Thank you for joining us! Wednesday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PDT) Join our DIY Geo Apps MOOC guests here on the GeoNet Community for a LIVE AMA (Ask Me Anything) event. The AMA will take place in this discussion thread on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PDT). Click HERE to convert exact time for different countries. 10:00 a.m. You can now ask your question! 10:25 a.m. - If you are just joining us, feel free to ask any question. 10:30 a.m. - We're halfway through, Great questions! Keep them coming! 10:50 a.m. - Ten minutes to go! Got any fun questions for guests? 11:00 a.m. - That's a wrap! See you at the next Ask Me Anything event. AMA Guests John Shramek Derek Law John Gravois Rupert Essinger Ian Wittenmyer Sample Questions: * What are careers in GIS? * What is the DIY Geo Apps MOOC? * Do you have any pets, etc.? * How long have you worked in GIS? * What made you choose GIS as a career? How does the AMA work? During the AMA, you can post your questions by clicking the "Add Reply" button below and our guests will reply to your questions in comments. You are welcome to post questions ahead of the AMA and they will answer them during the AMA. Please note: You must be logged in to post questions and see responses. See instructions on How to Log into GeoNet for the AMA. AMA Tips and GeoNet Community Guidelines When asking questions and comments during the AMA, remember to follow the GeoNet Community Guiding Principles Be Helpful, Be Human, Be Smart.This discussion page will not auto-refresh, so please remember to refresh this page to see new questions, comments and replies.

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DIY Geo Apps MOOC "Ask Me Anything" Event

CandaceLoya

Thank you for joining us!

Wednesday, September 19, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PDT)

Join our DIY Geo Apps MOOC guests here on the GeoNet Community for a LIVE AMA (Ask Me Anything) event. The AMA will take place in this discussion thread on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (PDT). Click HERE to convert exact time for different countries.

10:00 a.m. You can now ask your question!

10:25 a.m. - If you are just joining us, feel free to ask any question.

10:30 a.m. - We're halfway through, Great questions! Keep them coming!

10:50 a.m. - Ten minutes to go! Got any fun questions for guests?

11:00 a.m. - That's a wrap! See you at the next Ask Me Anything event.

AMA Guests

John Shramek‌

Derek Law‌

John Gravois‌

Rupert Essinger‌

Ian Wittenmyer‌

Sample Questions:

What are careers in GIS?
What is the DIY Geo Apps MOOC?
Do you have any pets, etc.?
How long have you worked in GIS?
What made you choose GIS as a career?

How does the AMA work?
During the AMA, you can post your questions by clicking  the "Add Reply" button below and our guests will reply to your questions in comments. You are welcome to post questions ahead of the AMA and they will answer them during the AMA.

 Please note: You must be logged in to post questions and see responses. See instructions 
on How to Log into GeoNet for the AMA. 

AMA Tips and GeoNet Community Guidelines
When asking questions and comments during the AMA, remember to follow the GeoNet Community Guiding Principles‌ Be Helpful, Be Human, Be Smart.This discussion page will not auto-refresh, so please remember to refresh this page to see new questions, comments and replies.

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KNOWLEDGEMATHABA1

Good Day

I kindly request your assistance to have a detailed brake-down architecture functionality of the Building Plans Apps/software or Building plans module that you offer to clients/municipality that requires to have a platform were the public can submit their building plans online and get it circulated within the municipality's relevant departments to have their comment on the plans until to the approval stage were automatically the client gets feed back on all stages of his/her building plan application.

The architecture of the software I mean the platform that could make it functional, for example, ArcGIS server, or stand alone application within municipal servers, and any other technical functionality of Building Plans Apps/software that you know .e.c.t.

I request to know the architecture because i am interested in making Geo-Apps that could make life easy for the public to submit any Development applications to the municipality, and the municipality to quickly process the applications.

JamesLong

I'm curious to know the path to learn more about adding a little more functionality to the Web Apps such as:

Generating the next number in a series (Such as an Asset ID)
Launching Survey123 from within an app
Linking items together automatically such as a building and assets contained within/near it.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

FaizaAhmed

I am debating between completing a diploma in GIS or a Masters. the field of GIS is ever expanding and I feel as I try to catch up, things move 10x more forward and so many tools are becoming automated. I would like to know;

Where do you see the future of GIS and GIS professionals?

Also, do you think underground 3D mapping will be happening soon (or is already happening)?

Will ESRI expand to other nations (south asia and asia specifically becausee these places have a more diverse topography in short distances)?

Thanks in advance,

Faiza

ArifKassim1

Hello,

I have recently purchased/renewed ArcGIS for Personal use, which I was using earlier. The earlier license expired in May 2018. Now I am not able to activate my already in use ArcGIS online account. How could I fix it?

