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Migrating from Oriented Imagery Classic to Oriented Imagery in ArcGIS QuickCapture

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JohnathanHasthorpe
by Esri Regular Contributor
Esri Regular Contributor
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Oriented Imagery in QuickCapture

Oriented imagery has transformed how field photos are used in GIS workflows. With ArcGIS QuickCapture, we made it incredibly easy to capture the metadata needed to support oriented imagery—such as location, heading, pitch, and roll—without adding complexity for field users. This means every photo collected in the field can be more than just an image; it becomes a spatially aware resource that can be explored in context, projected onto a map, and analysed from multiple angles.

By enabling Oriented Imagery Layer in QuickCapture projects, authors can unlock powerful capabilities like situational awareness, asset inspection, and immersive visualisation. The best part? It takes only seconds to enable, and QuickCapture automatically handles the heavy lifting—capturing all required properties behind the scenes. This integration allows field users to keep their workflows simple while making their photos far more useful and actionable across the ArcGIS platform.

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The retirement of Oriented Imagery Classic

The retirement of the Oriented Imagery Catalog (OIC) item is approaching fast and with it comes the deprecation of the oriented imagery clients that you have been working with. Of note is the fact that with the February 2026 ArcGIS Online release, the Oriented Imagery Classic widget will be removed from Experience Builder, and support for OIC in the JavaScript SDK will end. If your workflows depend on these clients, you must now migrate to the newer integrated capability.

The integrated capability uses the new Oriented Imagery Layer, which offers much better ArcGIS platform integration and long-term support and enhancements. The good news for QuickCapture users is that the option to enable layers for this capability has been available since 2024, and the transition process from an existing OIC catalogue to the new layer type is simple — here’s what you need to know.

Retirement timeline

  • January 2025: Oriented Imagery Classic officially deprecated. No new features added since February 2024.
  • February 2026:
    • ArcGIS Online release removes the Oriented Imagery Classic widget from Experience Builder.
    • Any apps using the Classic widget will break.
  • 2026 (full retirement):
    • Oriented Imagery Classic catalogue data model will no longer be supported.
    • Users should migrate OICs to Oriented Imagery Layers using ArcGIS Pro tools or Esri migration workflows.

What about QuickCapture?

  • From November 2025, the Oriented Imagery (Classic) option was removed from QuickCapture Designer.
    • You are no longer able to enable layers for Oriented Imagery (Classic).
    • If you previously enabled the Classic option for a project layer, you will no longer see the “View Oriented Imagery (Classic)” option in QuickCapture Designer.
    (If you want to explore an existing Oriented Imagery Classic item in the Oriented Imagery Classic Explorer app, you will need to go directly to the app. The application remains available for now.)
  • Any point feature layer that was enabled for Oriented Imagery (Classic) can also be enabled for Oriented Imagery Layer. This means upgrading a QuickCapture project already using the Classic version is very simple—just one click.

Migration steps

The migration process involves creating new fields in the point feature layer (to accommodate schema changes), mapping the appropriate QuickCapture variables to them, and copying values from old fields to new ones if features already exist. Finally, a new Oriented Imagery Layer item will be created, ready for use in modern oriented imagery client applications.

  1. Open your project in QuickCapture Designer.
  2. Navigate to Project Settings → Layers.
  3. Enable Oriented Imagery Layer for your point feature layer.
  4. QuickCapture will automatically:
    • Add the new required fields.
    • Migrate existing data.
    • Create the Oriented Imagery Layer.
  5. Save your project and ask your field users to download the update.

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What about my existing Oriented Imagery apps?

  • Experience Builder apps using the Classic widget:
    • Will break after February 2026.
    • You must rebuild apps using the Oriented Imagery Viewer widget and Oriented Imagery Layers.
  • ArcGIS Pro add-in:
    • For now, you can still view existing OIC items using the add-in in ArcGIS Pro 3.6 or below.
    • However, we recommend upgrading your QuickCapture projects to use the new layer type so you can utilise the built-in oriented imagery tools available in ArcGIS Pro 3.2 and above to future-proof your workflows.
  • Esri-hosted Oriented Imagery Classic Explorer app:
    • For now, you can still view existing OIC items.
    • However, we recommend upgrading your QuickCapture projects and using the built-in oriented imagery tools available in the ArcGIS Map Viewer or ArcGIS Instant Apps (Sidebar and 3D Viewer templates).

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Resources

Call to action

Start your migration today to avoid disruptions in February 2026. If you have questions or need guidance, join the discussion in Esri Community or contact the Esri support team. Future-proof your workflows and make the most of your field photos with Oriented Imagery Layer!

 

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