Ecobot

Streamline your fieldwork!

Commenti: I have had a great experience with Ecobot. The customer support has been unparalleled. I appreciate how willing the Ecobot team is to hearing about the user experience. They are always willing to hear suggestions and in some cases incorporate those into the app!

Aspetti positivi:

Offline capabilities make the biggest difference in the field. Having the description of every hydric soil and wetland hydrology indicator stored within the app makes delineating more efficient and more accurate. I love that the wetland plant list is contained within the app as well.

Aspetti negativi:

Recording soil colors within the app took the most adjustment. This is the only feature that is slower compared to writing by hand.

A fantastic product making the post fieldwork life easier

Commenti: From the initial contact with the Ecobot team, it has been nothing but a great experience. They have been more than accommodating to all of our company's questions and concerns; they have bent over backwards to provide our field teams ample time to fully explore the capabilities of Ecobot; and they continue to support our field staff with answers to their many questions. All of our field-based and office-based questions and issues have been quickly addressed and/or resolved.

Aspetti positivi:

First and foremost, the platform is easy to use when in the field. It is intuitive and very user-friendly. Inputting data is quick and easy. Although not a critical component, the visual aesthetics make working with the app enjoyable. The text is easy to read, the colors provide good contrast, etc. All-in-all, it is just a great product and worth the investment. The staff at Ecobot is obviously invested in every aspect of the app.

Aspetti negativi:

I am looking forward to the integration with the NRCS Soils layer and the LRR layer. There is still some background research that needs to be done to fully complete the datasheet. The idea of being able to drop a point and have all static information auto-populate is very exciting. While it may be a ways off, if potential hydric soils could be identified, or even minimized to "likely to be one of the following:" that would be beyond impressive.

Useless without online editing

Aspetti positivi:

The interface on the app is fairly user friendly, and the plant look up is pretty quick.

Aspetti negativi:

The app is useless without a web interface editing. Although it may speed things up in the field, the office time to make any edits after the fact is annoying and time consuming. For example, if I collect 45 sample points and then have to post-edit the lat/longs to match our GPS data, the time it takes to go into each individual data sheet in the app and hand-type the coordinates makes the app basically non-useable compared to a simple excel data form. Also, I want my forms to sort by time/date collected and not name. It is annoying that I can't change the way they are sorted. Sometimes I collect forms in Wetland A, Upland-1, Wetland A2, Upland 2, etc.... and the app auto sorts it by uplands/wetlands even if that wasn't the order I collected it. Regarding the above: our GIS generates our GPS data into an excel document with lat/longs, soil data, etc in the order that it was collected. There needs to be a grid style editing that I can copy and paste data in for all forms at once so that I don't need to individually access each form Also, it is a hassle for my coworkers to finalize my forms. It can be difficult for them to access my PDFs if I didn't have time to create the pdf in my app before they try to download it from the web. As of now, you literally have to delete the app, reinstall it, log in with my user name, create the pdf, delete the app again, reinstall it and log in with your own data, and then access the PDF from the web.

Great app for wetland delineation data collection

Commenti: I think it takes as much time to enter data in the app as on a hard copy field notebook, but this eliminates the time in the office for data entry to create datasheets. The only office time required for datasheets is for proofreading and editing. I like returning from the field with datasheets completed and ready to proofread.

Aspetti positivi:

This app is easy to use in the field if you are familiar with wetland delineation datasheet content. There's a small investment of time needed to learn how to enter project and site data, but then the app allows for efficient data entry in the field. It customizes datasheets for all regions of the US. It has an easy to use database of plant species and indicator status for each region, and it has definitions of all hydrology and hydric soil indicators. Ecobot also does the vegetation calculations instantly.

Aspetti negativi:

Editing datasheets can only be done on an iPhone or iPad. It would be nice if there were a web interface for easier editing in the office. The price is a bit high for pay as you go datasheets, and the contract options require a significant up front cost for packages of datasheets.

