How infield electronic capture improves overall data quality

Using electronic data capture when collecting geoscientific data is crucial to getting high-quality information to decision-makers.

Electronic data capture eliminates double entry and reduces the chance of incorrectly associated or misreported data.

Geoscientists need to make decisions based on accurate information to ensure they get the most value out of the resource, but if the quality of initial inputs is inconsistent, it compromises the entire mining value chain.

Your team’s observations and measurements are worth nothing if you can’t be assured of their quality and integrity.

Drilling activities rely on complex processes that require a chain of different functions to report and pass data through to others. Inconsistencies and errors in the related data collection processes have a significant impact on the profitability of the resource.  Time spent correcting errors downstream is costly and you have decreased confidence in the data.

Errors can easily sneak into the data. For example, incorrectly associating standards or duplicates to samples can have a significant effect on your QAQC program.

Even when samples are correctly labelled, mistakes can be made when transcribing the data. Written notes, whose quality can vary, are often copied into a spreadsheet, which is then copied into a data management system. At entry points from field to paper and from paper to digital you have the possibility of introducing errors.

The result of these errors means the picture subsequent functions in the process see is built on false foundations.

Electronic capture means better quality data

• The best way to limit the possibility of using incorrect data to make decisions is to have an electronic system that allows field personnel to see and correct mistakes on the fly, rolling up data instantly to the geoscientific information management system.
• Providing geoscientists with electronic data collection tools helps them adhere to standard collection procedures and saves time, producing consistent results. By enforcing operating procedures via electronic data capture, it is possible to eliminate inconsistencies and other factors that jeopardise data quality.
• Transcription is a significant choke point in getting data into the system. Paper needs to be gathered from multiple workers, organised and entered manually. Electronic data capture streamlines this two-part process and syncs data much more quickly so other functions can verify its quality and use it earlier. Missing or incorrect data, such as incorrectly associated samples, can be corrected much more quickly when it is visible to all stakeholders.
• If corrections need to be made, it is easiest when workers are still at the point of data collection. Validation provided by electronic data capture provides automatic feedback in the field when workers are collecting the information. One common error would be
• This sort of error is impossible when using a tool that is set up for the specific data collection requirements.
• Downstream activities can also see what is coming, which guides everyone on what to do next. This timely view of the overall picture provided by a site-wide system allows forward planning for a smoother process.

Visibility for all functions

To get full value out of electronic data capture, it needs to sync with the rest of your geoscientific information. acQuire’s GIM Suite is a configurable system supporting any geoscientific data collection task you may take on at your site.

Once in your project’s information management system, each area can see the completeness of data and the stage of the process. Rich data views using dashboards allow everyone in the organisation to access the same information, eliminating silos and making access to your geoscientific data more democratic.

Every member of your team needs to be working from the same data and that data quality and integrity needs to be preserved for the longevity of a project. Sharing the same data means a single source of all your geoscientific information is available to your team so they can produce optimal decisions.