topic Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support in .NET Maps SDK Questions

Heatmap & Cluster layers support

ItamarKcholi — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 12:17:35 GMT

Hi,

I wanted to know when the Heatmap and Cluster layers will be supported (ported?) into the Runtime .net SDK and if it is anytime soon.

Also if this is something that will take time, what are the best alternatives with the current supported capabilities.

Thanks,

Itamar

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

JoshuaTharp — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:48:09 GMT

I would also like to know the road map for these two items.

I understand the .Net renderer can handle more items on the map, and clustering may be less priority now for some. But it also reduces the visual clutter on them map and I would like to see it in the SDK at some point.

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

JeffLaFrenz — Tue, 26 May 2015 21:44:48 GMT

I am also very interested in both features (specifically clusters), as it is a feature I would like to use right away.

Daniel

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Wed, 27 May 2015 13:19:04 GMT

Hi,

A cluster renderer and a heatmap layer are both on the roadmap but the current timeframe for these is probably the first half of next year.

Regarding alternatives to the heatmap layer in the previous WPF API, if you are using the Windows Desktop API you will find the LocalServer includes a number Gepprocessing tools which offer various density analyses: Local Server geoprocessing tools support—ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET | ArcGIS for Developers

And for more information on these tools see: ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2)

I'll give some thought to your options for a cluster renderer.

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:58:00 GMT

Hi Itamar Kcholi, Joshua Tharp, Jeff LaFrenz,

Please can you tell me more about your requirements for clustering?

- What data sources / layers do you you have which you would like to be clustered? e.g. geodatabase? shapefile? graphics? feature service? or any/all of the above?

- How many objects approx are in your layer(s)? e.g. 1000? 10,000? 100,000? More?

- What would you like to happen when the user clicks a cluster?

- Would you expect there to be animated behavior on mouse down/click/over?

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

DanielSabourin — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:53:48 GMT

Hi Michael, I am replying on behalf of Jeff Lafrenz.

For our usage, we would be clustering Graphics or a Geodatabase. 1000 - 10,000 objects. When a user clicks on a cluster we'd expect an event with all of the objects in that cluster to be raised. For an initial release, we don't require any animation with interacting with a cluster.

Daniel

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

BjørnarSundsbø — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:24:18 GMT

We don't have the same requirements for the number of objects, but an event with the items would be nice. Suppose this could then be put into an overlay of some such. The animation in the clusterer in the WPF SDK was not really something I found helpful. I want to be able to display additional information about the features, and maybe not always just display the objects like before.

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelCaruana — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:40:23 GMT

In response to Michael's request for requirements:

- All of our points will be read from the enterprise geodatabase (SQL Server), and we would like to cluster multiple layers (6-8 query/feature layers), all containing points. We never used Flex or Silverlight here, however the examples we've seen from both are exactly what we're looking for.

- We are trying to cluster less than 50,000 points, and I see the likely number of points being something more like 500-2,000 points as we're filtering all layers. Some of our filtering could produce points near the 10,000 range, and if we were to fumble and display all the points at once they would number just under 50,000. Our use case is not to make the map faster by reducing points, but to make the points easy/possible to tap on by flaring them out.

- All we need to have happen, is when the user clicks(taps) a cluster of points is for them to spread/spider out. They should then be able to tap a point to see the point's popup window. We have tons of points that share the exact same lat/long, and we can't have points being hidden behind others eg: "oh that business operation wasn't performed because we didn't know anything was there.".

- I wouldn't mind having an optional explode/spider effect on hover as we would use it. However, I can see users with even more points finding an explode on hover feature that cannot be turned off to be problematic.

Example of the cluster flare I've been referring to: ArcGIS API for Silverlight

PS - We also have some maps in the JS API that need this too. extras/ClusterLayer from the JS API does not do anything for us as we have tons of points that share lat/long. If used, the users would have to tap through 20-50 popup windows before getting to the point they need. Luckily for now we're still in our research phase and Google Maps will continue to hum along in prod. But, very slowly ESRI maps are being deployed, and eventually we're going to run out of maps to make that don't need some sort of cluster flare.

EDIT: I believe operationally we could benefit from information gained from heatmaps as well.

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MiriRevivo2 — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 08:50:37 GMT

Hi Mike,

How are you?
I'm writing on behalf of Itamar Kcholi.

Our clustering needs are pretty straightforward:
We have several tens of thousands (< 50K) of graphics.

We would like the cluster to display the number of graphics it contains and when the user clicks a cluster in the map - to get an event with a list of Graphics in that cluster.

Thanks,

Miri.

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 09:55:03 GMT

Hi Miri,

Great to see you on the forums again.

