Recollection guide
Content
Recollection is a useful feature for data collection, but it's important to understand when and how to use it effectively. This article will cover:
What recollection is
When to recollect
Fixing plots with large areas of overlap
Fixing plots with small areas of overlap
Fixing low-quality plots
Changing data without recollection
The impact of recollection on project timelines
What is recollection
Sometimes, after submitting a profile to the Local Partner Portal, you might notice that the polygon is not accurate (refer to this article for tips on identifying low-quality plots). When this happens, the plot needs to be retracked using the DCT app. This means the previously collected farmer profile needs to be sent back to the data collector's account in the DCT app and the data collector must revisit the farmer to correct the plot. Once the profile is submitted again, it will be locked for editing in both the app and the portal.
When to recollect
When importing farmer data into DCT, you may encounter issues like GPS errors, spelling mistakes, or missing information. In some cases, the profile needs to be recollected before the farmer can join the Acorn project.
You need to recollect profiles when:
There is no Participant Agreement or Data Sharing Consent.
A farmer must sign the Participant Agreement and Data Sharing Consent to join the Acorn program. If these are missing or not confirmed in DCT, the farmer’s data cannot be edited. Since confirmation can only be done in the DCT app, recollection is necessary.
The plot is missing, incorrect, invalid, or overlaps with another plot.
Examples of polygons that need recollection include those that don't follow the land's natural boundaries (1), have GPS errors (2), intersecting lines (3), or overlap with other plots (4). Delete these incorrect polygons from the LP portal, recollect the profile, and have the data collector retrack the plot.
You do not need to recollect profiles when:
There is a small typo in a name or address (this can be corrected directly in the LP portal).
You need to change the reference ID of the farmer or plot (this can also be changed in the LP portal).
You want to assign the farmer profile to a data collector without changing any data (reassignment is sufficient).
Fixing plots with a large area of overlap
Large overlaps often occur when two farmers claim the same piece of land. In such cases, both farmers need to be consulted to correct the boundaries. For this, a data collector needs to visit the neighbouring farmers and figure out the exact borders between the land. Here's what you need to do as a Local Partner:
Reassign both farmer profiles to the same data collector.
In the Local Partner Portal, recollect both profiles to unlock them and send them to the data collector’s app.
The data collector refreshes their DCT app while connected to the internet to receive the profiles.
The data collector visits the farmers and consults them to fix the overlap.
The data collector retracks the plots without overlap and submits the profiles to the Local Partner Portal.
Check the plots in the Local Partner Portal to ensure they are correct.
Fixing plots with a small area of overlap
Small overlaps, usually caused by shared borders, can often be fixed by the Local Partner without needing to revisit the farm. The border is usually visible from the satellite image. Here's how to fix this:
Reassign the farmer profile(s) to yourself.
Recollect the profile(s) in the Local Partner Portal.
Refresh your DCT app while connected to the internet to see the profile.
Edit the plot using the satellite image as a guide to move the markers until there is no more overlap (find out how here).
Submit the updated farmer profile to the Local Partner Portal.
Fixing low-quality plots
To prevent issues such as overlap, it is important that the collected data is as accurate as possible. This image shows how a low-quality polygon (white) can cause overlap if a neighbouring farm wants to join Acorn in the future (red).
Changing data without recollection
Recollection is only necessary when making changes to the Participant Agreement, Data Sharing Consent, or plot polygon. Minor changes, such as correcting spelling mistakes or updating reference IDs, can be done directly in the Local Partner Portal:
Go to the farmer profile in the Local Partner Portal.
Click 'Edit' in the section where changes are needed.
Make the changes and click 'Save.'
You can also change the data collector responsible for a farmer profile without recollection. Simply reassign the profile:
In the Local Partner Portal, navigate to the farmer profile.
Go to the 'Data Collection' section and click 'Edit.'
Search for the data collector's name and select it.
Click 'Save.'
The impact of recollection on project timelines
Recollection can delay the project, especially if it wasn’t included in the original timeline. The delay depends on how many plots need recollecting. While it's ideal to avoid recollection, it is often necessary, so it's important to plan for this possibility when creating the project timeline.