Can Navigator use "as the crow flies" as a travel mode

[CraigCarpenter4]

Can Navigator use "as the crow flies" as a travel mode to plot a walking path direct to  a destination which doesnt consider routable roads.

This is specifically for navigation to a location in an area of forest or an open area which doesnt contain any routable roads. For example use "navigate to a coordinate" which provides distance and bearing values instead of turn by turn directions to assist the user to arrive at the nominated destination coordinate.

This distance and bearing feature is crucial for field staff operating in open wilderness areas, currently neither Collector or Navigator support it. As a result 3rd party applications are being used for this navigation capability, it would be nice if the user could stay within the Esri stack of software to perform navigation in remote areas devoid of routable roads.

[XanderBakker]

As far as I know, Navigator will need a network to route to the location. If you know the start point(s) (are they known) and the end point(s), you could create the line(s) between them and create a network, publish it and use it in Navigator:

Add assets and digitize roads—Navigator for ArcGIS | ArcGIS 

[BrentPierce · Accepted solution]

We are considering adding this straight line way finding functionality to all our apps Collector, Explorer and possibly even Navigator as it is a key aspect to what field workers need to do on occasion. As mentioned in this trail Navigator is a turn by turn directions app but it might make sense to switch from turn by turn direction to a straight line mode for the last maneuver.

-Brent 

[XanderBakker]

That's great news! Thanks bpierce-esristaff 

[CraigCarpenter4]

Brent

That is great news that straight line navigation is being considered for collector. Will this provide distance and bearing feedback to get directly to the destination?

Also what sort of timing is predicted? I have a few clients interested in this functionality that I'm currently working with.

Craig

[BrentPierce]

Craig,

To answer your first question, yes this would have some indication of Bearing and Distance ... key thing to answer here is where is the asset you are trying to find. To do this you need to know the direct to travel to get there and how far you have to go. This would of course be relative to your current location and orientation.

As for timeline it's too early to tell. This is probably something that will work it's way into apps in the 2017 calendar year. Would love to hear more requirements in this area though. Any feedback we get helps.

-Brent

[ScottSandusky]

Check this out - Trek2There app released by Esri Labs:

https://community.esri.com/groups/appstudio/blog/2016/10/19/introducing-trek2there