Many thanks for the info on your clustering requirements - I have added this to the information provided by other users above.

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

EdnaMenon — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:32:58 GMT

Hi Michael,

Would you please confirm the exact timeline for supporting clustering? Our mobile solution really needs clustering.

Thanks,

Edna

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 20:51:57 GMT

Hi everyone,

As previously mentioned, we're working on proper support for clustering in the ArcGIS Runtime core... but in the meantime, we've included a clustering sample in our Dev Summit 2016 Tips and Tricks session - available here: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=71e82397445a47629e45f15161ca4761.

Just remember, it should be good for 10s of thousands graphics, but exercise caution beyond that.

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

EdnaMenon — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:27:37 GMT

Thank you, Michael for the update.

Do you have a more specific date for supporting clustering in Windows .NET SDK?

Also, when do you plan to support clustering in iOS and Android SDKs?

Many thanks!

Edna Menon

Senior Product Manager

Telephone (604) 214-9700 x 331

Toll free (866) 915-0088

Mobile (778) 866-7486

Transforming Utility Field Operations

www.clevest.com<www.clevest.com%20>

<http://www.linkedin.com/company/clevest> <https://twitter.com/Clevest>

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 00:28:52 GMT

Hi,

When clustering is implemented in ArcGIS Runtime, it will be available in all the SDKs (.NET, Xamarin, Android, iOS, Qt, Java...). Unfortunately I do not have a specific date for that functionality at this time.

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

EdnaMenon — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:21:09 GMT

Thank you, Mike for your prompt response. Clustering is very important for our Mobile Workforce Management customers.

Clevest MWFM software is used by utility technicians to complete their work in the field and by the office users, such as dispatchers, to assign work to the technicians.

Our applications tightly integrate with Esri technology and our WorkBook (mobile) app won Esri’s Best Mobile Application award in 2014: http://www.esri.com/esri-news/releases/14-1qtr/esri-honors-outstanding-partners-at-the-2014-epc & http://www.clevest.com/blog/news/2014/clevest-wins-best-mobile-application-award-esri/

Use Case for Clustering:

With the new .NET SDK (and in Android or iOS SDKs), there is no visual identification for the Clevest WorkBook users whether there are multiple work Orders at the same location. This impacts the technician’s productivity since he needs to visually determine the priority of his work based on the number of work orders at a location. Currently, he has to tap or click on the Order icon to see whether there are multiple Orders at the same location, which is not very efficient– see screenshot below.

At the end of the month and beginning of the month, when people move in/out, there are at least 2 orders at the same location for Meter Disconnect (for the customer moving out), and a Meter Connect (for the customer moving in). If the location is a multi-dwelling building, there might be a dozen orders at the same location.

With the previous Windows SDK, WorkBook users could easily visualize the # of work Orders at a location and could then make a decision based on # of Orders by locations:

Is there any way you can find out from your Product Management group when exactly Clustering will be implemented so I, as the Product Manager for the Clevest MWFM solution, can ensure we have development resources lined up to support this long-awaited feature in our WorkBook applications when Esri starts supporting this feature?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Edna Menon

Senior Product Manager

Telephone (604) 214-9700 x 331

Toll free (866) 915-0088

Mobile (778) 866-7486

Transforming Utility Field Operations

www.clevest.com<www.clevest.com%20>

<http://www.linkedin.com/company/clevest> <https://twitter.com/Clevest>

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Sat, 14 May 2016 00:07:10 GMT

Hi Edna,

I recommend looking at the point clustering sample included here: http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=71e82397445a47629e45f15161ca4761. The clustering code in that sample is based on the same clustering algorithm we used in the older ArcGIS API for SilverLight / ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF. It just doesn't provide animated flare-out we used to have in the SL/WPF API.

Cheers

Mike

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

ThomasArnold — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 01:23:59 GMT

I am trying to rewrite this sample for Xamarin. Do you think this could be done?

Re: Heatmap & Cluster layers support

MichaelBranscomb — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 17:09:52 GMT

Hi Thomas,

Yes, you can do this. Keep in mind you'll be running on mobile devices with differing CPU, GPU and memory capabilities. The GraphicsOverlay has two modes: dynamic and static. Dynamic redraws dynamically and makes use of GPU processing and memory to do this. Static mode only redraws when navigation is complete and makes use of CPU processing to do this. You can read more about these considerations here: Performance considerations—ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET | ArcGIS for Developers.

Also note, I think that sample creates display text via the labelling API, which is not yet available in the the v100 API, but is on the roadmap for a release in 2017. Instead you will need to use TextSymbols. That's not really a problem since you don't actually need any of the advanced de-confliction or de-duplication capabilities of the labelling API in this scenario.

Cheers

Mike