topic Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online? in ArcGIS Online Questions

Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

DavidHatchner — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:50:27 GMT

Were looking to use ArcGIS Online for Organizations to collect and edit data in the field using phones or tablets. Unfortunately I am not seeing an easy way to pull my data back down to a local SDE geodatabase once field data collection is complete. Am I missing something, or is my spatial data and related photos locked in the cloud once published?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

TimWitt — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:30:14 GMT

You are able to download the collected data as a shapefile.

http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/arcgisonline/#/Exporting_data_from_hosted_feature_services/010q000000mz000000/

I hope this helps!

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

JonathanQuinn — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:05:34 GMT

Note that if you're adding your data directly to a webmap, in the form of a csv or shapefile, you won't be able to download that shapefile. Those edits will only exist in that webmap. Use hosted feature services if you'd like to synchronize updates back with local databases.

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

DavidHatchner — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:39:40 GMT

Note that if you're adding your data directly to a webmap, in the form of a csv or shapefile, you won't be able to download that shapefile. Those edits will only exist in that webmap. Use hosted feature services if you'd like to synchronize updates back with local databases.

Could you please clarity the best way to pull my data back down from the ArcGIS Online cloud? From what i can figure out the best way to make this round trip is to;

1. publish a hosted service
2. make edits to that service in the field
3. pull that service into ArcMap 10.1
4. zoom to full extent so all my data is visible
5. Use the "Create Local Copy for Editing" menu item
6. look at the source info after local copy is created to find the temporary geodatabase created. For example C:\Users\bobsmith\Documents\ArcGIS\FeatureServiceLocalEdits\Test2_Photos\fs44EC24DEB05E4A25919747AC3CB9C379.gdb

This seems to be the only way I can get all my data back including the attachments (photos) created in the field. It would seem there should be a better way. It is my data and I need it back to load into our enterprise SDE database when done with field collection.

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

DavidHatchner — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:09:42 GMT

Note that if you're adding your data directly to a webmap, in the form of a csv or shapefile, you won't be able to download that shapefile. Those edits will only exist in that webmap. Use hosted feature services if you'd like to synchronize updates back with local databases.

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MikeMinami — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:45:17 GMT

We are continuing to enhance database synchronization from hosted feature services, so it will get better.

Thanks,

mike

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

BrianFlood — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:40:55 GMT

fwiw, we're getting ready to release the next version of Arc2Earth and it will connect up to any AGOL account. You can display and edit any Feature Service using the native editing tools in ArcMap. As you pan/zoom the map, the features are streamed and cached locally, any edits against the features are immediately posted against the service (using the proper credentials).

the new Arc2Earth editing framework was mainly created to connect to services outside of the AGOL ecosystem (Google Maps Engine, CartoDB, Fulcrum etc) and even though ESRI will likely have disconnected editing from ArcMap covered in 10.2, this might be a nice option for older clients or live editing scenarios

here's a quick video showing the process in action:
http://www.screenr.com/nQ67

cheers
brian

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MichaelBowers — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:12:00 GMT

I have the same question about downloading data with attachments (photographs) to a local database. I tried the steps in the one response, but don't see an option to "create a local copy for editing" option anywhere. This would seem to be something anyone might want to do. How does one go about doing this?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

EricMiller4 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:50:54 GMT

Could you please clarity the best way to pull my data back down from the ArcGIS Online cloud? From what i can figure out the best way to make this round trip is to;

1. publish a hosted service
2. make edits to that service in the field
3. pull that service into ArcMap 10.1
4. zoom to full extent so all my data is visible
5. Use the "Create Local Copy for Editing" menu item
6. look at the source info after local copy is created to find the temporary geodatabase created. For example C:\Users\bobsmith\Documents\ArcGIS\FeatureServiceLocalEdits\Test2_Photos\fs44EC24DEB05E4A25919747AC3CB9C379.gdb

This seems to be the only way I can get all my data back including the attachments (photos) created in the field. It would seem there should be a better way. It is my data and I need it back to load into our enterprise SDE database when done with field collection.

How are you able to view your photo attachments? In the temp gdb there are records in the attachment table that is created. When I added the feature class and attachment table to ArcMap and then Identify a feature or Open the Attributes window when Editing, I can see that there is an attachment in the Attachment Manager. But when I try to open the photo, I receive a message in the Windows Photo Viewer that states "Windows Photo Viewer can't display this picture because the file is empty." I know the photo exists because I can open the Photo_X.jpg link in a web map that contains the feature service. I would appreciate any insight for a solution to this problem. Thank you.

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

WoodyBailey1 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:54:07 GMT

Bump to this thread because the workflow asked for here is JUST what I need as well. With apps like ArcGIS Collector and the whole mobile 'cloud' based promises of ArcGIS Online I am really confused why we don't have a simple DOWNLOAD option to get the data. As I have stated in other forums, what good is collecting data online if there is no way to extract that data so it can be incorporated in our desktop geodatabases. The 'Create local version for editing' does NOT seem to pull down everything, the attachment table specifically does not come down correctly. I am really surprised that this thread was not resolved with a clear and working resolution.

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MingshuYin — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:45:59 GMT

is any additional information about how to download the photo data to desktop from online collector yet?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

CarynAshbay — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:37:24 GMT

When I "Create a local copy", my attachment database is empty. I am using 10.2. Am I missing something?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

AbdulahadMalik3 — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:49:29 GMT

Has there been any progress about this issue?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MikeMinami — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:54:58 GMT

From the item page of the feature layer, you can click on a layer (small arrow next to layer name) and export it to a file geodatabase that will contain all attachments.

Thanks,

Mike

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MichaelBowers — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:40:03 GMT

Mike,

I've tried this several times on multiple feature services and get an error each time. Each service has 7,000+ points with attachments. Is there a size limit for creating a file geodatabase this way?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MikeMinami — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:40:26 GMT

Hi Michael,

There shouldn't be a limit. Can you share your feature service with us so we can check it out?

Thanks,

Mike

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MichaelBowers — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 13:28:10 GMT

What would be the best way to provide this to you? Email?

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MelanieRosenberg2 — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 17:59:31 GMT

Was this problem ever resolved? I want to download photos collected with Collector on a service hosted on AGOL (not server). I tried all methods mentioned above with no success. How can I download the data with attachments (maybe as relative paths to another db?)

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

MikeMinami — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 22:02:06 GMT

Melanie Rosenberg

You should be able to go to the item page, find the layer in question that contains the attachments, then click the small arrow next to the layer name to export to a file geodatabase. The file geodatabase should get created as a file item in My Content, which you can then download.

If you are having problems exporting, there may be a problem that is specific to your hosted layer. In this case, I recommend calling Esri Support so they can troubleshoot the problem.

Thanks,

Mike

Re: Field Data Collection using ArcGIS Online?

CharlemagneLosaria2 — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 05:39:15 GMT

hello all,

is there a way to load features to existing backup geodatabase along with the attachments captured using collector for AcrGIS?