idea (Implemented) Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123 in ArcGIS Survey123 Ideas

(Implemented) Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

ReedOjala-Barbour — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:08:05 GMT

A streaming feature (similar to Collector) would be helpful for creating geotrace and geoshape features in Survey123. The current vertex method does not allow for a user to easily collect a feature by streaming.

It would be great to keep streaming active until I stop streaming in the map toolbar.

Thanks for your consideration,
Reed

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

JamesTedrick — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:27:57 GMT

Thanks for submitting this idea. Are there particular parameters for point acceptability while streaming that you need to honor? Do you need a vertex based on a time interval, distance interval, or both? Providing details of your collection requirements will be helpful in shaping this feature.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

ReedOjala-Barbour — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:24:46 GMT

Hi James,

Thanks for reaching out. I think a vertex based on a time interval would be sufficient (especially if the user or designer of the form could set the parameter), a distance interval would also be useful (so both would be awesome). Being able to manually add and delete vertices after streaming but before finalizing could also be nice.

Making it similar to Collector streaming would be a great first step.

Thanks,
Reed

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

Joseph_Kinyon — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 19:53:45 GMT

Submitting a stream or bread crumb trail as a geotrace item is a great idea and we're either always making workarounds or doing without and frustrated.

I'd like to see it working more seamlessly in Survey123.

Can be done in Collector to Survey123, but a bit cumbersome to insert and train others how to design or kluge this with a deliberate workflow.

Currently it is easier to track the path in another software within the same device or a different device and download and merge the track clipped to the start and end time of the Survey123 form then import the feature into the project.

Either it is awkward or overly complex front end planning or backend post processing that needs to be eliminated so it matches the fantastic workflow efficiencies of Survey123.

Currently the ability to do this in conjunction with Collector is working, but below optimal.

Scenario- we have observers, we need to document where they went while completing the form and taking photos while they are on a property being monitored for compliance with an easement.

For example was observer where they were supposed to be?

Did they cover the minimum effort of expected observation during the completion of the form for quality of work assessment to make the observation valid?

Here are basic functional requirements for a monitoring a site within one Survey123 form.

1. Track location of device/observer (streamed coordinates in a geotrace record) from once form is opened to when form is closed automatically.

2. Initiate tracking of location using streamed coordinates within the form with a begin and end button click event so observer can capture a path for part of their observation -- or triggered based upon a clock value for a timed transect search.

3. Initiate a stream to a geotrace in a repeated form element for simultaneous tracks that may be serial or co-temporal and need to be stopped en masse or individually (this is the lowest priority)

4. Collect point (e.g. photo monitoring) or other geoshape or geotrace (e.g. dumping violation, invasive species, etc.) while streaming coordinate collection into a tracklog (geotrace) for the form in the background. (this is the highest priority)
5. Create track feature and tag them specially when uploaded to Survey123 form record, for example as a tracking layer Track where collectors go—Collector for ArcGIS (Classic) | ArcGIS

6. Set streaming collection parameters for distance or time interval. Also, have two tracks running in sequence collecting both for different reasons, e.g. collect stored coordinates by time elapsed (raw as received, for every second, every 10 seconds, etc. for walking vs. driven surveys) and for distance (collect every 10 feet, 1 kilometer, etc)

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

Joseph_Kinyon — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 20:41:18 GMT

Yaw Anokawa did a great job implementing it in ODK in 2018.
Here's that parallel feature request in different XLSForms type tool
Collect: Extend audit log to include GPS coordinates - Features - ODK Forum

By the way, is this a new idea or simply an extension of the Geotrace functionality?

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

JamesTedrick — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:43:29 GMT

Hi Joseph,

Thanks for the details. I will mention one of the cases you mention (#5) is served through the Tracker for ArcGIS functionality. Given that geotrace is already implemented, streaming is a seperate entry in the ArcGIS Ideas system.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

Joseph_Kinyon — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:46:28 GMT

Thanks James,
I was testing that last year and put it down, I have tracker on device and will look at workflow again.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

Joseph_Kinyon — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:49:23 GMT

Also looking at how this proposed feature extends this program linked below in a really important way:
Conservation Easement Monitoring | ArcGIS Solutions for State Government
Staff went with Avenza Pro in the interim because they can't include track in visit in Survey123 as easily as they would like.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

Anonymous User — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 14:35:37 GMT

Joseph's request is just what I am looking for. I would like to have ability to to start a geopoint survey, then have a track line recorded within that survey. An example how this would be used for me: We have many unauthorized road systems illegally created. Currently we have a survey that documents a single point to show the start of the illegal road system. This give us a reference point to go back with equipment to close it. Since this is not a designated road system it is not mapped anywhere, but we need to keep a log of the length of illegal road we closed. Currently we use Collector or other options to track the length. We have a large amount of employees that use this survey that vary in skill sets when it comes to technology. Being able to keep it all in one survey would receive more by-in from employees.

So, in short, a way to start and stop collecting a polyline (similar to Collector) in Survey123 would be a huge benefit to the program.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

AprilChipman — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 16:17:06 GMT

The ability to stream data collection, or to select multiple existing features and collect data in Survey123 would be helpful in my situation as well. I work for an electric utility. The linemen are required to patrol so many miles of line a month. As they are driving, they look at the conductor and poles in a brief inspection. They would like to be able to start streaming, drive to their destination, and stop streaming to collect the Line Patrol data.

