topic Is it possible to get device location without Internet access? If yes, then how ? in ArcGIS Field Maps Questions

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

Ashok — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 11:12:53 GMT

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

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

Y_Chau — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:36:31 GMT

@Ashok This could be what you are looking for - https://doc.arcgis.com/en/field-maps/android/use-maps/track.htm

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

DougBrowning — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 18:13:30 GMT

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.

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

Ashok — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:57:57 GMT

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

function MetersToLatLon(x, y) {

var long = (x / 20037508.34) * 180;

var lat = (y / 20037508.34) * 180;

lat = 180.0 / PI * (2.0 * Atan( Exp( lat * PI / 180.0)) - PI / 2.0);

return{

y: lat,

x: long

}

var serverlayer = FeatureSetByName($map, "Location Sharing - Last Known Locations")

var loggedinuser = GetUser($layer).username;

var lastediteduser = null;

var userGeometry = null;

for(var user in serverlayer){

if(user.last_edited_user == loggedinuser){

lastediteduser = user.last_edited_user

userGeometry = Geometry(user);

break;

}

var latlon = MetersToLatLon(userGeometry.X, userGeometry.Y);

return Round(latlon.x,6)+","+Round(latlon.y,6);

//End

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

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

DougBrowning — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 12:54:57 GMT

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.