RupertEssinger

I'd recommend contacting Esri Customer Service directly about this: Contact Us | Esri or via the Esri distributor in your specific country.

Rupert

Anonymous User

Hi Faiza,

First of all, congratulations on thinking about getting more education, that’s rarely a bad idea! I see GIS continuing this path toward automation, for sure. This has been going on for years, and GIS Analyst/Specialist jobs I see now almost always want you to have some level of knowledge about scripting or other programming. It’s just a fact; GIS is computer-based, so it goes well together with any other software that allows it to work better or faster. However, I don’t think the need for people who understand GIS and what is behind the scenes, like geodesy, coordinate systems, data editing and manipulation, etc. will ever go away.

As for 3D underground, that’s useful and is already happening, as with buried utilities networks. If you have a local scene in ArcGIS Pro (as opposed to global), for example, you can tilt to see what’s underground.

Lastly, Esri is in most of the nations on the planet in some form or another. We may not offer as much data in some areas, usually because of what has been created, and how it’s shared (or not).

DerekLaw

Hi James,

For these 2 questions,

Generating the next number in a series (Such as an Asset ID)

This is a bit vague and I'm not clear on what you're asking exactly. Can you please elaborate? For example, do you mean when preparing data for the web? E.g., When you create a new feature class powering a feature service, the item ID is automatically generated as new features are added. Or do you mean within a web app? If so, which app? Perhaps you could describe your workflow in more detail?

Linking items together automatically such as a building and assets contained within/near it.

Are you asking about setting up a relationship class between different layers of data? or something else? Before you publish a web service? or within a web app? Again, can you please elaborate in more detail your workflow and what you want to do?

> Launching Survey123 from within an app

There are some great resources for this question, please see this blog
https://community.esri.com/groups/survey123/blog/2016/07/30/understanding-survey123s-custom-url-scheme

and also the help documentation,

Integrate with other apps—Survey123 for ArcGIS | ArcGIS

Hope this helps,

JohnGravois

Hey Knowledge!

I'm not sure what 'Building Plans' you're talking about. Perhaps the Local Government Plans and Drawings Solution?

if so, the link i shared includes the software requirements. it uses either ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Server and optionally ArcGIS Pro.

JohnGravois

while you're sorting things out with your account, you could also sign into a free developer account from the desktop software as well.

https://developers.arcgis.com/sign-up/

MaheshwarPatil1

Is it possible to add images, for example, custom arrows, etc. on a web map? If yes, how to add images to a web map?

Mahesh P.

ArifKassim1

What could be the best learning path to become more proficient in Web Apps and Mobile Apps?

DerekLaw

Hi Faiza,

> Will ESRI expand to other nations (south asia and asia specifically because these places have a more diverse topography in short distances)?

As John said, there are esri offices worldwide - please see this link to find the nearest local Distributor office near you,

Esri Contact Us

(Just type in a country in the input box at the bottom of the page)

If you looking for local area datasets, try checking the Esri Living Atlas as a starting point,

Living Atlas of the World | ArcGIS

Hope this helps,

ChrisCatania

HI Arif - If you haven't already, you can check out and follow the new My Esri‌ space on GeoNet to get information and ask additional questions.

RobertoTantari

good morning,

i'd like to enquire about my app, it hasn't shared with everyone yet? it's still in DIY group

below there's the link:

https://diygeoapps2.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=4df06614a1b448eb9836632c22dd7ac7

best regards

Roberto

ArifKassim1

Does having a ArcGIS for Personal use make me eligible for ArcGIS online account and enterprise login?

Anonymous User

Hi,

Thanks for the question, you can use your own images as symbols, if that's what you mean. You will need the image to be able to be referenced with a url, then you'd make a custom symbol from that. If you don't have the image online somewhere, you can upload the image to ArcGIS Online and use it from there: Go to Content, and on the left click Add Item. Choose From My Computer, find the image file, add it, and share it to the public. Then, get the URL using the Copy button on the item details page (all the way down on the right side under URL). Do not get the URL by opening the image and copying that URL.

JohnGravois

you're definitely on the right track doing this MOOC!

our ArcGIS DevLabs are really concise, useful and to the point as well.

http://developers.arcgis.com/labs

i'm also a big fan of trawling GeoNET and Stack Overflow to try and answer other people's questions. i think i've learned more trying to answer other people's questions than asking my own.

