Mobile Data Collection: Unlocking Efficiency in the Energy Sector

Key Takeaways

 

1. Energy has powered world economies for centuries, dating back to ancient civilizations that relied on basic sources such as fire for heating, cooking, and lighting.
2. The introduction of electricity in the late 19th century, followed by the development of oil and natural gas as energy sources, further transformed industries, driving technological advancements and rapid urbanization.
3. In today’s world, data plays a crucial role in the energy sector by optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and reducing costs.
4. Mobile data collection and drones have emerged as formidable solutions in real-time data collection and analysis, allowing energy companies to monitor performance, predict maintenance needs, and enhance decision-making.
5. This article extensively covers with real-world examples, how different energy organizations have leveraged modern data collection methods to streamline processes and drive sustainable energy solutions.

 

 

Also read: Revolutionizing Project Management with Mobile Data Collection: Real-World Success Stories

 

What is Mobile Data Collection?

Mobile Data Collection refers to the use of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets to record, store, and relay data in real-time for analysis.

This high-powered mobile approach has streamlined data collection and overall information management processes, as opposed to manual paper-based collection methods.

Mobile tools are complemented by other modern data collection tools such as drones to expand coverage into rural and remote regions of the world.

The supply of energy to rural underserved areas was initially slowed down by the delays, errors, and inconsistency of paper-based data.

Mobile data collection’s reliability and convenience have compelled many energy organizations to adopt and train their staff, with some professionals taking individual self-paced courses to learn the approach.

 

 

From busy city streets to remote rural areas, energy continues to be a vital resource powering trade and industries and ensuring a decent quality of life. Picture/Courtesy

How Does Mobile Data Collection Work?

 

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how mobile data collection works, along with some of the tools used at each stage of the process:

1. Designing Flexible Digital Forms

Energy sector workers can use survey authoring tools to create flexible digital forms that capture diverse data, from text and GPS coordinates to barcodes, images, and voice recordings.

These tools assist in designing, testing, and deploying digital forms efficiently.

Some mobile tools used in form design include:

 

1. XLSForms – Excel-based form design standard used by ODK, KoboToolbox, and CommCare.
2. ODK Build – Drag-and-drop form designer for ODK users.
3. Kobo Form Builder – Simplified visual form creator for KoboToolbox.
4. SurveyCTO Designer – Enterprise-grade form-building with conditional logic.
5. Google Forms – Basic web-based form creation tool.
6. Magpi Forms – Mobile-friendly form designer for surveys and data collection.

 

Data plays a crucial role in the energy sector by optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

2. Data Collection on Mobile Devices

Renewable energy specialists, field technicians, and other professionals in the sector use mobile devices to collect data in the field.

Many collection tools support multiple functionalities such as barcode scanning, GPS tracking, image capture, voice-to-text input, digital signatures, and many other functionalities.

Mobile data collection tools offer offline functionality, allowing users to capture data even without an internet connection and synchronize it later when connectivity is restored.

Some of the tools used to collect data using mobile devices include:

 

1. ODK Collect – Open-source mobile app for mobile data collection using ODK. ODK Collect can collect data offline.
2. KoboCollect – Mobile app for data collection using KoboToolbox.
3. SurveyCTO Collect – Secure, offline-first data collection platform.
4. Survey123 by Esri – GIS-enabled app for geospatial data collection.
5. CommCare – Mobile case management tool used in health and humanitarian projects.
6. TaroWorks – Salesforce-integrated data collection tool.
7. Magpi+ – Supports multimedia data input.

Dimagi CommCare – Supports longitudinal tracking and case management.

 

 

3. Offline Data Collection Without Internet Access

Mobile data collection tools allow for uninterrupted work, even without internet access, by storing data offline and automatically syncing it when a connection is available.

Some of the mobile tools for offline data collection include:

 

1. ODK Collect – Stores responses offline and syncs later to a cloud server.
2. KoboCollect – Stores responses offline and syncs later to a cloud server.
3. Magpi+ – Designed for low-bandwidth regions.
4. TaroWorks – Works offline and syncs with Salesforce CRM.
5. CommCare – Enables offline case tracking for healthcare and NGOs.
6. Surveys on Tab – Offline-first solution for market and corporate surveys.

 

Energy technicians review real-time data inside an energy plant. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

4. Data Synchronization: Uploading & Syncing to the Cloud

Mobile data collection tools automatically upload recorded data to a centralized cloud or on-premise servers for processing as soon as an internet connection is established.

