Can I automate the addition of new points on a web map

[MattMcSpadden]

I'm not sure how much information you need in order to answer the question nor which place to put this question in. If there is a better place or more relevant information, please let me know and I'll move/share as needed .

I've been tasked with creating a searchable map of our state with the location of AED's on it. The end goal is that someone could register an AED on our site, that information would be saved in a database, after the AED is confirmed, any new AED's would be run through a geoprocessor (not sure if that is the correct term) and the points added to the web map. This map will be made available both to 911 dispatch and the public.

I have the registration process working fine (which is not an ArcGIS thing anyway) and I have a web map pulling coordinates and other information from a CSV file, but I need help with automating the middle section. Currently, AED's can be registered and are stored in a database, but I then have to manually run them through ArcGIS desktop to get the coordinates, then manually export to a CSV file that the web map reads in order to put points on the basemap. I'm fairly proficient with web/database/scripting in general, but I'm fairly new to ArcGIS and mapping. I feel like there must be a more elegant and hopefully automated way to update the points on the map. It seems like a simple thing, but I have been unable to figure it out so far from the ArcGIS website or searching google.

Any help would be appreciated.

[TimWitt2]

Matt did you look into ArcGIS Online?

There you can add a feature service to your account (AED's). Based on this feature service, create a map. The link to this map can be distributed to PSAP's and the public. Whenever you make changes to the feature service it will update in real time within the map that the PSAP's and the public sees.

[MattMcSpadden]

We are using ArcGIS online to create the map currently, but I'm not familiar with creating a feature service. Any good links for reading up on how to do that? Or is it simple enough for you to explain it here?

[TimWitt2]

Matt,

With the feature service you would have to manually put the points on the map.

Reading over your question one more time it seems that you want everything to be automated correct?

If this is the case running a model could take care of the ArcGIS Desktop part. Here is a nice tutorial on how to work with the model builder: ArcGIS Desktop

If people are able to put AED's on a map by themselves you can work with this template: How the Citizen Service Request template can be configured and used in your local government | ArcGI...

I hope this is helpful!

Tim

[MattMcSpadden]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the quick replies. The model builder looks the most promising, but I'll have to read further before I'm sure. I've already figure out how to use the Javascript API to put points on the map from that CSV file. The part I'm struggling with is connecting my database of addresses to the ArcGIS Geolocation (maybe that is a better word, converting an address to coordinates?) service so that the I can update the CSV file. Or maybe the map can talk directly to my database? but I still need to automate getting the addresses converted to something the map understands.

**Edit.. In my head it is simple , just can't figure it out.

1. Person registers AED
2. Local EMS confirms it
3. Script runs on a schedule to convert confirmed addresses to coordinates
4. Map pulls those points (based on confirmation and availability of coordinates) to put on the web map that public accesses
   1. Map pulls from CSV file that is created by a script exporting data on a schedule
   2. or Map pulls directly from database.

I need help with #3 and knowing if 4b is possible.

[TimWitt2 · Accepted solution]

Hey Matt,

I think the word you are looking for is geocode

In your model you could run this tool ArcGIS Desktop Which takes an input table, runs it through an address locator and spits out a point feature class. The next step in the model would be to export that feature class to csv and from what I can tell you can take it from there.

[MattMcSpadden]

I think that will work. Thanks. I may have to change it down the road if the grant runs out and a different organization takes over, but this should work well for now.