IanWittenmyer

I cannot speak directly to the diploma vs Masters in GIS question. To me it would be a function of your job prospects. If you are currently working in GIS and can learn on the job, that is a great way to go. If its that you are looking for ways to enter the job market, then a Masters can be a good asset to have. But really that will just help open the door to opportunities. Personally, what I look for when interviewing a candidate is passion about communicating information via maps, someone who has demonstrated that passion by creating maps either online or in print.

Regarding the future of GIS, this video does a pretty good job of providing a perspective on that from Esri staff. What i'm interested in related future of GIS is to improve the ways in users interact with a map to gain information, essentially the usability and design of mapping interfaces.

Regarding the underground 3D mapping, we do currently have the capabilities to do underground mapping in 3D. I'll share an example shortly.

RupertEssinger

Hi Roberto.

Would you like to share your Story Map Tour publicly so we can have a look (assuming it is something you are OK sharing)?

Anonymous User

Hi Roberto, I have a login for the diygeoapps2 org so I can view it, but you need to share it to Everyone(public) for everyone else to see it.

LisaCasey

Hello - I am using my organizational account to complete the GeoApps MOOC. I am an admin. I can share items with the public, or my own organization. How can I share, or be added to the " Do-It-Yourself Geo Apps organization."?

CandaceLoya

Hi Roberto,

Can you elaborate your question with a little more detail? We are able to view it now.

Anonymous User

Hi Lisa, you don't have to share your apps for the guided parts of the exercises, only the DIY parts. For those, you just need to share to the public and everyone, whether they're in the class org or not, will be able to see it. Thanks!

JohnGravois

We're not actually curating content using groups like we have in the past. we could add you if we knew your username, but it wouldn't actually be too helpful.

DerekLaw

Hi Arif,

> What could be the best learning path to become more proficient in Web Apps and Mobile Apps?

I don't think there is a single "best" learning path, as people are different and have different skill sets to begin with. Also, it depends on what you want to learn exactly. Do you want to learn more about web and mobile apps in general? Are you interested in development work for these types of apps? Did you have a specific business workflow you want to support with the apps?

I suggest starting here to learn about the ArcGIS Apps, Apps for Everyone so you can get an overview of the various ArcGIS apps available.

To learn more about the "web apps", this video might be a good place to start,

Building Great Information Products with ArcGIS Online - YouTube

To learn more about the "mobile apps", start with this video,

ArcGIS Apps for the Field: An Introduction - YouTube

There are also many great training resources available online at the Esri Training site, https://www.esri.com/training/ and Learn ArcGIS.

Hope this helps,

LisaCasey

Thank you!

RupertEssinger

It gives you ArcGIS Online account but not Enterprise account:
ArcGIS for Personal Use Program | ArcGIS Desktop Advanced for Personal Use

Rupert

VaibhavGupta4

Hey!
I'm Vaibhav, a graduate with Bachelors degree in Commerce (i.e Accounting/ Business Laws/ Taxation) from University of Delhi, India. Unlike my field of study, I've developed

interest in geospatial analysis/ location intelligence and for past 1 year I've have been trying to learn more about the skill sets required for this field by going through articles, interacting with people and learning through online courses from sites like Coursera, Udemy etc.
I was wondering if you can suggest some online programs/ distance learning masters/ diploma courses that can help me boost my career (I'm not able to land jobs since I don't have any degree related to GIS field)
Also, I got to know about the MBA in Location Analytics offered by University of Redlands (again that is a distance learning course) will it be helpful for a fresh undergrad student without any full-time work experience?
Thanks

RobertoTantari

yes madam,

if I'm not logged in DIY geo-apps ,I can't see the app

see the link:

https://diygeoapps2.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/index.html?appid=4df06614a1b448eb9836632c22dd7ac7

why? all layer are public and shared with everyone

regards

CandaceLoya

Hi Vaibhav,

In regards to the program at the University of Redlands, connect with Jessica Rosales‌. She works closely with UoR and also teaches some courses there in her free time.

VaibhavGupta4

Have already dropped a message. Waiting for her reply.
Thanks

Anonymous User

Hi Vaibhav, yes I think a degree involving location analytics would help for sure. There are many online courses and degree programs too out there. Here are a few sources I've found:

Complete Guide to an Online GIS Degree

https://www.bachelorsportal.com/study-options/269779074/geographical-information-systems-united-states.html

Online GIS Degree - Bachelors, Masters & PhD Programs | EnvironmentalScience.org

I do think that getting practical experience is at least as important as further education. If you can get an internship somewhere, or even build up a portfolio of maps or apps, that would help too.

Joseph Kerski‌, would you have anything to add, any new education sources or tips? Thanks!