Some of the mobile tools for data synchronization include:

 

1. ODK Central – Store and manage synchronized data.
2. ODK Aggregate – Store and manage synchronized data.
3. KoboToolbox Servers – Store and manage synchronized data.
4. Google Sheets API – Auto-syncs data to spreadsheets for easy access.
5. RedCap – Secure data management for research and healthcare projects.
6. ODK Cloud, Microsoft Azure, AWS S3, Digital Ocean, Google Cloud – Secure cloud-based data storage solutions.

 

5. Data Management: Cleaning, Processing, and Storage

Once collected, the data needs to be cleaned, processed, and organized to facilitate analysis and informed decision-making.

Some of the tools for data management include:

 

1. Microsoft Excel & Google Sheets – Used for basic data cleaning and filtering.
2. Power BI – Dashboard creation and business intelligence reporting.
3. Python & R – Advanced data processing and analytics.
4. Tableau – Data visualization and storytelling.
5. QGIS – GIS software for geospatial data mapping.
6. Google BigQuery – Cloud-based big data warehousing.

 

A renewable energy specialist tracks energy production from solar panels. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

6. Reporting & Action: Analyzing Data for Decision-Making

With processed data in hand, organizations create reports, visualize key insights, and drive informed decisions.

Some of the tools for reporting & action include:

 

1. Microsoft Power BI – Interactive data visualization and reporting.
2. Google Data Studio – Cloud-based business intelligence platform.
3. Tableau – Advanced analytics and visualization.
4. SPSS & Stata – Statistical tools for complex data analysis.
5. QGIS – GIS mapping and spatial analytics.
6. Looker (Google Cloud) – Data-driven business intelligence platform.

 

Although mobile data collection can take time to learn and implement, expert training significantly accelerates the learning process and helps you get up to speed quickly.

 

Mobile Data Collection Tools in the Energy Sector

Some of the popular mobile data collection tools for energy project monitoring and management include:

 

1. Open Data Kit (ODK)
2. KoBoToolbox
3. SurveyCTO
4. Survey123
5. Fulcrum

 

 

In renewable energy, accurate and real-time data collection is crucial for assessing project performance, monitoring installations, and conducting regular inspections. Picture/Courtesy

 

Case Studies of Successful Mobile Data Collection Implementation in the Energy Sector

Below is a list of notable projects in the energy sector that have used mobile data collection to streamline project management and decision-making:

 

1. ODK for Impact Measurement in Rwanda – Nuru Energy

Nuru Energy is a social enterprise providing clean energy and lighting to rural Rwandans living in poverty, using a “Shared Energy Access” model to reach those without electricity.

Shared Energy Access is an energy distribution model to mostly low-income communities or individuals who lack electricity, typically through affordable, pay-as-you-go systems.

This way, members and households share access to clean energy such as solar energy by by making small, manageable payments over time.

Nuru Energy trains Rwandan village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) to distribute LED lamps, mobile phones, and other devices, and operate pay-as-you-go, GSM-enabled, solar-powered recharging platforms for affordable recharging services.

 

Project Details

 

1. To measure the impact of their solar energy solutions and improve their services, Nuru Energy adopted ODK (Open Data Kit) mobile data collection in 2017.
2. Nuru settled on ODK because of its open-source nature, ease of customization, and ability to work in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

 

Challenges Faced By Nuru Energy Before Adoption of ODK

 

1. Field staff used paper forms to collect data on customer usage patterns, payments, and satisfaction. This was time-consuming, prone to errors, and resulted in delayed reporting.
2. Without real-time data, Nuru Energy struggled to assess how their products were being used in the field and to track the impact of their interventions on local communities.
3. Many of Nuru Energy’s customers were in remote areas of Rwanda with limited or no internet connectivity, which made it difficult to capture and transmit data on time.

 

 

A solar panel powers an irrigation pump at the shores of Lake Muhazi in Rwanda. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

Key Benefits of ODK on Nuru Energy’s Project Beneficiaries

 

1. Rural households benefited from affordable, clean lighting that improved their quality of life and health.
2. Local entrepreneurs, such as shopkeepers or small-scale businesses, benefited from reliable lighting, allowing them to increase productivity.
3. By streamlining data collection and impact measurement, Nuru Energy’s staff could focus more on delivering services and making data-driven decisions to improve their offerings.
4. School-going children can study or engage in productive activities after dark.

 

Source

Impact Measurement Case Study – Nuru Energy

 

2. KoBoToolBox for Off-Grid Energy Access Solutions in Tanzania – The World Bank

The off-grid energy sector refers to the provision of energy solutions to areas that are not connected to the central power grid.

