Innovative methods of data collection in times of COVID-19

Fieldwork and reliable information gathering are essential components for the success of any project. The restrictions on face-to-face activities and mobility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced us to rethink methods of obtaining information. Searching for tools and new technologies that facilitate field tasks has been key to the success of projects and have allowed us to work effectively and reliably in the current circumstances. Below are some of the tools we have used to obtain key information while working on projects throughout the pandemic:

Big Data companies specialise in collecting mobility data in the world's cities through sensors, vehicles and smartphone applications. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the mobility of these cities has been behaving in atypical ways, these databases can be a valuable resource for obtaining estimates of speed, capacity and data of origin and destination at a time when using traditional methods of gathering data was not possible. At Steer, we have used these sources of information to create traffic models and predictions for our clients.

Using drones to survey road infrastructure has yielded excellent results during the pandemic. The drone takes a set of high-quality aerial images of the study area, which are then digitised to obtain layers of information, including urban furniture, the condition of the infrastructure and the vegetation layer or elements of the road infrastructure. This data is then quantified and measured using a geographic information program. 
This alternative to surveys has a good cost to benefit ratio since high-quality information can be obtained in a short time and at a cost that, compared to the traditional field survey alternative, is significantly lower. Also, a survey by drone allows a detailed site recognition to perform urban analyses that cannot be performed in person at this time, with the advantage of being able to return to the information as many times as necessary.

Information-gathering alternatives do not necessarily have to use state-of-the-art technology to be innovative. Interviews and surveys through telephone calls have allowed us to get closer to the target population of our projects, avoiding the risk of contagion between our consultants and survey participants. A phone call can be implemented in all types of scenarios and is an alternative that does not require the purchase of certain technologies.