How do you reference assets/photo locations along a linear feature

Question

Hello:

We have created a trail inventory application within ArcGIS Online that allows trail maintenance crews and managers to create points, lines and polygons and capture related images using Collector (new). We need to enhance the inventory to allow users to add an asset location and related photo along existing trails. We could accomplish this through a separate point feature class and snapping but we are searching for a better solution. We don't necessarily want these features to segment the line, only reference the location along the line. In addition, we will need to conduct yearly maintenance on each of the features.

For example, the manager might want to record an asset (i.e. bridge) or maintenance need (i.e. muddy section of trail) or simply a viewpoint from the trail. The line would be the primary spatial feature but the asset / maintenance / viewpoint location would be connected to the line. We have explored relationship classes and a number of the templates with limited success. Any thoughts on a potential path forward?

Thanks!
Wade

dougbrowning · Answer

Survey123 has full exif support.  You could launch a 123 form from Collector at each spot - sending over the LineID each time.  Have a GPS question that logs it in the form and/or use exif.  Then create a relationship class from the lines to the forms.

Each photo then becomes its own feature.  There is a lot you could do with this.

Launching 123 from Collector has been great for us.  Hope it helps.

MitchHolley1 · Answer

If you have a newer camera that stores exif coordinate metadata (most newer smart phones capture this) you could take pictures outside of the Collector app and geolocate them with ESRI's Geotagged Photos to Point tool.  If I understand correctly, you want to use Collector JUST to collect the centerline of trail with a GPS receiver hooked up, correct?  And take pictures outside of the Collector app?

WadeHawkins · Answer

Hi Mitch,

Thanks for your reply!

We have enabled attachments on the point, line, and polygon features and have been successful at attaching photos/videos to each feature. We can also manage maintenance history through relationship classes.

I’ll attempt to clarify with a scenario:

We plan to walk a 5km section of trail using Collector and a high precision external GPS receiver. We want to take a photo and reference that location along the line. We could currently accomplish this by stopping line creation, switching to point, capture the point, attach a photo and then continue with line creation. We are hoping to avoid this by connecting the photo location to the line (somewhat loosely similar to linear referencing or a form of line segmentation).

Hope this clarifies the question.