Latest Contributions by SpatialNinja

  News & Updates Not only is it spooky season but its that time of year for an update to ArcGIS Online. The October 2023 update includes new functionality in Map Viewer, such as additional analysis tools and raster functions, time zone settings, plus other enhancements and new capabilities throughout the ArcGIS Online website. A complete list of updates are available in the blog link below, but here are a few of our favorites. Save Group Layers as New Items from Map Viewer Use group layers to organize related layers in your map. Once grouped, you can set exclusive visibility, showing only one specific layer without having to hide each of the other layers. You can now save group layers as items, enabling you to reuse group layers across your organization’s web maps. The group layer’s exclusive visibility and styling settings will also be saved in the item. Learn more about saving group layers as items. Map Viewer Timezone By default, the map displays the date and time based on the time zone of the device used to view the map. Map authors can now choose a specific time zone for their maps, ensuring all pop-ups and attribute data are consistently presented in the desired time zone rather than being influenced by the end user’s browser or mobile device.         Atlas Instant App Atlas is now out of beta and in general availability. Atlas enables organizations to highlight a collection of curated maps and layers based on a point of interest, a geographic location, a theme, or a specific event. Atlas is an effective way to enable non-GIS users to make their own maps and explore your organization’s content. Users can easily discover and explore content, as well as share the maps they create via PDF or screenshots, or after signing in can save the map to their Content. Built-in tools help users explore the map by searching locations, switching between 2D and 3D, measuring distance and area, and using the enhanced sketch tools to add text and arrows to the map. Oriented Imagery Now Supported in Map Viewer An oriented imagery layer is a type of feature layer for visualizing oriented imagery in the context of a map. Map Viewer now supports viewing and managing oriented imagery layers using the oriented imagery viewer. When added to the map, each point in an oriented imagery layer indicates the camera location where an image was acquired. For more information, see Introducing oriented imagery or re-watch this TGI5 on how to set up QuickCapture for photo inspections. TGI5 - Episode 037 - Photo Inspections & Oriented Imagery Viewing  ArcGIS Data Pipelines Data Pipelines (beta) is a new data engineering and integration application that was released in ArcGIS Online in June 2023. The Data Pipelines development team has been listening closely to your feedback and have implemented new features based on your requests. New features include scheduled data pipeline workflows, and an easier way to configure the schema for delimited datasets. If you follow TGI5, in episode 81 we highlighted the capabilities of Data Pipelines and have been looking forward to the scheduling option, which is now available. TGI5 - Episode 081 - ArcGIS Data Pipelines    **Important Information for ArcGIS Online Admins** When ArcGIS Online Organization administrators are no longer active and are unreachable, privileges must be delegated to a new or existing user. For example, the user named as the current default administrator has separated from their organization but did not delegate administrator permissions to another user before their final day. As a result, current active users are left without the permissions needed to perform the tasks reserved for an administrator.  To ensure the organization does not lose admin capabilities please refer to this article for best practices and guidance.   Product Updates: ArcGIS Online (October 2023) Instant Apps (October 2023) ArcGIS Dashboards (October 2023) Data Pipelines (October 2023) ArcGIS Image for ArcGIS Online (October 2023) ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App (October 2023) Esri Demographics (October 2023) ArcGIS Field Maps (October 2023)     Recent TGI5s TGI5 - Episode 085 - IMGIS 2023 Keynote Demonstration  TGI5 - Episode 086 - Pulling External Data Into ArcGIS Survey123      Meetups & Events This month the Esri Telecom Team held the second Esri Carolinas regional meetup of the year for the Telecom User Community. Lots of great conversations around field operations and specifically make ready pole audit use cases.  Thanks to everyone in attendance and looking forward to more in-person meetups next year!   Join @PatrickRyan, @JLauer, and the telecom user community for the final virtual meetup of the year. This final Telecom GIS in 60 Minutes will be focused on field operations with ArcGIS. What ArcGIS apps support field mobility, what's new, tips and tricks, and telecom use cases. Be sure to register for this last meetup of the year which will on November 14th at 8:00 PST.   TGI60 - Field Operations - Virtual Meetup        Telecom Insights Amazon is analyzing real estate. FedEx is optimizing deliveries. Marriott is modeling climate risk. Across industries, a mindset is forming: To understand a business—its growth opportunities, hidden inefficiencies, and risks—executives must understand the locations where it operates. That requires what Deloitte calls spatial thinking, a practice that can improve operations, marketing, and risk management—and spark transformation across an organization. This WhereNext webcast explores how companies are deploying spatial analytics to create efficiency, safeguard operations and customers, and grow. Listen in to learn how some of the world’s best-known brands use spatial analytics to improve business outcomes. Register for the Webcast Today!   For more insights, be sure to sign up for the Telecom News newsletter at esri.com/telecom.     Happy Geoween!!!   Previous Bits & Bytes: TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - March 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - April 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - May 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - June 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - July 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - August 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - September 2023    ... View more

Welcome back to TGI5. In this episode we look at two ways to pull data from an external feature layer into ArcGIS Survey123. We show how this can be done using the Web Designer and Survey123 Connect. For details check out the links below.   Extract data from a feature layer using 'Calculations' in the Web Designer Pull data from a feature layer using the pulldata("@layer") function in Survey123 Connect Survey123 Tricks of the Trade: pulldata("@layer")    - Patrick Huls ... View more

