Compared to traditional data collection efforts using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, the methodology developed for this project is unique in two ways:

1. Field researchers collected, post-processed and uploaded the data to the project website in a single day.
2. Researchers used an Apple iPhone to take photos of the security zones and collect information about their location.

To make the field researchers' task as intuitive and user-friendly as possible, we built in significant backend support to the data collection process. The database and security zone assessment criteria served as the foundation for the project software, and the 'mashup' of widely available web-based software was tied together with software built specifically for the project.

The programming team used and developed software based on standards and specifications developed by the World Wide Web Consortium and the Open Geospatial Consortium.