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Satellite Mode for Field Apps

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03-19-2026 08:01 AM
Status: Open
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FEMAUrbanSearchandRescue
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Real-world Problem
Field teams increasingly operate in environments where cellular connectivity is unavailable—such as wilderness SAR, disaster zones, offshore operations, and remote infrastructure sites. As satellite connectivity (satellite-to-cell, NTN, portable hotspots) becomes standard in field devices, there’s a growing need for ArcGIS field apps to support reliable updates in these locations. Our specific use case is supporting Urban Search and Rescue Teams during disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tornados. For more information see https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2024/09/19/feature-article-sarcop-one-team-one-missi...

They need to know where the impacted areas are, where they have searched, and where others have searched to maximize efficiency and save the most lives possible.  

Technical Problem
In Urban Search and Rescue, we have begun utilizing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation receiver/terminals (e.g., Starlink) with great success for INTERMITTENT connectivity during disasters. However, teams may be working in the field away from a LEO terminal for several hours at a time. They can work offline but with limited situational awareness. 

As more satellite-to-mobile initiatives (Starlink & T-Mobile, Apple & Globalstar, AST SpaceMobile & AT&T/Verizon) become operational, we want to make sure ArcGIS QuickCapture and Fields Maps are ready to send data wherever a user is standing with their mobile device. 

Currently, ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS QuickCapture lack a low-bandwidth “Satellite Mode.” Without this, updates cannot be reliably transmitted in remote areas, limiting ArcGIS Online’s effectiveness for real-time field operations. 

In lieu of this, organizations are turning to tactical platforms like Team Awareness Kit (TAK) or ArcGIS Mission, which work over constrained networks, causing ArcGIS to become a back-end map rather than the operational platform. These may be appropriate for small tactical teams that require limited collaboration and blue force tracking. But for search and rescue teams during disasters we need maximum collaboration with information systems designed to support fast and efficient search and rescue operations (e.g. SARCOP). 

Proposed Solution
Introduce a lightweight Satellite Mode in ArcGIS Field Maps and QuickCapture. This would enable real-time field updates over satellite connections by:

  • Reducing edit payload sizes
  • Implementing connection-aware sync behavior
  • Supporting low-frequency location sharing
  • Enabling store-and-forward editing

These changes are primarily enhancements to the mobile apps and do not require new infrastructure, making this a high-impact, low-complexity improvement. Satellite Mode would allow ArcGIS Online to remain the operational system of record in disconnected environments.

ArcGIS Online provides an amazingly simple way to keep everyone connected without involving complex IT and radio infrastructure. We need to collaborate across many thousands of first responders and the wider emergency management community. The best solution is just to bring the internet wherever we go. 

@ChrisLeSueur @JeffShaner @SarahSaint-Ruth