Mobile data collection using ArcGIS and apps

[ChrisCrabtree]

Hello all,

I just purchased an ArcGIS Professional license through my organization to start assisting in the GIS administration. I work for a 911 center, and we are currently using a Windows 7 Laptop with ArcPad to collect our road and address data. We started looking at ArcGIS online about a year ago to use with mobile phones and tablets. I have the organizational account setup and I’ve started playing with Survey123 and Quick Capture. I built a survey and used it to collect points which could be used for address point collection, but I was unable to figure out how to use Survey123 to collect centerline data. I would need to be able to record tracks while driving a car to collect the centerline data. I was however able to capture trail or track data using quick capture and a template for running a trail or something like that. It allowed me to record while I was driving, and I could then see that data back at the office with ArcGIS pro.

I’ve been out of the GIS game full time since 2014. I still dabble in it, but this had been my first quick capture project, survey123 and use of ArcGIS pro. I’m just curious on recommendation for capturing point and line data in the field. The employee who will be collecting most of the data currently brings her laptop into the office after collecting the data, exports the shape files to a USB drive, imports them into ArcMap on her desktop, and then loads those shapefiles into ArcMap. From there she does not join the data she simply edits her current point file and drops new points overtop of the shapefile that she collected in the field and does the same for her centerlines. I would say she will continue to do this the way she has always done this, but she does like the idea of going in the field, capturing data, and that data showing up on ArcMap without her having to do anything. She can then either join it or draw overtop of it, or what ever she pleases. I don’t know if there is a simpler way then doing this the quick capture and survey123 method. I’m also having issues with her being able to delete the points and lines from ArcMap. I believe that may be a permissions issue, but I can work on that later.

Any suggestions on better methods or better apps for this?

Thanks!

[RyanUthoff · Accepted solution]

I'm not sure if Survey123 is the best solution for capturing road centerlines. I don't believe it can "stream" data real-time to Survey123 and creating a line out of it. It is possible to collect lines in S123, but only by sketching the line through S123 (manually drawing the line), or by collecting multiple vertices that connect together into one line. This document has more information: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/survey123/desktop/get-answers/capturegeometry.htm

One resource that might be worth looking into is ArcGIS Solutions. Esri does have some roadway management solutions that are pre-built that might be able to jumpstart what you are wanting to do (or might be helpful for other projects in the future).  https://www.arcgis.com/apps/solutions/index.html?gallery=true&searchTerm=road&sortField=relevance&so...

I believe using Field Maps would provide more of the functionality you are looking for. This page shows the different collection options Field Maps offers, and steaming is one of them. https://doc.arcgis.com/en/field-maps/android/use-maps/capture.htm

[ChrisCrabtree]

Field Maps does look to be my best option. I just created a test project and went out to collect centerlines, address points, fire hydrants, and landing zones for helicopters, and everything seems to work really well. I believe this will be our solution.

I did try the address management solution in ArcGIS Solutions and it is great, but unfortunately we couldn't use it in our environment since some of our roads are not addressed using the addressing standard that has been set for public safety. We have legacy roads where the numbering is not correct currently and using that solution would address points "Correctly" but they would be incorrect based on the current addresses already in place. (It's easier to leave it alone instead of trying to get people to correct their address 🙂 )

Thank you Ryan for your help!