Offset by distance/direction in Field Maps

[IngridHogle]

Please add the ability to offset a point or line in Field Maps by distance and direction.

This was possible in ArcPad (along with several other way to offset a point; see attached jpg). It is truly missed in Field Maps, as evidenced by these two posts: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-questions/collect-gps-locations-by-angle-and-distanc..., https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-questions/collect-an-offset-point-need-to-determine-...

The equivalent tool in ArcGIS Pro seems to be "Move" (https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/editing/move-a-feature-to-specified-location.htm), but we do not want to have to wait for the feature to be run through post-processing. We would like it to show up in the offset location during field data collection.

We miss this capability because we work in situations where bringing a high-accuracy GPS plus laser rangefinder is not only cost-prohibitive, but is also too much equipment for us to be able to carry when we need to be very agile, such as hopping on and off of an airboat for invasive species control work. The spray hose attached to the airboat can hit features quite a ways from where we are standing. We are often mapping features from a distance while treatment crews run hose out to the patch of invasive plants to treat them. A compass is easy to use, and we can estimate distances.

We can also digitize, but this is hard in Field Maps because there is no scale bar. (We added a 25x25m grid layer over our entire 7 county project area to help staff with estimating locations in Field Maps, at least. But we'd really like to be able to offset.)

[IngridHogle]

Getting Spike by ikeGPS to work with Field Maps on Android for offsets would also be helpful.

[MichaelLohr]

This is another example of having an ability in a past product, the product is discontinued, and the replacement product does not do all the things that the original product did. 

I am in favor of adding the offset capability. Suggest you post this to the Field Maps Ideas forum. ESRI does include ideas from this forum in future updates, if there is enough support them. 

ArcGIS Fields Maps Ideas 

[IngridHogle]

Thanks @MichaelLohr . I believe this post is in the Field Maps Ideas Forum. If you have not already given it a Kudos vote, please do!

[MaxRingler1]

I wonder from where/which reference point you would offset from when working on a boat, without using a GPS?

[IngridHogle]

@MaxRingler1  Of course we use GPS. The reference point is where our GPS receiver is during the recording of the feature. The GPS receiver is either internal to our handheld device (a tablet) or external (EOS Arrow, for example, strapped to our backpack) and connected to our device via Bluetooth. We stop the boat, take a compass reading and estimate distance to the feature, then record a point using this offset information (in ArcPad). 

[MaxRingler1]

Oh, ok - your post suggested otherwise, as you stated, th t using a (precision) GPS would be prohibitively expensive.

From what I get from the manual, this workflow is already implemented in Field Maps: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/field-maps/ios/use-maps/capture.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_9BEC72E5D0AF40D1941477F5...

However, what we need is to freely choose (or rather snap to established field markers) the location from where to offset - like in ArcPad. 

[IngridHogle]

Yes. The offset provider is a $3,000+ setup that requires a Bluetooth laser rangefinder, such as a LaserTech 360 rangefinder (currently unavailable for sale while they work on a newer version, from what I've been told!) paired with a high accuracy external GPS such as an EOS Arrow, paired to Field Maps.

As documented here, Configure the mobile app—ArcGIS Field Maps | Documentation, "Field Maps supports the following offset providers: Bad Elf, Eos Positioning Systems, and Spike."

As of last week, Spike (at only $500) does not actually work for offsets in Field Maps on Android devices...only on iOS devices. We have spoken with the management at Spike, and they have re-started conversations with Esri Field Maps management to re-initiate work on getting this configured to work on Android. 

Regardless, we would really appreciate a low-tech option to just use a compass and estimate distance to offset a point feature. Simple offset of line features by user input of distance and direction (left or right) was also a lovely feature in ArcPad that we'd appreciate in Field Maps.