Another option would be to automatically select all of the existing features they drive within 30 feet of and then collect Line Patrol data on those features.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

DavidLitke — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 19:10:48 GMT

Is there any timeline for when streaming might be introduced into Survey123? We currently use Survey123 for field data collection because it is easy to implement and has the capability of anonymous editors.

However we now also need to capture lines as well as points. Since this is not possible in Survey123 we are looking at implementing it in Field Notes. Although Field Notes is more powerful, it requires that our volunteer field workers learn another App, and also requires that we get more ArcGIS Online licenses since a login is required for Field Notes.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

WhitneyWeber — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 18:42:49 GMT

We need to collect point, line, and poly data in a single survey, which we are doing via repeats. When the survey was initially developed (maybe 2 years ago), I think it was using the geotrace and geoshape capabilities of the old Collector, since lines and polys were not officially supported at the time in Survey123. Since then, the streaming capabilities for lines and polygons no longer exist in Survey123. So, I tried integrating with QuickCapture for this functionality, but that does not work because of the repeats being used. The spatial features are recorded in the repeat but the ParentGlobalID is not returned. And creating a unique ID and passing that data is useless, because not only are 2 records then created in the repeat - one with the ParentGlobalID but no spatial feature and one with a spatial feature but no ParentGlobalID - but there is no way to link the ParentGlobalID to the record with the spatial feature except by manually doing so. You can't use a pulldata to a java function to calculate the ParentGlobalID since ParentGlobalID is not reflected in the spreadsheet (Survey123 Connect). Anyways, the way streaming works in QuickCapture currently, with the ability to set a distance threshold between vertices is ideal.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

DarraghOSullivan — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 04:16:46 GMT

This would be a huge help for us as well. We carry out inspections on walking trails, where we use Survey123 to locate and collect information on any issues found along the route. However, we also need to record the actual route of the trail itself. I tried a Collector/Survey123 combo but it didn't work well. So we tether Bad Elf GPS devices to iPads and stream the trail route using the Bad Elf itself. It would be much easier and more useful (in reports etc) to capture the route from within Survey123. Hope it can be implemented soon...

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123 - Status changed to: In Product Plan

Anonymous User — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 02:57:35 GMT

Hi @ReedOjala-Barbour

Just letting you know that we now have a beta implementation of location streaming for geotrace and geoshape question types which allows the user to directly stream location updates to the line or polygon being created in the map question as they move around.

You can test out the latest 3.15 beta builds with this feature via the Early Adopter Community and the relevant documentation can be found here:

Location streaming and other geotrace / geoshape capture method improvements - ArcGIS Survey123 (esri.com)

Regards,

Phil.

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

JamesTedrick — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 19:54:37 GMT

We have introduced a first implementation of streaming functionality in the Survey123 Early Adopter Community. Please review the documentation in the EAC. We know that it won't meet every streaming use case; if there are ways it can be improved, let us know in the EAC!

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123 - Status changed to: Implemented

IsmaelChivite — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 05:03:40 GMT

Implemented in version 3.15 (June 2022)

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-survey123-blog/what-s-new-in-arcgis-survey123-june-2022/ba-p/1184420

Re: Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

DarraghOSullivan — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 13:47:36 GMT

@IsmaelChivite @JamesTedrick @Anonymous User

Thanks for implementing this ... looks good and will have a lot of uses. Our particular potential use case is for inspecting walking trails. Ideally we would like to stream (record) the route while identifying issues along the way. It seems like in the current version, it is not possible to continue streaming while answering other questions in the survey. Might this be possible in future ... to let the streaming continue in the background as other parts of the survey are completed?

Similarly, for longer trails, we would also need to restart streaming where we left off after a break or even the next day. Currently there is no option to continue a stream, only to replace it. Might this be a future option?

Thanks again, Darragh

Re: (Implemented) Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

IsmaelChivite — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:47:32 GMT

@DarraghOSullivan If you want to collect point observations while you are digitizing a line, I would recommend ArcGIS QuickCapture. This mobile app is specifically designed to address this use case you describe. In case your point observations require the complexity of a Survey123 form, there are ways to launch Survey123 form QuickCapture. I will be happy to discuss the details with you.

Re: (Implemented) Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

DarraghOSullivan — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 12:03:52 GMT

@IsmaelChivite Thanks Ismael,

In our case, the survey is very complex with many pages and fairly complex calculations going on as well as repeats etc. In the past I tried using Collector to collect the route and launch the Survey from there. But I found it very unstable and the route tracking kept turning off, especially when the survey was open - didn't like both running concurrently. I haven't tried with QC - do you think this might still be an issue? And can QC be configured to launch specific pages of a S123? This might help in our case...

Re: (Implemented) Add streaming feature to geotrace/geoshape in Survey123

MNA_AndrewM — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:44:30 GMT

@DarraghOSullivan Were you ever able to get the streaming geotrace to record in the background while you completed other parts of your survey? This would also be very helpful for my application—recording butterfly observations along a meandering transect. Currently I run other apps in the background to record my tracks, and it seems like this would be much simpler. Thanks!