IanWittenmyer

Here are two 3D underground examples:

Earthquakes local scene

http://arcg.is/5qfWK

Infrastructure Utility

http://arcg.is/0SryDK

JohnGravois

i'll take a totally different tack in answering this question.

my current work only shares the most remote connection to what i studied in school. i didn't attain additional degrees or certificates. i just looked for opportunities to develop new skills on the job by tackling projects in addition to my primary duties.

obviously your mileage will vary with regard to the amount of flexibility and support you'd get at work attempting something like this, but my experience has been successful, primarily because i've been deliberate about identifying win/win scenarios which allowed me to expand my professional skills tackling problems that managers agreed were worth solving.

JohnGravois

besides the layers, are you sure the app itself has been shared with everyone?

Image (12).jpeg

Anonymous User

Hello,

I have a Master's Degree in GIS, but I only got an introduction to web app development in my program. I'm very comfortable building apps using Esri's pre-configured templates, but I would like to get better at building desktop apps from scratch using the ArcGIS API for Javascript. Do you think it's easy enough to self-teach myself how to do this, or would you recommend taking a course or courses on app development?

VaibhavGupta4

Hi John,
Thanks for the links
I've applied to many organisations for an internship role and am waiting for a reply. Regarding the portfolio of maps, I'm creating an app to solve the street lighting problem in my locality will that count too? (I'll share the link to my app, if possible do give a feedback)
Thanks

JohnGravois

Olivia,

You're asking about building 'web apps from scratch' using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, correct?

If so, i think there's a path you could navigate that doesn't involve formal coursework. i wouldn't call it 'easy' but its the path i took and i've never regretted it. the key is to identify some clear and attainable early goals because starting anything new is frustrating and its important to maintain enthusiasm.

i always had a lot more fun trying to answer other people's questions about the JSAPI when i worked in tech support and on GeoNet and Stack Overflow than i did creating elaborate projects of my own just for the sake of it, but that just may be a personal preference.

either way the key to learning any 'big' new topic on your own is to break things up into enough discrete steps that your research and testing will be fruitful. this improves your own troubleshooting ability and makes it more likely that that the questions you inevitably start googling are small enough that other folks have asked them too.

Anonymous User

Hi Olivia, nice job on finishing a master's degree! I think our configurable apps are not very close to knowing how to program; they're designed to allow non-programmer GIS people to quickly release apps for sharing their map content.

Definitely see Section 6 in the DIY Geo Apps MOOC, if you haven't gotten in there already. It's a nice intro on JavaScript and seeing how apps are constructed. Whether it's "easy" to teach yourself programming, that depends on you, how you learn, and how much time and motivation you have. It's definitely possible, but like becoming proficient in any new language, I wouldn't call it easy. There are lots of free and paid resources on the web on learning to program, or, a class or two could help get you started too. Good luck!

ChrisCatania

Ian Wittenmyer‌ John Gravois‌ Rupert Essinger‌ John Shramek - What is your favorite movie that features maps or has a DIY theme to the plot?

CatherineSchenck-Yglesias1

DIY app inspiration

When approaching the DIY portion of the course, I find myself thinking of apps that already exist (e.g., for personal use - restaurant or photo apps searchable by location, and for business use only those geodata portals I've already used/seen in my work in demography and health informatics) rather than thinking "outside the box" in creating a new app.

Where do you get your inspiration and how do you suggest students think more creatively?

Since I am learning, should I try to replicate functionality in apps that I have seen and found useful for the DIY assignments if I cannot think of a completely novel geoapp, and then perhaps I'd see how it should be extended and made more useful?

Thanks!

DerekLaw

Hi Olivia,

FYI, some resources to help get you started on learning about creating custom web apps with the ArcGIS API for JavaScript,

There are also many courses on the Esri Training site, https://www.esri.com/training/

Hope this helps,

JohnGravois

there's no better DIY cautionary tale than Money Pit.

IanWittenmyer

Chris, I'm glad this isn't 'what are your top ten favorite movies?' because like most film lovers there are probably 30 movies in my top ten. But to answer your question directly, my favorite movies with a map are Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Muppets, for a further explanation, watch this clip as Fozzy explains it.

I would also like to know what is everyone favorite book with maps? For a DIY option to make a classic book style map, check out this blog.

JohnGravois

i don't think its actually crucial that you think creatively right out of the box. the internet is full of examples of people tearing something that already exists apart and rebuilding it themselves for educational purposes.

i think you're on the right track in thinking about how something familiar could be extended or made more useful because it provides a concrete breaking off point for exploration.

