Collecting Garmin Data with mEMA10

mEMA10 supports three different methods for collecting Garmin data. Each method provides different types of data and has different requirements and advantages. For most studies, it is recommended to enable multiple methods to ensure complete and reliable data collection.

Garmin Data Collection Methods

1. Real-Time Garmin Data

Real-time data is streamed directly from the Garmin watch to the mEMA10 app via Bluetooth.

Data is collected continuously while:

  • The watch is connected to the phone
  • Bluetooth is enabled
  • The mEMA10 app is running (foreground or background)

On iOS, the app must remain open. If the app is force-closed, real-time data collection will stop.

If the watch disconnects, Bluetooth is disabled, or the app stops running, data during that period will not be collected.

Advantages

  • Supports real-time survey triggers and notifications
  • Provides raw physiological data
  • Enables support-team alerts based on live data

Limitations

  • Requires active Bluetooth connection
  • Requires the mEMA10 app to be running
  • Data gaps occur if the watch disconnects

2. Garmin Logged Data

Garmin watches store sensor data internally. mEMA10 retrieves this data periodically when the watch reconnects.

This allows recovery of data collected while the watch and phone were disconnected.

Advantages

  • Provides more complete datasets
  • Recovers data during disconnection periods
  • Provides raw sensor data
  • Does not require continuous connection

Limitations

  • Data is retrieved only during sync
  • Very high-frequency sensors may have retrieval limits

If Acceleration or Gyroscope logging is enabled, mEMA10 can retrieve up to 1 hour of disconnected data. This limitation exists due to the large size of these datasets.

If Acceleration and Gyroscope are not enabled, mEMA10 can retrieve data since the last successful sync without this limitation.

The minimum fetch interval is 3 minutes. The recommended fetch interval is 10 minutes.

On iOS, logged Garmin data can also be saved locally on the participant’s device.

3. Garmin API Data

Garmin API data is retrieved from Garmin Connect servers after the participant links their Garmin account with mEMA10.

This allows mEMA10 to retrieve processed health data without requiring the app to be running.

Advantages

  • Does not require the mEMA10 app to be running
  • Does not require Bluetooth connection
  • Provides historical data
  • No data loss due to disconnection

Limitations

  • Data is processed by Garmin (not raw)
  • Cannot be used for real-time triggers
  • Data availability may be delayed

Available Garmin Data Types

Real-Time Data Types

mEMA10 can collect the following real-time data:

  • IBI
  • Pulse Oxygen
  • Respiration Rate
  • Steps
  • Stress
  • Body Battery
  • Intensity Minutes
  • Calories
  • Floors Climbed
  • Acceleration (optional)

Logged Data Types

Available logged data types include:

  • Acceleration
  • Heart Rate
  • IBI
  • Pulse Oxygen
  • Respiration
  • Steps
  • Stress
  • Zero Crossing
  • Gyroscope
  • Skin Temperature
  • Wrist Events
  • Enhanced IBI
  • Actigraphy 1, 2, and 3

Availability depends on the Garmin watch model.


Garmin API Data Types

Garmin API provides processed health metrics, including:

  • Activity Summary
  • Body Battery
  • Body Composition
  • Blood Pressure
  • Daily Summary
  • HRV Summary
  • HRV Values
  • Respiration
  • Skin Temperature
  • Sleep Summary
  • Sleep Map
  • Stress Level

These are processed values and not raw sensor data.


Data Collection Requirements

To collect Garmin data, the following requirements must be met:

  • Compatible Garmin watch
  • Bluetooth enabled
  • mEMA10 app installed
  • Garmin Connect app installed (for API data)
  • Garmin account linked (for API data)
  • Watch paired with mEMA10


Real-Time Data Collection Scenarios

Real-time data is collected when:

  • Watch is connected
  • App is in foreground
  • App is in background
  • Device screen is locked

Real-time data is NOT collected when:

  • Watch is out of Bluetooth range
  • Watch Bluetooth is disabled
  • Watch is powered off
  • App is force-closed on iOS

Data during these periods cannot be recovered.


Logged Data Collection Scenarios

  • Logged data is collected when:
  • Watch reconnects
  • App reconnects
  • Sync occurs

Logged data is NOT collected when:

  • Watch is powered off


Garmin API Data Collection Scenarios

Garmin API data is collected when:

  • Garmin Connect syncs with Garmin servers

Garmin API data is NOT collected when:

  • Garmin Connect does not sync
  • Garmin account is not linked


How to Set Up Real-Time Garmin Data Collection & Garmin Logged Data Collection

To complete the setup, please follow the instructions from this article: https://ilumivu.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/9000274458-mema10-how-to-set-up-garmin-data-collection


How to Set Up Garmin API Data Collection

To complete the setup, please follow the instructions in one of the following articles:


Best Practice Recommendation

Use Real-Time if:

  • You need triggers
  • You need real-time monitoring

Use Logged Data if:

  • You need complete raw dataset
  • You do not need real-time triggers

Use API Data if:

  • You need long-term health metrics
  • You do not need raw data

BEST PRACTICE:

Enable all three methods.

This gives:

  • Real-time triggers
  • Complete raw dataset
  • Processed health metrics

Troubleshooting

If Garmin data is not being collected, verify:

  • Watch is paired
  • Bluetooth is enabled
  • App is running
  • Logging is enabled
  • Garmin account is linked (API)


Data Access

Garmin data collected by mEMA10 is available:

  • Real-Time Data can be Downloaded from:
    1. On individual basis: mEMA10 -> Dashboard -> Logs -> Data Tables
    2. List of all participants with available garmin data page: My mEMA -> Garmin Data
    3. On Rapid Report if the Garmin Data option is enabled when generating the report
      • This data is an averge of the collected data during an assessment/survey
  • Garmin Logged data can be downloaded from:
    1. On individual basis: mEMA10 -> Dashboard -> Logs -> Data Tables
  • Garmin Health API data can be downloaded from:
    1. My mEMA -> Garmin Health API data

Known Limitations

Real-Time Data

  • Stops if app is force-closed on iOS

Logged Data

  • High-frequency sensors may have retrieval limits

Garmin API Data

  • Data may be delayed

Device Limitations

  • Available sensors vary by watch model