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In Tablets We Trust ? Validation of the Use of Tablet-Based Tools for Land Area Measurement in Household Surveys

Author

Listed:
  • Petruccelli, Federica
  • Gourlay, Sydney
  • Paolantonio, Adriana
  • Clemente, Emanuele
  • Ilukor, John

Abstract

Accurate and scalable methods for land area measurement are essential for estimating key agricultural indicators, such as crop yields, as well as understanding agricultural relationships. A significant body of literature has demonstrated systematic bias in farmer estimates of land area, the most inexpensive option, and at the same time provided evidence supporting the use of handheld GPS units for objective measurement. Despite the successful adoption of handheld GPS measurement in many survey operations, new tablet-based tools offer potential for smoother, more cost-effective measurement of land area. Using data collected in a methodological experiment in Uganda, this study evaluates the accuracy and operational trade-offs of tablet-based area measurement tools, both with and without the support of GPS-boosting devices, relative to handheld Garmin GPS units. The findings demonstrate that both tablet-based approaches are highly correlated with handheld GPS measurements, with relatively small but statistically significant differences in means. On average, the boosted and unboosted tablet measures exhibit absolute percentage errors of approximately 11 and 12 percent, respectively, with underestimation more pervasive than overestimation. Importantly, the findings highlight that even small differences in land area measurement can lead to substantial variations in yield and production estimates, underscoring the critical role of the measurement method for agricultural productivity analysis and policy. From an implementation perspective, the tablet-based approach offers clear advantages, with a significantly reduced burden of data cleaning and processing compared to handheld GPS data and enumerators facing few technical challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Petruccelli, Federica & Gourlay, Sydney & Paolantonio, Adriana & Clemente, Emanuele & Ilukor, John, 2026. "In Tablets We Trust ? Validation of the Use of Tablet-Based Tools for Land Area Measurement in Household Surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11363, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11363
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Calogero Carletto & Sydney Gourlay, 2019. "A thing of the past? Household surveys in a rapidly evolving (agricultural) data landscape: Insights from the LSMS‐ISA," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(S1), pages 51-62, November.
    2. Kilic,Talip & Yacoubou Djima,Ismael & Carletto,Calogero & Kilic,Talip & Yacoubou Djima,Ismael & Carletto,Calogero, 2017. "Mission impossible? exploring the promise of multiple imputation for predicting missing GPS-based land area measures in household surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8138, The World Bank.
    3. Kilic, Talip & Zezza, Alberto & Carletto, Calogero & Savastano, Sara, 2017. "Missing(ness) in Action: Selectivity Bias in GPS-Based Land Area Measurements," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 143-157.
    4. Carletto, Calogero & Savastano, Sara & Zezza, Alberto, 2013. "Fact or artifact: The impact of measurement errors on the farm size–productivity relationship," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 254-261.
    5. Calogero Carletto & Sydney Gourlay & Paul Winters, 2015. "Editor's choice From Guesstimates to GPStimates: Land Area Measurement and Implications for Agricultural Analysis," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 24(5), pages 593-628.
    6. Abay, Kibrom A. & Abate, Gashaw T. & Barrett, Christopher B. & Bernard, Tanguy, 2019. "Correlated non-classical measurement errors, ‘Second best’ policy inference, and the inverse size-productivity relationship in agriculture," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 171-184.
    7. Kelly, Valerie A. & Donovan, Cynthia, 2008. "Agricultural Statistics in Sub-Saharan Africa: Differences in Institutional Arrangements and their Impacts on Agricultural Statistics Systems. A Synthesis of Four Country Case Studies," Food Security International Development Working Papers 54558, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
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