The App for Wetland Professionals

Commenti: We have had a lot of success using the app. It was trial and error at the beginning while the app was still in development but now it works fast a efficiently and that is exactly what we need.

Aspetti positivi:

The Ecobot app is easy to use and there is little to no set up involved. It's easy to deploy to field crews no matter where they are. You have everything at your fingers that you would need to complete your USACE forms and submit.

Aspetti negativi:

Currently there is no way to edit the PDF after you have completed the form. You must manually go back in and make the corrections. That makes it hard for project managers to edit data from multiple field crews and get the data forms back.

Time Saving APP and Best Customer Service

Commenti: The company I work for has been using this app since its inception. To date, the customer service has been highly exceptional. The Ecobot team has worked with us in adopting several updates and new features that has made flow of data collection faster and more accurate for the professional. There are still a few kinks to work out, but so minor at this point that its really just nitpicking person preference.

Aspetti positivi:

The team and their quick response to both technical issues and feature update requests. Software specific: The software provides many valuable features for both the beginner and veteran delineator. Its quite hard to pick just one positive. I suppose the automatic vegetation worksheet calculations are the biggest time saver. While, yes I can do math just fine, its one less thing your brain needs to do when you are on your 20-something datapoint and second camel-back while the weather is hitting 80% humidity and 90+ heat, you have hit your 10,000 step count and its not even noon.

Aspetti negativi:

It is not available on Android. Also the software needs an option to archive projects and the website would be more useful if it were a Team/Company website with multiple users, rather than each user having their own website. I think both of these features are currently being worked on.

Wetland Delineation Support

Commenti: While we are still implementing this technology in the group, so far, our experience with Ecobot has been positive, and our Ecobot contacts have been extremely helpful with explaining the product and helping us implement the product. Our contacts quickly set our team up with the dashboard and hosted a 1.5 hr group training session. Additionally, the tech support has been very helpful and available for us.

Aspetti positivi:

The application itself is very user friendly. My colleague and I were able to get set up with a test with little to no previous explanation and were able to navigate the different fields very efficiently. What we liked best was the functionality of the scroll wheel (over a keyboard) in the different fields, and the ability to "clone" the data sheet, but still be able to make minor changes - huge time saver. Additionally, the search function for vegetation was very user friendly, and has multiple ways to search for a plant species. The ability to save and send the completed form from the field to the cloud is also very helpful and efficient. The dashboard is also very user friendly and serves multiple functions. One can print a completed form, download the files spatial data, download an excel file summarizing all of the form's data, and much more. The dashboard is essentially an all in one package for organizing and managing multiple project's data at one time.

Aspetti negativi:

My biggest issue is that you can't manipulate the data form when in the dashboard. While it is best for the one who created the form to make the edits, it would be extremely helpful to have the same functionability in the phone application also in the dashboard. I would also like to see this same technology be able to create waterbody data forms.

Can’t remember life without it

Commenti: Love Ecobot! I’ve been with them since the beginning and honestly can’t see myself going back to the old way of doing things.

Aspetti positivi:

It is so user friendly! The guys at Ecobot really listen to feedback and want it to incorporate as many useful tools as possible to make our jobs incredibly efficient and easier.

Aspetti negativi:

I wish there was an interface on desktop that would make it easier for project managers/reviewers to review and edit the data sheets online and in real time instead of having to go back to the user‘s phone who created the data sheet to make edits.

Game Changer for Fieldwork

Commenti: My experience has been great. They provide great customer service and a technical resource that has been sorely missing for field staff to help expedite wetland delineations. I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to help support field staff and increase efficiency on projects of all sizes.

Aspetti positivi:

We started using Ecobot in the field for wetland delineations about a year ago. Once we set up the project in the app, I saw how much more efficient we were in the field without having to organize physical paper copies or input redundant information for each form. We were even completing additional delineations with fewer errors. I've also noticed a reduction in office time and QC because we no longer have to transcribe our data forms or scan them in.

