Add Linear Referencing Support to ArcGIS Online

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15
04-18-2016 05:02 PM
Status: Open
JamesMitchell6
New Contributor III

ArcGIS Online (AGO) does not support linear referencing/dynamic segmentation of events in tables.  Linear referencing is an essential workflow in transportation organizations which store much of their data in tables that require dynamic segmentation to visualize or spatially analyze.  The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) also relies on liner referencing to place water supply and water quality features on the NHD network.
Without linear referencing support in AGO, web-based users have no access to use the power of GIS analysis on much of their enterprise tabular data.  Organizations have huge investments in legacy data and data collected and stored in event tables that are not available to AGO users, only Desktop users.
This could be implemented by allowing an organization to add a Roads and Highways LRS Service to their organization, like Address Locators are handled, now.  User could access the service by adding data in a spreadsheet or CSV format (like geocoding is done).

15 Comments
JamesMitchell6
Getting linear referencing into AGO will really open-up access to our enterprise and legacy data for lots of new users.
BenKoostra

Example use case -

  • A basic set of routes for a road / highway / pipeline / railroad network can be created with the out-of-the-box linear referencing tools in ArcGIS Desktop.
  • The route layer would be published to ArcGIS Online as a feature layer that is "m-value aware".
  • An "Identify Route Locations" tool would allow a user to select a location along a route and the route / m-value is returned.
  • A set of geoprocessing tools would include common linear referencing tasks like "Locate Features Along Routes" and "Make Route Event Layer".
  • A Measure-to-Geometry service and a Geometry-to-Measure service are exposed for this feature layer for custom tasks / tools / applications.  For example, a mobile app that allows a user to input a m-value on a form and the location is stored as geometry.  Or, a mobile app with a locate button that snaps to the nearest m-value of the nearest feature.
ThomasWesthoff

A query of m values in AGO and in the Collector app would greatly facilitate detection on site.

RyanKelso

I support this idea.  I would also add that linear referencing tools are available at the basic ArcGIS Desktop license level without the need of any extension, this should NOT come as an extra cost for an additional ArcGIS Server extension.

NicoleHanson

This would be a great asset to our organization if it was implemented!!!

GavinJackson3

Any implementation of ArcGIS online and portal supporting linear referencing functionality WITHOUT having to buy a separate server extension ($$$$). We've always had this ability in Arcmap, how hard is it to port across?

JamesMitchell6

Gavin,

I have been working with AGO developers on this topic. This is a key point have tried to make. LRS support requires a route reference system, but does not require it to reside on a server or from a service URL. The approach I have tried to promote has several options:

1. Tread LRS the same way as Address Locators – provide the ability to specify a service that is available to all AGO Organization or Portal members .

2. Allow the AGO user to upload or access AGO content that is a polyline_m feature class – use this as the route reference.

3. Preferably both of the above.

Users who have Event Tables should be able to access a route reference system and do LRS, just like in ArcMap.

AGO developers tell me they are working on a prototype for Q1 in 2019. We’ll see…

Thanks,

Jim

James E. Mitchell, Ph. D.

State of Louisiana

Office of Technology Services

Louisiana Dept. of Transportation & Development

Computer Center

1201 Capitol Access Rd

Baton Rouge, LA 70802-4438

Voice: 225/379-1881

FAX: 225/379-1850

Email: Jim.Mitchell@la.gov<mailto:Jim.Mitchell@la.gov>

WWW: http://www.dotd.la.gov<http://www.dotd.la.gov/>

http://gis.dotd.la.gov<http://gis.dotd.la.gov/>

http://LADOTD.maps.arcgis.com<http://ladotd.maps.arcgis.com/>

GavinJackson3

James

Good to hear that our cries have been heard... Well sort of!

With linear referencing being around since the dawn of time, most road agencies, most rail agencies, and now with the new utility model from esri, most pipeline companies using linear referencing or its functionality it is very hard to see a future without at least some support in the ArcGIS online, portal or server space. 

I'd be very keen to see if you can get some further information regarding this "development". 

The fact that linear referencing is just another geometry type and that event tables are intermediate by nature shouldn't hold ESRI back from actually supporting (across the entire ArcGIS platform - ArcGIS online and portal especially) all those Dot's who contribute many hundreds of thousands of dollars each year (us included)

Cheers

Gavin

JamesMitchell6

Gavin,

First, do have this in ArcGISIdeas and votes for that subject help move these things along.

The ESRI developer expressed some concern that if AGO/Portal support LRS, that ESRI would have to provide some sort of route reference system . They recognize the impracticability of that; an “LRS for the whole world.” However, that is not the point. Organizations who want to have online LRS capabilities already have an LRS and want to use that. Some generic LRS is of no use to them. Thai want to share their LRS within and outside of the organization to promote interoperability across systems and organizations. They want people to be able to “Locate Features” on their LRS and create GIS features that can be further analyzed or visualized. Specifically, they want the capability to work with linear events, not just pints .

We are all looking forward to these developments.

Jim

James E. Mitchell, Ph. D.

State of Louisiana

Office of Technology Services

Louisiana Dept. of Transportation & Development

Computer Center

1201 Capitol Access Rd

Baton Rouge, LA 70802-4438

Voice: 225/379-1881

FAX: 225/379-1850

Email: Jim.Mitchell@la.gov<mailto:Jim.Mitchell@la.gov>

WWW: http://www.dotd.la.gov<http://www.dotd.la.gov/>

http://gis.dotd.la.gov<http://gis.dotd.la.gov/>

http://LADOTD.maps.arcgis.com<http://ladotd.maps.arcgis.com/>

JackButler

I agree, Jim, but this will be a function that only works with user data, not the generic online stuff. It could conceivably be how the public comes to interact with HPMS data on a national level. Does Esri have a way to reserve some ArcGIS Online functions for use only with user-supplied data sets?