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Mobile Data Collection – The Essential Workflow

This guide will help you kick off your field data collection project, step by step. You’ll learn how to build your form, enable features for quality control, share the project with your field team, collect data using the MDC app, and review the results like a pro.

We’ll also point you to useful resources and tutorials to get the most out of each stage. Let’s get started!

1. Create a New Data Collection Form

To begin, log in to the Mobile Data Collection Portal. You’ll land on the Projects page, where you can:

  • View existing projects and templates
  • Create a project from scratch or use an existing form as a template

When creating a new project:

  • Enter the project name
  • Select the geometry type (points, lines, polygons)
  • Choose whether to build a new form or reuse a previous one

Now, start building your form:

Select a field type, enter a field name, and set the field’s options. Repeat this for each field you need.

Once done, click Create Project! This saves the form, enables autosave, and opens a project preview. From there, you can either fine-tune the form or go ahead and share it with your field team.

📘 Want to dig deeper? Check out the full overview of all available form items, from basic text to fields that are automatically populated.

2. Add Advanced and Quality Control Options

To make your form streamlined and more user-friendly, you can enhance it with the following advanced options:

  • Group related fields
  • Set up dependent fields (show new fields based on previously entered data)
  • Enforce unique values for specific fields
  • Translate forms into multiple languages

These features help streamline data entry in the field and boost data accuracy.

🎥 Prefer video? Watch this playlist or read more in this collection of guides.

3. Share your project with Field Collectors

Once your form is ready, it’s time to give access to your field team:

In the Share window:

  • Type the username of your field collector
  • Click Share
  •  Choose their permission level (can collect, can update, or both)

You’ll find all shared users listed below, and you can manage their permissions at any time.

📖 Need more info? Read the guide on sharing and permissions.

4. Collect data in the field

Fieldwork is done using the MDC app. Here’s how collectors get started:

  • Log in to the MDC app using GIS Cloud credentials
  • From the Settings page in the app:
    • Select the shared map
    • Choose the appropriate layer
    • Tap Form to start entering data

Data can be collected using the device’s GPS or by manually drawing points, lines, or polygons on the map.

🎬 Check out our video tutorials on using the MDC app here.
📘 And don’t miss this full guide: How to Collect Data with MDC App

5. Review, Edit & Filter Collected Data

Once data starts coming in, project managers can manage and review it via the Mobile Data Collection Portal.

📝 To edit a feature:

  • Select it from the datagrid
  • Or click the feature directly on the map

Both actions open an editing window with the form fields just as they were originally set.

🔍 To filter and explore your data:

  • Use the filter tool in the datagrid
  • Filters apply to both the map and the datagrid
  • Save filters and views for easy access later

Filtering makes it easier to analyse trends, quality-check inputs, or prepare reports.

You’re ready to hit the ground running with your field project!

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