Field data capture technologies are a foundational component of geographic information science and technology (GIST), enabling the systematic collection of spatial, attribute, and temporal data. This entry provides an overview of the preparation, tools, workflows, and data structures involved in field data collection. It begins with a reflection on the logistics and planning needed to organise field campaigns, including training, task allocation, and field offices. It then reviews key technologies in the mobile GIS ensemble, ranging from GNSS receivers and laser rangefinders to mobile apps and hand-held computing devices, and assesses their functionality within different field contexts. The entry also considers the integration of sensor networks, positioning techniques, and app-based interfaces such as Esri’s Field Maps, QuickCapture, and Survey123. Whilst grounded in the technical requirements of data capture, it takes care to foreground the socio-technical and epistemological dimensions of field praxis, emphasising that spatial data collection is shaped as much by representational choices and logistical constraints as by technical precision and accuracy. Field data capture is presented as a contingent, embodied, and interpretive process linking the world to its digital representation.
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are revolutionizing how GIS&T researchers and practitioners model and analyze our world. Compared to traditional remote sensing approaches, UAS provide a largely inexpensive, flexible, and relatively easy-to-use platform to capture high spatial and temporal resolution geospatial data. Developments in computer vision, specifically Structure from Motion (SfM), enable processing of UAS-captured aerial images to produce three-dimensional point clouds and orthophotos. However, many challenges persist, including restrictive legal environments for UAS flight, extensive data processing times, and the need for further basic research. Despite its transformative potential, UAS adoption still faces some societal hesitance due to privacy concerns and liability issues.