topic Re: Which app do I use? in Mobile GIS Questions

Which app do I use?

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:01:47 GMT

Hi,

I have a land surveyor who will be going into the field and will need to use a mobile app on his phone. My question for the GeoNet is, which app would be best to use?

Here is what we need. The needs to be able to:

use GPS (on smart phone)
consume and display ArcGIS Online services
show a basemap
show an icon of where the GPS currently is and have the icon update when the GPS (person) moves

It would be nice if the app were:

to be able to record points and/or map notes
free (ish)

We have an ArcGIS Online Organizational account. Do any of you expert GeoNeters have any great ideas on which online app is best? I know there is a wide selection including (but not limited to):

https://community.esri.com/groups/survey123?sr=search&searchId=b6618de8-2c62-480a-9f7e-e74acc98f6d3&searchIndex=2‌ https://community.esri.com/community/gis/applications/collector-for-arcgis?sr=search&searchId=8ff49f2c-4fcd-4cf9-8f6e-b73be92359af&searchIndex=1‌ https://community.esri.com/groups/navigator?sr=search&searchId=121724ea-b50a-4f28-ac30-87fe48005d9d&searchIndex=0‌ https://community.esri.com/groups/workforce-for-arcgis?sr=search&searchId=121724ea-b50a-4f28-ac30-87fe48005d9d&searchIndex=1‌ GeoForms, https://community.esri.com/community/gis/applications/operations-dashboard-for-arcgis?sr=search&searchId=1997cc6a-20a8-4136-8ad1-90ae7e3ba160&searchIndex=0‌ https://community.esri.com/groups/mobile-gis?sr=search&searchId=f3b13fc2-e209-4e23-934c-d3058c01292f&searchIndex=0‌ https://community.esri.com/groups/appstudio?sr=search&searchId=ebc3530a-f68c-4a8d-92c6-6d6af106ab04&searchIndex=0‌

Thanks!

Adrian

Re: Which app do I use?

BrentPierce — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:09:47 GMT

Adrian,

It sounds like your requirements will be best satisfied by Explorer for ArcGIS (Explorer for ArcGIS | ArcGIS)

We are currently working on a release which will support taking your data offline as well as an improved markup experience allowing one to easily markup the map and share that markup across the platform. We will be opening up a Beta program early 2017. Let me know if you are interested and I can get you more information.

-Brent

Re: Which app do I use?

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:34:38 GMT

Hi Brent,

Wow, I haven't thought of Explorer in a long time. So, if the beta is coming out soon, does the current release support the needs that I am looking for? (I suppose I can download the app and find out!). And, yes, I would be interested in getting more information (and potentially finding out if there is an early adopter segment for this app, etc.).

Thanks!

Adrian

Re: Which app do I use?

MitchHolley1 — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 16:02:36 GMT

Have you tried ArcGIS Collector?

It seems to meet all the requirements.

Re: Which app do I use?

BrentPierce — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 16:25:00 GMT

Adrian,

In full disclosure I work on the apps team at Esri and have worked on many of the field apps Esri offers. Collector for ArcGIS is a great option, it is a native mobile app focused on field data collection. So if you want to edit data in the field Collector is your best choice really. Survey123 is also a great choice for a survey based field data collection experience.

In general, this (Apps for Everyone | Field) is a great site if you want a nice overview of all our field app offerings.

Hope this helps,

-Brent

Re: Which app do I use?

BrentPierce — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 16:33:23 GMT

Adrian,

The current version of Explorer for ArcGIS does not support offline mapping but does support the ability to sketch on a map. Just download it from the Apple or Google app stores and give it a whirl. You can use it without signing in to test out the functionality or log in to your org to get access to your data.

With respect to Beta participation email me at bpierce@esri.com and I will send you more info.

-Brent

Re: Which app do I use?

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 20:19:31 GMT

Thanks for the help Brent and Mitch.

I made a fake map for testing and checked it out on Collector and Explorer. I like how explorer follows you around pretty well and looks pretty smooth (and is just simple). I haven't tried the 'public' aspect of it, but I like that idea. The sketching and adding pins seems nice but those go away if you reload the map. Is there a way to save those? Also, will the offline use be available in the next version?

For Collector, it seems like it has improved since I last used it. I like how I can somewhat easily add features and it gives me a nice rundown of my GPS status. But it doesn't seem like I can add notes or pins.

I may give this to my field guys to test out but am curious to know the roadmap for Explorer, etc.

Thanks,

Adrian

Re: Which app do I use?

BrentPierce — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 20:44:02 GMT

>The sketching and adding pins seems nice but those go away if you reload the map. Is there a way to save those?

You can save the sketch in the form of a screen grab but it is local to the device. IF you drop a pin on the map you can add it to "my places" by tapping on the info icon and then tapping "Add To My Places" on the details page for that pin. This is a location that is stored on the device and can be used in future session of Explorer.

Re: Which app do I use?

MitchHolley1 — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 20:56:00 GMT

You can add a feature class to an Enterprise geodatabase for maintaining locations and notes. Collector can be used offline with multiple users at once. It also comes with a standard downloadable basemap.

We use it and it's pretty awesome so far. And it's free!

Lastly, it works successfully on Windows and iOS. We've deployed it on Andriod as well but are currently experiencing troubles with two feature classes relating to a single table in our EGDB.

I'd still recommend it on Windows and iOS though.

Re: Which app do I use?

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:15:04 GMT

Thanks Brent. That is very helpful. I'll have my field guys check it out.

Re: Which app do I use?

AdrianWelsh — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 21:17:57 GMT

Thanks Mitch.

Those are some good options. Though, I too have had lots of issues with collector on my Android device - particularly in terms of offline mapping and the syncing afterwards. Basically it would never sync and just lose the data. It even got lost after digging into the phone and pulling out the .geodatabase file, so I basically gave up on it (plus I received negative news from an Esri employee at the User Conference about it which soured me more - however, from speaking with other Esri employees, this employee was in the minority on his opinions).

In any case, we do not have an enterprise geodatabase unfortunately so these options would not work as smoothly. Thanks again for your help.

Re: Which app do I use?

ShelbySouthworth — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 18:14:00 GMT

That is exactly my problem. Having worked with ESRI software for almost a decade at this point, I was privileged enough to go to school and work in places with a full suit of Enterprise capabilities (as large organizations). Now I find that I have to MacGyver/ hodge-podge almost half of the work I do at my current job because I can't by default do certain things with ESRI; I find myself having to go to open source software, or more recently, start venturing into the Developers world just to see what I can do with my Python/Java/JavaScript know-how to get our projects off the ground. Which is a great step, thoroughly interesting, and I would encourage anyone to look into .... but like most people I don't have the luxury of spending my days at work learning code and how to apply it because there is 10 years worth of GIS work to do sitting in the company vault that is entirely my responsibility. Which means I have to do it at night. I don't have a family or kids so after hours works okay, but now I'm putting in 60 hrs a week just on my career. Just for the chance of finding a better way

I know its a privilege you pay for but it strikes me that even outside of packages you can purchase to augment your license, or access to mobile capabilities that are included, there are simply things that will only work/ work better with, or problems that only have reasonable solutions through/ or ultimately end up requiring access to, Enterprise.