How to populate current time from different timezones with GeoEvent Server

Question

I have a GeoEvent Service running that populates an attribute field in a feature with the currentTime() every minute. This is fine for features that sit within UTC. I have features that range from UTC-4 to UTC+7. I figured I could have a "Time Difference" attribute with the numeric time difference (in milliseconds perhaps?) and put in a filed calculator to my GeoEvent Service. I have not been successful yet. Any advice would be appreciated.

BarryPitts1 · Answer

Thanks for the advice Philip. I've gone that route and am using a simple label instead. All this is on ArcGIS Online btw...

var uktime = DateAdd(Now(), 0, "hours");
var dst = DateDiff(TimeStamp(), uktime, "hours");
var mytime = DateAdd(TimeStamp(), $feature.Time_Difference - dst, "hours")
Text(mytime, 'HH:mm');

Where Time_Difference is an attribute that has the difference from GMT.

PhilipThompson11 · Answer

Ok, I understand the problem you're seeking to resolve now.

I wouldn't recommend GEE for this type of scenario. Firstly, it's using a very big hammer to crack a relatively small nut. The true capabilities of GEE aren't being utilised. Secondly, as you're finding out, diagnosing issues with this type of solution would be very hard to trouble shoot.

I'd suggest you look to do something within your client app. Assuming Time_Difference to be a field within the feature, I'd look at apply an Arcade script - or similar.

Date Functions | ArcGIS for Developers

DateAdd(Date(), -23, 'hours')

DateAdd(Date(), 23, 'hours')

DateAdd(Date(), $feature.Time_Difference, 'hours')

BarryPitts1 · Answer

Hi Philip,

Apologies, I'm not explaining the situation clearly.

There is a feature class loaded to our Enterprise Geodatabase representing locations across the globe. I am using a "Poll an ArcGIS Server for Features" input and "Update a Feature" output (both pointing at the same dataset) with two Field Calculators between them. One Field Calculator is using currentTime() as the expression and the idea for the second was to calculate the local time based on a time difference attribute (Current_UTC_Time +/- Time_Difference).

The idea being that a user can click on a feature and see what the current local time is at each location or have this information in an Operations Dashboard as users scroll through the locations.

I hope that clarifies the current setup.

Cheers,

Barry