Aspetti negativi:

Honestly, I can't think of anything. The team at Ecobot has been great. They helped provide us with technical documents to help less tech savvy staff feel comfortable using the app. In addition, Ecobot staff has kept our technical staff who use the app up to date with new updates to the app as well as opportunities to provide feedback to improve the app (e.g. improving and expanding the plant species database within the app).

My time with Ecobot

Aspetti positivi:

The ability to use the product out in the field without having to carry around a pen and paper is definitely a pro. It is easy to change information if you need to once you get back to your office as long as it is on your phone. Customer support is great with this product. Any time I have had a problem the support team is fast to fix it and answer any questions I have. It is easy to upload your data points once you get back to the office. Overall I like the product and will continue to use it.

Aspetti negativi:

Some of my colleagues do not have the ability to use the product because they do not have an iphone making it harder to decide who goes into the field. Not being able to share files with co-workers makes it harder to change information in a data point without having to ask your co-worker change it or you have to borrow their phone.

Ruekert Mielke

Commenti: We have found the implementation, operation, and maintenance of the software to be excellent. There is some concern about cost when performing an assured delineation in Wisconsin as those delineation require more data points.

Aspetti positivi:

Ease of use and interface. We liked the fee structure as well.

Aspetti negativi:

I have not had any issues with the software

Great product and even better support.

Commenti: We are looking to save time in the office by entering data in the field and generating the forms. We are still in 'practice' mode, but our efforts seem to be heading in the right direction

Aspetti positivi:

Once you get the hang of it, it is very intuitive. We have had some issues along the way, but the Customer Support has been outstanding - helping us over the obstacles. They are very responsive to my needs and always provide me with a solution or an acceptable explanation.

Aspetti negativi:

The biggest con is the GPS Location not fixing on the data point. Ecobot is aware of this shortfall and while they are working on the solution (which should be coming shortly), they have provided a workaround. A couple of other minor issues regarding autofill on the form based on your location (Section-Township-Range), but Ecobot has also been addressing that!

ERM Review

Commenti: We used to do notes by hand in field books. We often have problems with handwriting or missing data or just different note-taking styles that leave too much room for interpretation. Then when notes get back to the office, people have to spend hours inputting that data into forms. This really streamlines our process and helps with plant identification.

Aspetti positivi:

The vegetation and soil parts of the app look really good and easy to use. I like that the options for soil indicator are pared down based on your location. I like that vegetation is so easy to search. The app appears to be fast and intuitive.

Aspetti negativi:

It would be great if we could take and caption pictures in the app and have them be attached to the appropriate form. We now do photologs by taking pictures on our phones and relying on a specific order of photo taking to know which site the photos belong and the direction the photos are facing (NESW).

A Great Tool to Help Field Work Transition Into Report Writing.

Aspetti positivi:

-USACE Data Forms are filled out accurately and easily, no data is missed. -Eliminates the need to transcribe field notes into data forms -Ability to lookup the scientific or common name of plants based on the region you're in. -Able to quickly look up soil info. -Able to quickly look up wetland classifications using environmental resource mapper.

Aspetti negativi:

-Boundary creation is very clunky. -GPS information for data points isn't always accurate and needs to be fetched. -To look plant information (Indicator Status) you need to be within a data point, it would be nice to be able to look up plant info without adding data to a project.

Field Work Made Easy!

Aspetti positivi:

I love that it does all of the wetland vegetation calculations for me! I also don't have to make sure my paper doesn't get wet and muddy when I am out in a mucky wetland!

Aspetti negativi:

I feel like it takes a toll on my battery, but there are a lot of features so it is understandable!

Ecobot Helps Tremendously in the Field

Aspetti positivi:

Ecobot is very easy to use and cuts down time that is typically used to fill our paper data sheets. The copy/paste feature makes similar wetlands that are next to each other quick and easy to fill out, with minor changes. As a consultant, Ecobot is definitely a great application to use in the field.