The World Bank, an international financial institution that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries, invested in an ambitious off-grid energy project in Tanzania.

The project was aimed at providing energy to areas that are not connected to the central/national power grid.

These areas often include remote, rural, or underserved regions where extending traditional electricity infrastructure is difficult, costly, or impractical.

 

Project Details

 

 

1. In response to these challenges, the World Bank adopted mobile data collection tools starting in 2018, using ODK (Open Data Kit) and KoBoToolBox to streamline data collection and monitoring in remote communities.
2. OpenStreetMap was also introduced in the region to map the locations of solar home systems installed in rural areas, ensuring accurate geographic tracking.

 

Challenges Before the Adoption of Mobile Data Collection

 

1. Data was often collected on paper forms, which made it difficult to track the progress of solar energy installations and monitor energy usage in real-time.
2. With manual data collection, errors were common, particularly when transferring data from paper forms to digital systems.
3. Tanzania’s rural areas are often remote, and the lack of infrastructure makes it difficult to collect information or conduct follow-up visits.
4. As the project expanded to more rural communities, scaling up the data collection efforts using paper forms and manual methods became increasingly difficult.

 

 

Tanzania’s off-grid energy sector offers energy solutions to far-flung regions not connected to the main power grid. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

Key Benefits After Adoption of Mobile Data Collection 

Rural Tanzanian communities, small businesses, women and children, as well as The World Bank were positively impacted in the following ways:

 

1. Families who previously lacked electricity benefited from affordable solar home systems that provided clean and sustainable energy for lighting, cooking, and mobile phone charging.
2. Business people in rural communities could now operate at night, improving productivity thanks to reliable, renewable energy.
3. The World Bank and its local partners could track the impact, optimize operations, and ensure the scalability of the project.
4. Incorporating OpenStreetMap alongside mobile data collection tools helped ensure that the solar systems were optimally deployed, monitored, and serviced, further enhancing the effectiveness of the energy access initiative.

 

Source

Freeing the Data to Build the Off-Grid Energy Sector: A Case Study from Tanzania – William Davidson Institute

 

3. UEnergyHub for Energy Monitoring in Canada

Canada is a North American country and the second-largest by total land area.

Being part of the developed world, Canada’s energy consumption is high and efficiency is increasingly important.

 

Project Details

 

1. Screaming Power, a leading energy services company, adopted UEnergyHub, a mobile data collection and monitoring tool as part of its energy management solutions
2. The adoption of UEnergyHub for energy data collection and monitoring began in early 2020.
3. The project aimed to help Canadians better understand and optimize their energy consumption patterns.
4. UEnergyHub is a tailored energy management and monitoring platform that helps users monitor, control, and analyze their energy usage through real-time data collection from smart meters.

 

Challenges Before Adoption of Mobile Data Collection in Energy Monitoring by Screaming Power

 

1. Many Canadians lacked access to real-time, detailed data about their energy consumption, leading to inefficient energy use and higher utility costs.
2. Traditional energy monitoring methods were often cumbersome and inaccurate, with many users unaware of how to optimize their energy usage.
3. Energy usage data was often scattered across various utility providers and platforms, making it hard for consumers or researchers to gain a comprehensive view of energy trends.

 

 

As the energy demand continues to rise, the need for effective consumption monitoring becomes crucial to ensure sustainability and efficient usage. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

Key Benefits After Adoption of Mobile Data Collection

 

1. Users could now track their energy consumption in real-time, gaining instant access to usage data through mobile apps.
2. Households and businesses significantly reduced energy waste through data-driven insights.
3. The data collected by UEnergyHub was invaluable for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand patterns of energy consumption.
4. Businesses, particularly those with high energy demands, saw significant reductions in energy costs by optimizing their energy management and implementing energy-saving practices.

 

Source

Case Study – UEnergyHub Canada An Energy Collection Data Hub for Research – Screaming Power

 

 

4. Drones in Surveying the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Power Plant

With a capacity of 1,177 megawatts (MW) from 3.2 million solar panels, the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Power Plant was the world’s largest single-site solar power plant as of November 2022.

The plant is located near Abu Dhabi in Sweihan, owned and operated by Sweihan PV Power Company (SPPC).

Collecting operational data across the plant’s 7.8 square kilometers presented a significant logistical challenge for the power company.

 

Project Description

 

1. The plant’s management adopted the use of drones in 2019, months before it was officially inaugurated in 2020.
2. traditional inspection methods proved inefficient in monitoring the massive project, leading to the adoption of drones for surveying and mapping.
3. Drone inspections provide high-resolution images, higher quality, and more detailed data than traditional manual methods.
4. Falcon Eye Drones (FEDS), partnered with Pix4D, was contracted to provide high-resolution drone mapping for accurate monthly assessments.
5. Pix4D is a leading software company that empowers users to convert drone and device images into accurate, georeferenced 2D and 3D geospatial data.

