Utilizing Tablets for Mobile Data Recording in a CRM Context

Summary

This poster session illustrates the effective utilization of tablet computers in archaeology using a cultural resource management (CRM) case-study. CRM in British Columbia requires rapid turn-around times between site identification, investigation, reporting, and project development. This dynamic makes tablets ideal for generating complex datasets from archaeological sites in short periods of time. Digital data can be imported into GIS or database management systems immediately, without transcription or data processing. We were able to make alterations to project footprints day-by-day that effectively avoided archaeological site boundaries and management zones. During our 2014 field season, we customized FileMaker, a relational database application useable on both PC and iPad tablets to collect typological, metric, geographical, and photographic image data. The tablet enables users to control, share and store data in the field. This creates fewer inconsistencies in reporting and allows for more accessibility, making it possible for informed management decisions to be made in the field. This accessibility of data through the use of tablets can transfer to all aspects of CRM and allow for data sharing on the macro scale.

SAA 2015 abstracts made available in tDAR courtesy of the Society for American Archaeology and Center for Digital Antiquity Collaborative Program to improve digital data in archaeology. If you are the author of this presentation you may upload your paper, poster, presentation, or associated data (up to 3 files/30MB) for free. Please visit http://www.tdar.org/SAA2015 for instructions and more information.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage