Is it possible to get device location without Internet access? If yes, then how ?

Question

Dear Community,

I have a requirement that, I would like to get device location and store it in assignments layer (in some test field) on submitting the assignments. And I need this in offline (without Internet access).

Please note, not the feature location, I need device location when I submit/complete the assignment.

Please let me share some ideas or process , how to get it done.

Thanks,

Ashok

dougbrowning · Answer

Yes the iPad will try and guess your location from WiFi and often it was use the last location it had - but it for sure has no GPS chip.

Ashok · Answer

Dear @DougBrowning , Thanks for your reply. I am using iPad WiFi only tab.

But I was asked to switch on the location when I opened my project in Field Maps app. And I can also see location option in app settings -> Field maps settings.

Please check the below pictures for reference.

And I observed, in offline new tracks records are inserting in Tracks layer of TrackView that we created and configured in Track Viewer portal app.

But here my only concern was, I wanted to get the User/Device location when he submits the assignment or when he opened the assignment to fill the survey form in Field maps app. In online(when Internet is available), I got succeed. In order to achieve that I have added "Last Known Locations" layer (of TrackView) in my Field Map Project. And I am able to get the latest user/device location by using the following Arcade expression, and I am using this expression for one of the Field's Calculate expression and displaying the Result.

//Start

In order to achieve same thing in offline, map should be offline enabled, so that map can be downloaded in FieldMap app for offline use.  But I am getting an error that "The feature layer view is created from a layer that isn't sync-enabled".

I understood that the feature layer "Last Known Locations" Sync option is disabled. This layer is created as Feature Layer (hosted, view) and actually created by system when we create a project from Track Viewer app. And there is no provision to make Sync enable for this layer in Portal item settings and in ArcGIS server settings.

I think, if I can resolve the above error, I may get succeed in offline map also

Please suggest how to resolve this issue or any other process.

Thanks,

Ashok

dougbrowning · Answer

Is it Android or iOS?  Most Samsung tablets have a GPS in them so they will work fine.  iPads have a dual chip GPS and cell so in order to have GPS chip it must be a cellular tablet.  You don't have to enable cell just must have the chip.  A WiFi only iPad does NOT have a GPS chip.  This could be what you are seeing. Need more info.