 

Challenges Before the Adoption of Drones at the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Power Plant

 

1. Manual inspections required workers to physically walk the entire site to record data, which could take weeks.
2. Inspections using traditional methods involved heavy labor and equipment costs.
3. Site technicians and other personnel had to go through numerous solar panels, often under harsh environmental conditions, which posed safety risks.

 

 

Drones enable efficient surveying, capturing detailed maps, images, and videos of super-sized solar energy plants. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

Key Benefits After Adoption 

 

1. Drones enabled efficient surveying, capturing detailed maps, images, and videos of the plant’s expansive layout.
2. Drones significantly reduced the need for manual labor and the associated costs of walking the entire site.
3. Drones generated high-resolution photogrammetric data, which enhanced the accuracy of monitoring and ongoing plant management.
4. Noor Abu Dhabi’s management could make more informed, timely decisions, improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
5. The drone data allowed construction progress to be tracked more precisely, speeding up the development process toward its official inauguration.
6. Reduced human intervention in potentially hazardous areas ensured better safety protocols and fewer environmental disruptions.

Sources

 

1. Drone inspection in the energy industry: 4 success cases – Inspenet
2. Drones in Energy Sector: Ensuring Infrastructure Integrity – TerraDrone

 

 

Also read: What is ODK? Unlocking the Power of Open Data Kit in Healthcare Data Collection

 

 

5. Use of Fulcrum in Electricity Field Operations – GeoForce Utility Technologies

Founded in 1990, GeoForce Utility Technologies (GeoForce) is an American company dedicated to ensuring a constant electricity supply for its clients.

GeoForce offers the following services to clients to keep their lights on:

 

1. Emergency storm response
2. Electric pole inspection
3. Electric pole maintenance and preservation
4. Electric pole restoration

 

GeoForce personnel, therefore, mainly operate in the field, collecting data and securing electric infrastructure.

 

Project Details

 

1. GeoForce initially faced challenges with traditional field data collection methods, such as the reliance on Panasonic Toughbooks.
2. Panasonic Toughbooks are laptops and tablets produced by Panasonic, designed to withstand harsh environments, and are commonly used by professionals who work in demanding conditions.
3. In 2016, GeoForce transitioned to using iPads and Fulcrum for field data collection.
4. Implementing Fulcrum for use on iPads modernized data collection, improving efficiency and reporting flexibility.
5. Its versatility allowed the company to streamline operations across a variety of tasks, such as pole inspections, asset inventories, and emergency storm response.
6. Fulcrum was integrated with Microsoft SQL Server to collect and store data in a way that met client-specific formats.

 

Challenges Before the Adoption of Fulcrum Mobile Data Collection Tool

 

1. The older Panasonic Toughbooks had become outdated and were unable to meet the demands of modern field operations.
2. Paper maps and manual data entry led to slow data processing, causing delays in emergency response and regular operations.
3. GeoForce had difficulty meeting the varying data format requirements of its clients.
4. Supervising field work remotely was challenging, especially when trying to detect and correct errors in real-time.

 

A pair of technicians repair a damaged power line after a fierce storm. Picture/Courtesy

 

 

Key Benefits After the Adoption of Fulcrum in Electricity Field Operations by GeoForce

 

1. GeoForce field teams benefited from a faster, more streamlined data collection process, reducing manual entry and improving accuracy.
2. Utility/electricity companies were able to receive data in the required format quickly, improving operational oversight and decision-making.
3. GeoForce managers could monitor fieldwork in real-time, enabling proactive error correction and better quality control.
4. The Fulcrum App allowed GeoForce to provide data in any format requested by clients, improving customer satisfaction.
5. Clients could also view inspection progress in real time, enhancing transparency and collaboration.

Source

GeoForce outshines the competition with Fulcrum – Fulcrum App

Conclusion

Summarily, mobile data collection has become a transformative tool in monitoring energy projects, particularly in remote and off-grid areas.

 

This approach allows real-time data capture, even in the absence of internet connectivity, and enhances accuracy. This translates into better decision-making and improved project oversight.

 

Drones, on the other hand, have revolutionized the power plant survey processes, offering faster, safer, and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods.

 

Ultimately, modern data collection methods support the scalability and success of energy projects, driving greater economic development and improving the quality of life for beneficiaries.

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