The mobile software application will allow an end user to collect data through a form that is dynamically created using a XML configuration file. By use of a barcode assigned to a piece of equipment, the application automatically loads an appropriate XML configuration file for the equipment which contains the data fields to be collected. The barcode can be scanned or manually entered. A list of instruments and corresponding data entry fields is then presented for which the technician enters the appropriate value for the instrument being recorded. Included in the XML configuration file is metadata for each instrument which is used to validate the data entry. This provides immediate feedback to the technician when an entered value is not within an acceptable range. The collected data is then sent to a central data server for analysis. Figure 1 below is a representation of the process.