VaibhavGupta4

I really liked How to Lie with Maps by Mark Monmonier

Anonymous User

Hi Catherine,

You can definitely just expand on what you learned in the first part of the exercise, and/or make apps based on things that you seen in the past. Getting an app up and running, and then incrementally adding new functionality or changing things in and out is a great way to learn. I know what you mean about getting inspiration; some of the apps we've seen in the course have really amazed me in terms of creativity and originality! Such as:

Goat production in Nepal (Section 2)
https://diygeoapps2.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=bd5172207f6247418bb758867e2d529a

Mars geography
https://diygeoapps1.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=44c448f75d6343a08691ae8e758f84c5

Global terrorist attacks
https://diygeoapps1.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StoryMapBasic/index.html?appid=5c0197dbf53d4b4c9a2021508a7099ea

DerekLaw

Hi Catherine,

> Where do you get your inspiration and how do you suggest students think more creatively?

Personally, I continually look and see web apps created and deployed by others to be "inspired" about what is possible with developing web apps. Some good resources to check out:

Hope this helps,

JohnGravois

Thanks Y'all! Hope you had half as much fun as we did!

CandaceLoya

That

RupertEssinger

Thanks Candace. It was fun and hope to do it again.

Rupert

https://storymaps.arcgis.com

Anonymous User

Of course, any app you make and can show off to a potential employer is great. Feel free to put it in the class Forum and we'll check it out!

MaheshwarPatil1

Hi John,

We want to use images on a map as standalone images(and not as symbols), for example - arrows from location 1 to location 2 etc.

Mahesh

IanWittenmyer

that is a classic. I've got Everything Sings by Denis Wood next in my reading que. I like his narrative atlas concept

Anonymous User

Also note: a personal ArcGIS Online account lets you do a lot of things but does not have the proper privileges to use them for our MOOCs.

JosephKerski

Hello!

In addition to John’s great list, we work with www.geotechcenter.org<http://www.geotechcenter.org> to maintain a list and map of geospatial programs on their site. I hope it is useful! But also start searching for program at universities on Data Science these days, which are slowly emerging.

--Joseph Kerski

Joseph J. Kerski, Ph.D., GISP | Education Manager

Esri | 1 International Court | Broomfield CO 80021-3200 | USA

T 303 449 7779<tel:303%20449%207779> x1-8237 | M 303 625 3925<tel:303%20625%203925> | jkerski@esri.com<mailto:jkerski@esri.com> | esri.com<http://esri.com/>

esriurl.com/josephkerski | http://twitter.com/josephkerski

THE SCIENCE OF WHERE®

KNOWLEDGEMATHABA1

Hi John.

I get to understand your response, but i guess we are operating on different country laws.

What i was referring to is what is done in South Africa, whereby as a citizen in a Town, and you want to build your house or any form of structure, you are required by the local government to submit the drawings of your house or structure, therefore after you submitted, the local government takes the drawing and circulate it to different local government sections such as Land Use section to check Zoning rights for the structure you want to build, Another section such as Technical services checks for water and sanitation connection to the property for your house/structure, Another section such as Finance department checks for any dept associated with the property you want to build on, Therefore if all the local government sections gives a tick that the owner and the property have no errors, they approve your building or drawings to begin building your house.

Therefore, what i was asking you is, do you have any software or anyway platform you can suggest were the process of submitting the building house plans /drawings to the local government and have the plans to circulate in the local government sections electronically until to the point where they approve the drawings.

Regards

Knowledge

JohnGravois

> do you have any software or anyway platform you can suggest
i haven't heard of one. sounds like a great idea for a custom application.

JOSEPH__O_OLUSINA

1) I am having challenge in recovering my ArcGIS Online password,

2) I could not log in into the: Create Collection and Dashboard Apps, Section 3 Exercise 1

"survey123.arcgis.com". I have tried the suggestions on "Forum" but still having challenges.

Kindly help in solving these two challenges.

AdenaSchutzberg1

Joseph,

Please review How to Get Help in Section 1 of the course. As I post this, you are working on setting up your course credentials. Sadly, the course ends in a few days.

Adena

JOSEPH__O_OLUSINA

Thank you,The browser was using my initial ArcGIS Online password. You have been a great help. You are a Good Teacher. It is working well now.Thank you and GOD bless you, Amen.Olusina.

On Monday, October 15, 2018, 2:24:59 PM GMT+1, Adena Schutzberg <geonet@esri.com> wrote:

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GeoNet

Re: DIY Geo Apps MOOC "Ask Me Anything" Event

reply from Adena Schutzberg in Do-It-Yourself Geo Apps MOOC - View the full discussion

Joseph,

Please review How to Get Help in Section 1 of the course. As I post this, you are working on setting up your course credentials. Sadly, the course ends in a few days.

Adena

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