Climate researchers in New Zealand and Fiji use mobile survey technology from cluetec GmbH

cluetec GmbH, specialist in mobile software solutions based in Germany, won the New Zealand company Landcare Research as a new client. The companies are collaborating with the University of the South Pacific on a research project looking into the effects of climate change on poverty and community resilience in Fiji.

(New Zealand), 25 February 2013 – cluetec GmbH, specialist in mobile software solutions based in Germany, won the New Zealand company Landcare Research as a new client. The companies are collaborating with the University of the South Pacific on a research project looking into the effects of climate change on poverty and community resilience in Fiji. Equipped with tablet computers and cluetec’s mobile survey technology, mQuest ® , the researchers are surveying rural areas that have been seriously affected by flooding, cyclones, and storm surge in recent years.

The New Zealand company Landcare Research has partnered with the Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of the South Pacific to study the effects of climate change on poverty and community resilience in Fiji. The study, which is being carried out through mid-March, will survey 400 households, many of which are located in very isolated areas. To make answering the highly complex questionnaires with approx. 700 questions as quick and simple as possible, Landcare Research and the University of the South Pacific are using cluetec’s survey technology, mQuest ® , on tablet computers.

As there is neither Internet access nor a reliable electricity supply in many remote villages in Fiji, the project requires equipment that is as self-reliant as possible: hence the choice of mQuest ® , which is fully accessible offline. Only at the end of the field work will the data be uploaded to the institute’s server via an online interface, after which they will be available for final evaluation.

“It was very important to us to carry out this highly complex survey using software and mobile devices,” explains Pike Brown, Capability Leader of the Economics and Land Use Modelling group at Landcare Research. “Using this technology will mean greater convenience, a lower probability of errors, and faster results. The rural setting for the research,” he adds, describing the particular challenges faced by the project, “also demanded that we be able to work in total absence of an Internet connection.”

Managing Director of cluetec GmbH, Jan Schöttelndreier, says: “We are very happy about this exciting collaboration, which allows us to demonstrate the broad variety of uses mQuest mQuest ® has to offer.”

mQuest ® is one of the standard applications in the field of mobile market research. Its customers include more than five of Germany’s top ten market research agencies and numerous well-known industrial firms from all over Europe. mQuest ® can be used in any sector and is suitable for a very broad range of both online and offline questionnaires, e.g. face-to-face surveys, diary studies and mystery research. The software was developed especially for mobile use and is compatible with all major mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.

Both the survey and data collection can take place either on- or offline, so there is no need for an Internet connection, wireless or otherwise. The data collected can be synchronised simply with the entire survey later on. Data can be collected in their entirety and in a structured manner, before immediately being digitally edited, evaluated and presented. Interviews can be enhanced with audio recordings, photos or videos and can be held in several languages, including Chinese, Russian and Arabic.

This content was provided by cluetec GmbH. Visit their website at www.mQuest.eu.