Fisheries research using digital tablets in Myanmar

Abstract

The present paper introduces a new method for data gathering using digital tablets in the field. The method is part of a fisheries study aimed at identifying migration patterns and breeding sites of key commercial fish species in Myanmar. The research is based on systematic and structured gathering of local knowledge along a 1,000 km long segment of the Ayeyarwady River, from the southern Delta to the northern Central Dry Zone. Digital tablets are used to convert local indigenous knowledge into data. The system developed includes two modules: i) Android-based tablets with digital questionnaires for data collection on the field, and ii) a Back Office application for questionnaire management and data compilation. The tool allows data collected from different tablets to be uploaded through a ftp server and combined into a single matrix ready for analysis.