RAAB7 data is securely managed end-to-end, from collection through to storage and publication where agreed.  Find out more. 

Data collection and temporary storage

RAAB7 survey data is collected on Android mobile devices using the RAAB7 app. The app enforces security protection on the device that includes strong pin protection and Android full-disk encryption. Data collected is transmitted via a secure encrypted connection to a Peek-managed secure cloud-based Amazon Web Services (AWS) server (located in Germany or India only). AWS Cloud is one of the most secure cloud computing environments available today. RAAB7 data is only stored on the AWS Cloud for the duration of survey data collection. 

Personal data

No personal data is processed or stored in the RAAB7 Software nor held in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud. During the survey, limited personal data (participant name and optional GPS location of examinations) is only collected by the implementing RAAB Survey Team on their data collection mobile devices in the RAAB7 app. This Personal Data is not accessible to LSHTM nor Peek Vision. Personal data is held temporarily on local devices for the sole purpose of “mop up”. Mop-up is a feature to provide the survey team with a list of participants who have either had incomplete assessments or who were not available at the initial visit to the household. The data is stored until the assessment is completed only, and then deleted automatically from the device. 

Long-term data storage

Once data collection for a RAAB7 survey is complete, the RAAB Partner can then download automated survey reports and a copy of their dataset to store locally.  

The anonymous dataset and survey reports are transferred to the RAAB Backup Database, held on a secure server managed by LSHTM. LSHTM’s International Centre for Eye Health stores this permanent backup of the (non-personal) data for safe keeping only. 

Data sharing

All survey metadata (survey location, year of completion, Principal Investigator, RAAB Trainer, optional modules used, sample size, response rate) is made available on the Public RAAB Repository on the RAAB.world website. Many Principal Investigators (PIs) also choose to give permission to make further survey outputs (such as the full dataset and/or survey reports) available on the site after an 18-month embargo period. In doing so, they contribute to future global eye health estimates and provide a wealth of valuable information for secondary analysis to support the sector.

RAAB data is the majority data source contributing to the vision loss estimates calculated by the Vision Loss Expert Group for the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) Studies that populate the IAPB Vision Atlas, which is in turn the main source of global estimates for eye care advocacy and planning. PIs who provide open access data are invited to join an International RAAB Co-Authorship Group. 

Roles and responsibilities

The roles of each party (RAAB partner, Peek Vision and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) in relation to data management and protection are set out in the RAAB Partner Agreement (shared with prospective RAAB partners or available on request to interested parties).  A RAAB Partner Agreement is signed in advance of any RAAB or RAAB Series.