfortable using web browsers and mobile applications. No prior coding or programming experience is required. A laptop and a mobile device (Android or iOS) are necessary for hands-on exercises.
Local Application and Business Return
How participants can apply the training in local operating conditions, and the return their organisation can plan for.
How participants apply this
Expected ROI
Training Methodology
This is a practical, outcome-driven course designed to turn mobile data collection aspiration into measurable action and credible reporting.
Methodology includes:
- Hands-on form design exercise using the EpiCollect5 web-based builder
- Scenario simulation requiring field data entry under offline connectivity constraints
- Data validation audit using a standardized quality control checklist
- Stakeholder mapping exercise to define reporting requirements for field data
- Case study analysis from the public health and environmental sectors
- Group workshop producing a fully functional digital survey project
- Reflection exercise benchmarking current field practices against digital standards
Upcoming Sessions
Next available dates worldwide
Certification
Recognized credentials that advance your career
Participants who complete the Mobile Data Collection using the EpiCollect Training Program earn a Trainingcred Certificate of Achievement, demonstrating professional competence and alignment with global standards in learning and development.
NITA Accredited
Accredited by the National Industrial Training Authority, ensuring programs meet nationally recognized standards of quality and relevance.
CPD Certified
Recognized by the CPD Certification Service, ensuring every program meets internationally benchmarked standards of professional excellence.
Why this course earns its place on your CV
Accredited training, practitioner trainers, and peers on the same career track — the three things real expertise is built on.
Skills Relevance
- Master mobile data collection tools and techniques essential in today's data-driven environments.
- Learn to deploy EpiCollect in diverse contexts, enhancing your field data gathering efficiency.
- Acquire hands-on expertise in real-time data analysis to drive decision-making processes.
Expert Delivery
- Training delivered by seasoned professionals with over 10 years in mobile data collection.
- Gain insights from experts who've implemented EpiCollect in global health and ecology projects.
- Benefit from personalized feedback, ensuring mastery in mobile data collection applications.
Career Advancement
- Elevate your resume with advanced data collection skills sought after in many industries.
- Unlock new career opportunities in data analysis, project management, and field research.
- Become indispensable by mastering cutting-edge tools that increase operational efficiencies.
Tools and platforms relevant to this field
Examples Costa Rica teams may encounter, and that may be featured in training where they support the confirmed course scope.
These are field-relevant examples, not a promise that every tool will be covered. Exact coverage depends on the confirmed course scope, participant needs, and delivery format.
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Epicollect5 Oxford University Big Data Institute / CGPS TeamUsed to build mobile and web-based forms, collect GPS and media in the field, and export datasets for analysis.
