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Allow Import GeoPDF

1146
2
08-14-2023 03:14 PM
Status: Open
GIS_Fox
Regular Contributor

IDEA: Add GeoPDF to items that can be added to an ArcGIS Online Map.

In ArcGIS Online contents when you go to add data from a file, please allow for GeoPDFs to be added to the map. GeoPDFs are PDFs with GPS and location data built in that can be exported from ArcGIS PRO and readily pulled into other mapping applications and software as a georeferenced item. Many times these are needed quickly and put into web maps for multiple uses.

Workflow:

Step 1, Add data to map.

JansenLyons_0-1692050344878.png

Step 2, choosing a GeoPDF from your file system.

JansenLyons_1-1692050466485.png

Step 3, import pdf layer

JansenLyons_2-1692050586709.png

Step 4, load data as georeferenced PDF layer, but this returns an error at the moment because GeoPDFs are not supported.

JansenLyons_3-1692050690766.png

 

Exporting GeoPDFs is possible with the latest version of ArcGIS PRO as well as in ArcMap versions. See ESRI Pro documentation on PDF exports with export georeference information note in documentation site:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/sharing/overview/pdf-export.htm 

Export georeference information

Include geospatial information from the map frames. If this information is included, you can extract x,y coordinate information from the map frames and perform geographic measurement directly on the map frame in supported PDF readers.

 

This is a thread similar touched on and shown as possible with the February 2023 AGOL update noted by community user @BernSzukalski  in the thread: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-online-ideas/georeferencing-in-arcgis-online/idi-p/935537 

JansenLyons_4-1692050902715.png

Conclusion:

Lastly, just a parting comment. Having advanced GeoPDF support is likely to be a complicated endeavor if structurally AGOL only has partial support of georeferencing, but in the use cases that would benefit from this, it is much quicker than having to georeference images and material by hand in AGOL if you've already made and published GPS/location enabled data elsewhere via ArcGIS Pro. It's all very young for AGOL but it is close to a feature in hand and I think AGOL would benefit from this advantage. Map software like Avenza brings these GeoPDFs in already, it simply doesn't make sense to have end users go around with two or three different apps when it can be held within the same organizational suite of apps such as AGOL, Field Maps, and Dashboards that could readily draw from an AGOL map with a GeoPDF. 

Kind regards & thanks for your input or consideration,

 

 

 

 

Tags (4)
2 Comments
KimSanderford

Just seconding this idea- the useful applications are endless!

Kerry_Shakarjian

👍this idea as well. I'll provide a use case in which I was hoping to be able to do this.

Use Case: I had a request with a quick turn around for data to be added to contractor provided pdf maps. A co-worker georeferenced the pdf's in Pro, the data was added on top, and then the maps were exported back to pdfs for use in Avenza while in the field.

While reviewing my co-workers pdf's, I tried dragging the pdf back into Pro to review them and that was a no go in v3.2. It was going to take too long to attempt to upgrade to 3.3 (and hope it worked in this version) so I tried to add them to a map in AGOL and that is when I found this thread, 🤓 😑.  We ended up doing a screen share and using the co-workers pro project that still had the georeferenced pdfs and data as separate layers before output. THIS IS an ARCHAIC way to do that review. IMHO

Kerry_Shakarjian_0-1723250856993.png

I wish that when I hovered over the thumbnail, it would recognize the georeferenced part of the pdf and ask me to add it to a map 😁

Thank you for considering this idea.

ps -It would also enable the ability to bring in georeferenced CAD data as a base map.