Tally sheet format for repeats

[AmeWunderle]

I want to begin by saying that our company has been using Survey123 for the past 2 years and finding it quite helpful for our field work. We are always excited by the new developments and the continuing improvements we see. We do have an idea for an enhancement that would be applicable to many forestry surveyors or anyone who needs to record tallies in the field.

Our company completes forestry surveys every summer. In order to get a tree tally, we use repeats so that we have a resulting related table with all trees and their specs. However, the repeats in their current form (changing page using "+" or "-") are very awkward for our field workers as they need to see what trees they've added, or add specs to a tree they added 2 trees ago. What we would really like to see is the repeat "growing down" like a table, adding a line for each item added so that the surveyor can see at a glance what trees they have 'collected'.

Also we would like to be able to update the values. For example, if a surveyor has a prism and is sweeping the plot, they will count the number of different trees they see to a partner. The partner can add the trees in the survey (if a new species) and update the 'count' (if a previously found species) for each one as they are found by the prism sweep. Then later different measurements can be made on representative trees in the plot, which would be easier if the surveyor could see all repeated records at a glance. 

Thank you for your consideration.

[TonyViveiros1]

I agree this would be an improvement for some repeat workflows. Implement by having a tabular appearance option for repeats?

Tony

[AmeWunderle]

Yes, I see it working like this:

Repeat Starts:

*fields to record data for each tree listed at the top, records inserted like in a table

+ button for a new line which would grow the table down and then add the filled in record to the related table upon submission of the survey

Tree #	Species	Height	DBH	Age	Condition	Crown Class	Layer	Plot Identifier	Comments
1	BS	14	10		3	C	2	N	mistletoe
2	WS	24	20	80		D	1	Y
										+

+ button for a new line which would grow the table down and then add the filled in record to the related table upon submission of the survey

[MartinaTekelova]

This would be great improvement to our filed data collection, when speed is a factor and multitasking is going on constantly.

For example when collecting data on a sample plot and using paper cards to record measurements the work flow is as follows: 1. record all the species and their respective DBH, 2. step away from plot to see the tree tops and collect the heights, 3. back at the plot collect age and rest of the relevant info. If working with a partner one person is recording one set of data (species, height) while the other person is calling out other results (DBH, age) to be recorded.

In Survey 123 going from making comments on tree #14 back to tree #5 your partner just measured is quite clunky. Also when working with DBH classes we would go back to a tree to record count if we find more trees in the same class. So instead we choose to record our data on paper cards and edit the Survey 123 in the office. 

This season we collected nearly 1000 plots during one type of survey and all the plots had to be manually edited in the office.

Being able to record our tree measurements in a table form right in the field would mean going fully digital and remove extra step of editing records in the office.

Thank you!

[1989]

Something like this would be excellent for reforestation quality control and seedling survival audit plots.

[DataOfficer]

This approach would also be extremely useful for wildlife surveys.

[BrandonA_CDPH]

This would also be great for collecting multiple environmental samples from a single site. To be able to fill in something like sample type, then the specifics of weight or volume and easily go back and forth between records would help that workflow as well.