ODK (software)

ODK is open-source software for collecting, managing, and using data in resource-constrained environments.[1] It allows for offline data collection with mobile devices in remote areas. The submission of the data to a server can be performed, when Internet connectivity is available. It allows communities to aggregate data with full control over the collected data and the servers where this data is stored.

For other uses, see ODK (disambiguation).
ODK
Developer(s)Get ODK
Repositorygithub.com/getodk
Written inJava, JavaScript, Python
Operating systemMulti-platform
TypeData collection, Mobile forms
LicenseApache 2
Websitegetodk.org

ODK can be applied, when a community wants to collect data with full control over the collected data. Collected data can be stored offline on the mobile device. The collection and aggregation of data from the devices can be performed with Open Source tools according to privacy concerns of the community. The community members must be able to check the source code of the client and server application for unwanted features and respect for the privacy concerns. Furthermore, if the community wants to have full administrations rights for the server backend, then the ODK infrastructure can be set up according to these requirements and constraints for privacy concerns of the community. Because ODK allows the data collection in resource-constrained environments ODK is intended to be applied for underserved population and identify their needs and community driven innovation based on the aggregate data (see also Hartung et al. 2010[2])

Application

The ODK approach is relevant when privacy concerns of communities need to be respected e.g. for health related data,[3][4] environmental monitoring,[5] and political elections.[6]

In resource-constrained environments, SMS based methods for data collection have limitation e.g. in message length and submission of geolocation added to the collected record. Open Data Kit extends the data collection for these applications.[7]

Security, Integrity and Privacy

Computer security for data collection technologies[8] is important for trust of users in the agency or organisation that performs the data collection.

  • Offline data collection on a mobile device that is aggregated later on with an ODK aggregator with physical connection to LAN that is disconnected from the internet, does not require the submission of data over an insecure network.
  • Encryption of data on a mobile device with a public key, that can be decrypted on a WAN disconnected ODK backend provides the security for the already collected data on the device.
  • Closed source application for data collection do not provide an option for independent code analysis for backdoors. Because it is harder to detect backdoors that are injected in object code in comparison to the source code, the own compilation of the source by organisation is possible for high requirements for privacy.

Data collected can include information that may be considered sensitive or may have a negative impact on the citizen that provides the data. Such data may include medical or socioeconomic data or the data may derive conclusions about the political opinion.[8] Unallowed alteration of collected data (see data integrity[9]) on servers without control of the organisation collecting the data, might be unacceptable. Open Source application for data collection could avoid the computer security attacks on the operating system level or unintentional mishandling staff. The attitudes and practices of organizations collecting data have implications for confidentiality, availability, and integrity of data.

Governance

The Open Data Kit project is governed by the Project Management Committee (PMC) to define the roadmap for the development of ODK in the future. The definition of roadmap assigns major technical development steps to two Technical Steering Committees (TSCs) for the ODK and the extended ODK-X suite. Contributors and the contribution to the ODK source can be transparently monitored of the GitHub-repository "Who did when what?".[10]

Components
  • ODK Collect: Android Open Source App for Data Collection even for offline use in remote areas without internet connectivity.
  • ODK Build: Component is used for designing a questionnaire for ODK. It works as a drag-and-drop form designer for ODK XForms. It is used for data collection campaign e.g. for Health Sites
  • ODK Sensor:[11] using Open data kit sensors for mobile data collection with wired and wireless sensors, that submit the data to the mobile device and collect the data on the mobile device.
  • ODK Briefcase: ODK can collect the database records with GPS coordinates on a mobile device. ODK Briefcase is a Java application for fetching and pushing forms and their contents. With briefcase helps make billions of data points from ODK portable and use the data points e.g. for Decision Support Systems.
  • ODK Aggregate: The ODK Aggregate is the backend of ODK infrastructure, receiving the data from the mobile devices. To be multiplatform it is designed as Open Source Java server, that stores, analyzes, and presents survey data. Decision support is built on the collected data.

See also

References
  1. Benchmarking of Mobile Data Collection Solutions - What aspects to consider when choosing a tool/platform Terre des Hommes, CartONG, UNHCR, (2017) URL: http://blog.cartong.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Benchmarking_MDC_2017_CartONG_2.pdf - Accessed 2019/11/18
  2. Hartung et. al. (2010) Open Data Kit: Tools to Build Information Services forDeveloping Regions - URL: http://www.nixdell.com/classes/Tech-for-the-underserved/Hartung.pdf (accessed 2020/07/15)
  3. Tom-Aba, D., Olaleye, A., Olayinka, A. T., Nguku, P., Waziri, N., Adewuyi, P., ... & Shuaib, F. (2015). Innovative technological approach to Ebola virus disease outbreak response in Nigeria using the open data kit and form hub technology. PLOS One, 10(6), e0131000.
  4. Macharia, P., Muluve, E., Lizcano, J., Cleland, C., Cherutich, P., & Kurth, A. (2013, May). Open Data Kit, A solution implementing a mobile health information system to enhance data management in public health. In IST-Africa Conference and Exhibition (IST-Africa), 2013 (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
  5. Wireless sensor network system design using Raspberry Pi and Arduino for environmental monitoring applications
  6. Aranha, D. F., Ribeiro, H., & Paraense, A. L. O. (2016). Crowdsourced integrity verification of election results. Annals of Telecommunications, 71(7-8), 287-297.
  7. Alam, I., Khusro, S., Rauf, A., & Zaman, Q. (2014). Conducting surveys and data collection: From traditional to mobile and SMS-based surveys. Pakistan Journal of Statistics and Operation Research, 10(2), 169-187.
  8. Cobb, C., Sudar, S., Reiter, N., Anderson, R., Roesner, F., & Kohno, T. (2018). Computer security for data collection technologies. Development Engineering, 3, 1-11.
  9. Boritz, J. "IS Practitioners' Views on Core Concepts of Information Integrity". International Journal of Accounting Information Systems. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  10. ODK Contributors GitHub-Repositories - GitHub https://github.com/orgs/getodk/people (accessed 2020/04/15)
  11. Chaudhri, R., Brunette, W., Goel, M., Sodt, R., VanOrden, J., Falcone, M., & Borriello, G. (2012, March). Open data kit sensors: mobile data collection with wired and wireless sensors. (p. 9). ACM.
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