General questions about ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad

[MartinChroust]

Hi, I am writing to the forum, because I haven't found any informations on my demanded questions relating ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad.

1st - What are the basic requirements for running both of theese apps? Yeah, I have found minimal requirements, where is stated operating systeme and RAM for ArcPad (for ArcGIS Mobile is not stated minimal RAM?), but what about other features mobile device should have? GPS, Camera, screen resolution... ?

2nd - I have business app targeted to field workers. Is there any way how to incorporate arcGIS Mobile or ArcPad into this application? If so, what SW is needed for it? Just VS? If there is not such a possibility and If I used my business app and ArcGIS Mobile or ArcPad as a standalone application, how can i share data (e.g. coordinates, selected maps form ArcGIS) between my business app and ArcGIS?

Theese are most important questions for a new possible arcGIS user, but I haven't found anything on the subject yet. Feel free to discuss my questions

Thanks

Hmyzak

[AkhilParujanwala]

Hi and welcome to the Mobile forums.

1) For ArcPad I would look through this help file.
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcpad/10.0/help/index.html#/Welcome_to_the_ArcPad_Help_Library/00s1000000...

In terms of minimum requirements for ArcGIS Mobile, well I can tell you from my experience.
I am using the ArcGIS Mobile 10 ready to deploy solution for both tablets and windows mobile systems.

a) Windows XP Desktop - ArcGIS Mobile 10 runs fast
b) Win Server 2008 - ArcGIS Mobile 10 runs fast
c) Tablet PC (Atom Dualcore 1.6ghz, Vista) - ArcGIS Mobile 10 runs slow - consumes up to 200mb ram
d) Tablet PC (Atom Dualcore 1.6ghz, Win7 Embedded) - ArcGIS Mobile 10 unkown speed, have not tested yet
e) Windows Mobile CE 6.5? - ArcGIS Mobile 10 runs well

In my opinion when it comes to ArcGIS Mobile there are two major factors, CPU and ram, faster the CPU the faster the application will run. The amount required is really dependant on the number of layers you are trying to show. My application consume up to 200mb while running and doing data collection.

More on the CPU, an Atom cpu is not the best, but since my tablet pcs come with that, that's the only thing I can use. Using Core 2 Duos or something similar would yeild greater results. I used a Tablet PC with a wacom screen and it was significantly faster than my rugged tablets.

2) ArcPad from my understand was not meant for programmers to modify and adjust. Whereas in ArcGIS Mobile you can program your own mobile application. Whether or not your business app can work with ArcGIS Mobile will depend on what your business app is going to do with ArcGIS Mobile.

Aside, are you field workers GIS people or not? If they are GIS people they may want to use ArcPad. If they are not GIS people then they will find using mobile much easier, because that is what it is intended for.


If you can further explain what your business app is going to do and how it is expected to work with ArcGIS mobile or ArcPad, then we can further help you.

[MartinChroust]

Hi, Thank You for your reply.

We are using application for people who aren't GIS experts, they will just use available layers for their job. That's why I think it would be best solution to use ArcGIS Mobile because of that. Field workers in a field, will make use of GIS in way of adding objects into maps, filtering suitable layers (e.g. for electrical engineers map of electrical network, cables above and under the ground, locations of convertors and so on, they will be able to make revisions, repairs and report them via our app and graphically via ArcGIS). ArcGIS Mobile should be a part of an several menu, but in this time it is still in development vision, so I can't say anything more about this. I have read ArcGIS SDK development manual, and I have read from that, that ArcGIS is a .NET Component, which our application is not able to host. So I think, question about incorporating ArcGIS in our application is solved 😞 there is no way...

[AkhilParujanwala]

I just want to make sure you know the cost of using ArcGIS Mobile, I have a ArcGIS Advance Enterprise Server so you will need to factor that in when you compare ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad.

ArcGIS is on .NET you could re-program your business app to use .Net? Or depending on what your business app really does, just use ArcGIS Mobile and to compensate and work from that.

For example you mentioend at electrical converters need to have revisions, repairs and report them to you business app. I'm sure you can figure out a way of incorporating all that in your ArcGIS Mobile app.

You can have a FeatureClass with all the fields necessary, "Needs Repair" yes or no, "Revised" etc and then create a report and print section of the application. Of course I don't know all the functionality of your business app, but in the .NET framework you can do quite a lot and create one Mobile application that does it all.

It would help if you had a decent amount of time or multiple people to help you.

[DeniseKing]

Hi everyone,

My name is Denise and I am the Mobile Development Technical Lead in Support Services and I work directly with Support Services and Esri's Developers of Mobile GIS software including ArcPad and ArcGIS Mobile. Let's start off letting everyone know ArcGIS Mobile 10 is now licensed for use with both ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Server.
http://blogs.esri.com/Dev/blogs/mobilecentral/archive/2010/09/02/ArcGIS-Mobile-and-ArcGIS-Desktop.as...
http://resources.arcgis.com/gallery/video/arcgis-mobile/details?entryID=85FA839A-1422-2418-882A-E114...

More information is needed to properly answer mobile hardware questions including determining specific field project needs such as amount and type of data taken into field, will multiple sensors and data collection tools (camera, GPS, rangefinder) be used, is navigation required, what is GPS accuracy requirement, what are expected environment conditions, field staff experience, budget, etc? Once the field project needs have been identified, you can then begin to identify the data collection tools that will be needed and be able to make informed decisions regarding hardware requirements.

Second, both ArcPad and ArcGIS Mobile applications can be customized for specific mobile GIS projects. Again, the choice is dependent upon your project goals, data structure and knowledge of software limitations (ArcPad does not currently support annotation or topology; ArcGIS Mobile does not currently support related tables or editing of existing geometries (attribute editing only). Both ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad are easily integrated into existing ArcGIS workflows.

ArcPad is a map-centric,  Windows-based mapping and field data collection application designed for  GIS-trained professionals in small- to medium-sized workgroups who typically  perform ad-hoc data collection. It includes advanced GIS/GPS editing  functionality to facilitate post processing and also supports related tables.  ArcPad projects can be customized using scripts and applets available in ArcPad  Studio.


ArcGIS Mobile is a task-driven GIS application for Windows Mobile and Windows  tablet devices. It is designed for non-GIS professionals in medium to large  organizations that typically perform simple data collection and field inspection  projects. ArcGIS Mobile provides central management, configuration, and  deployment of apps and projects. GIS information can be synchronized from both  server and desktop clients. A .NET software development kit (SDK) is also  available for building customized applications.

ArcPad
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcpad/index.htmlArcGIS Mobile
http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgismobile/index.html

Please contact Esri Support Services to talk to a Mobile GIS specialist who can answer any additional questions. Good luck with your mobile GIS projects!

[GaryWilllick]

so, arc mobile and the I phone app have teh same functionality.  But does taht include the things I want to do like add a .dbf file or .gpx file as a layer to a project created in ArcMap on a desktop pc (understanding it takes a lot of work-arounds)?  or are things like that limited to hte more expensive ArcPad?

I posted a similar questoin on the ArdPad and windows PHones forums, but thougt since we had this thread going I would post it here too.

Gary Willick