Enhanced reality fieldwork using hand-held computers in the field

This paper describes a project in which we are using inexpensive hand-held computers connected to a GPS receiver to support fieldwork in the environmental sciences and archaeology. The project is based on the concept of context awareness, whereby mobile computers make use of knowledge of their environment to alter their behaviour, typically by selective presentation of information. Our system can be used for data collection, the authoring and delivery of field exercises and student field experiments. We have carried out very successful field trials of the system in a variety of locations and on several different projects. These have shown that it is possible to collect more data, more quickly using hand-held computers than it is by using the traditional field notebook.