Aspetti negativi:

I hope to see an update regarding the soil layers tab. It’s not user friendly and you cannot easily edit copied soil layers/delete layers. Also, I wish you could have multiple wetland regions within the same project.

Ecobot Has Boosted Productivity

Commenti: Ecobot has worked great for us this season. Reports are being written at a quicker pace now that e no longer have to take the time to transfer data into the computer.

Aspetti positivi:

This software saves a tremendous amount of time transferring the data we collect in the field into a finished document that we can use in the office. As long as you're already familiar with the delineation data forms the app is very easy to use.

Aspetti negativi:

My only complaints are on the office-end of the software. There are times when the data collected in the field is incomplete or something has been forgotten, or needs to be edited. Currently we are unable to edit anything with the PDF we download from the portal. However, we've already had a conversation about this with our customer service rep and he assures us that this is something that they are working on.

Ecobot User Experience

Aspetti positivi:

Ecobot provides a fast and easy way to collect wetland data forms in the field and cut down on the time consuming process of re-creating data forms from field notes. The app is user friendly and is an efficient way to streamline the wetland data form process.

Aspetti negativi:

Ecobot is currently only available on the iOS platform through iPhone and iPad

My review

Commenti: Faster production of data sheets, getting better at using it

Aspetti positivi:

Quick entry of data has helped speed up my report production

Aspetti negativi:

Not able to put in what I want in drop down

Newkirk

Commenti: Very efficient

Aspetti positivi:

The functionality and access to resources

Aspetti negativi:

Need to be able to create forms on the desktop

Ecobot Review

Commenti: I like the idea of using more technology to improve my workflow. However, it's too soon to know if Ecobot will be a cost-effective solution for me.

Aspetti positivi:

I like some of the features of the form. I like the plant species drop down list. I also like having the hydric soils and wetland hydrology descriptions available as a reference from the Corp Suppliment.

Aspetti negativi:

The maps don't seem to download for offline use - even while I'm connected to WiFi. Sometimes multiple sample sites have the same soil profile, so I wish I could make duplicates of existing filled-out forms while in the app that I can re-label or 'save as'.

Ecobot Review

Aspetti positivi:

The app is user friendly for the most part. It's nice to have the data sheets almost completely filled out while out in the field. The customer service has been excellent and any questions/concerns we have had have been addressed in a timely matter.

Aspetti negativi:

There are certain fields within the app that are not autofilled (section/township/range). The lat/long coordinates have not been accurate when downloading the data points into ArcGIS.

Goodbye, paper data sheets

Commenti: Overall, we are saving money with Ecobot. I am spending about the same amount of time in the field, and a lot less time in the office - which is ideal. The customer service of Ecobot is great as well. If I have an issue or question, it is easy to get in touch with the team for help.

Aspetti positivi:

I like that I can collect field data directly on the app, but also look up information right on the app - such as soil types, plant species, and it is all tailored to my region. I save time in the office because there is no transcribing of data from paper data sheets to excel sheets. Now, the data is collected and downloaded in the exact format of the Army Corps data form.

Aspetti negativi:

I have not had the chance to test out some of the newer features, such as drawing the wetland boundary.

overall positive still needs some work

Commenti: happy for what it can do and excited to see it improve over time.

Aspetti positivi:

Ease of datasheet creation, pdf download feature

Aspetti negativi:

search function for project location -- constant scrolling -- would be good to be able to mark commonly used items

My first month using Ecobot

Commenti: I plan to add the Ecobot app to my routine wetland delineation practice and expect new updates to further improve the user interface and time savings.

Aspetti positivi:

Saves me a lot of time converting field sheets into a report ready PDFs. When working with two people in the field, you can collect data and finish a data sheet in a 1/4 of the time. Very handy!

Aspetti negativi:

-I would like to be able to edit the field sheets on a desktop platform, not my iPhone. This make is pretty cumbersome when making edits and reviewing the updated sheets. -We should be able to create a plant species library for most commonly occurring species instead of having to go through the entire plant database.