Welcome back to another episode of TGI5. In this episode we play a recording of the telecom keynote demonstration from the Esri IMGIS conference 2023. If you would like to re-watch the entire keynote you can watch the recording here.  Be sure to login to the conference website in order to access the recording.   Until next time, we're out.  Patrick Huls ... View more

  News & Updates We’re thrilled to share that you can now use a tablet app to experience and interact with briefings in ArcGIS StoryMaps! Recently released in beta, briefings is a slide-based output of ArcGIS StoryMaps that helps you make data-driven decisions and provide meaningful context to your audience by infusing presentations with real-time data and dynamic maps. To complement your briefings, the new tablet app elevates how you view and consume briefings, offering unmatched portability, adaptability, and offline access to your briefings.  Learn more about StoryMap briefings and this new app.   Product Updates: ArcGIS API for Python 2.2.0     Recent TGI5s TGI5 - Episode 084 - ArcGIS Reality      Meetups & Events Esri's IMGIS Conference is right around the corner. Learn from experts across industries and explore the vital role of GIS for infrastructure at the 2023 Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference. This year there will tons of opportunities to learn about what's new in ArcGIS, see how ArcGIS is being used within the telecom industry, and collaborate with other GIS professionals in telecom.  Below is a sneak peak of what to expect throughout the week.   Telecom Tech Sessions Field Operations for Telecom - Wednesday, Oct 11 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PDT Transform your telecom field operations with the power of location. Learn how to use ArcGIS field apps to help plan, coordinate, manage, and monitor field operations. Join this session to learn about how the field apps can better integrate your mobile workforce's operations with your mission and bring data from the field into your organization.    NextGen Network Management for Telecom - Wednesday, Oct 11 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT ArcGIS is the only comprehensive geospatial system that enables NextGen Network Management and the creation of a network Digital Twin. Support the end-to-end network rollout and customer journey with NextGen Network Management in ArcGIS. You will learn how to get started with NextGen Network Management by performing market analysis and strategic planning, designing and building the network.   Extending ArcGIS Solutions for Telecom - Thursday, Oct 12 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM PDT In this session you will learn how to extend ArcGIS Solutions for Telecom with advanced configurations. Together we will explore how to configure solutions for your specific workflows. Topics include deciding which solutions are best for you, how you can leverage Living Atlas data and advanced Arcade scripts in your solution deployment, and more. Attendees will learn about these topics in both desktop and web environments.   All Telecom Sessions and Activities Telecom Industry Sessions and Activities 2023 IMGIS Flier    Telecom User Community (TelUC) Meetups Esri IMGIS - Event Meetup      Telecom Insights In September 2023, the TM Forum held their annual DTW event in Copenhagen, Denmark. This event was a chance for global communication service providers (CSPs) and industry software vendors to come together to learn and discuss how to simplify, modernize, and automate the telecom business. A major theme for discussions and sessions throughout the week was the TM Forums Open Digital Architecture (ODA). According to the TM Forum, ODA replaces traditional operations and business support systems (OSS/BSS) with a new approach to building software for the telecoms industry, opening a market for standardized, cloud-native software components, and enabling communication service providers and suppliers to invest in IT for new and differentiated services instead of maintenance and integration. Hundreds of CSPs and software vendors have endorsed the TM Forums ODA and open APIs. This industry commitment was on full display during the event.   TM Forum's ODA provides the blueprint for a modern enterprise architecture, built on industry-agreed, modular, reusable software components, and Open APIs. ODA helps CSPs transform business agility and significantly reduce costs. One of the components in ODA blueprint that reinforces the importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in telecom is the 'Location Management' component. Learn more about this 'Location Management' from the blog below: Location Management a Key Component in TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture   For more insights, be sure to sign up for the Telecom News newsletter at esri.com/telecom.     Previous Bits & Bytes: TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - March 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - April 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - May 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - June 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - July 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - August 2023    ... View more

  TM Forum's ODA provides the blueprint for a modern enterprise architecture, built on industry-agreed, modular, reusable software components, and Open APIs. ODA helps CSPs transform business agility and significantly reduce costs. One of the components in ODA blueprint that reinforces the importance of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in telecom is the 'Location Management' component. Learn more from the blog below. Location Management a Key Component in TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture ... View more

  Join Esri and the Telecom User Community for a community meetup!   Where? Esri Charlotte Arboretum Office 3325 Springbank Ln #200 Charlotte, NC, 28226   When? Thursday, October 26th, 2023 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM EST   This event has limited space and requires registration and confirmation.  Please note that this in-person meetup for ArcGIS users in the Telecom User Community only.    Register today: https://arcg.is/v8fye0   ... View more

  When it comes to the value of Esri events like UC or IMGIS, I've always considered three benefits: creating new connections, getting or staying plugged into the telecom GIS community, and learning new ideas or best practices. Forrester sent a couple of analysts to Esri UC this summer. Here are their takeaways: https://www.forrester.com/blogs/gis-innovations-flooded-esris-2023-user-conference/   For the telecom user community, you can consider three major Esri events as crucial to overall staff development and innovation opportunities: Held each spring, Esri’s Developer Summit is ideal for DevOps, IT administration, architects, or developers Esri UC is held each summer; it’s the world’s largest GIS event, bringing together people from all over the world and various disciplines. There’s a little something for everyone. Send executives, decision-makers, GIS professionals, business analysts, … Each fall, Esri’s Infrastructure Management GIS conference is geared specifically for leaders and GIS professionals in infrastructure and infrastructure support industries. Send leaders, GIS professionals, or project managers for focused learning and networking on infrastructure-related systems and workflows. ... View more

  Leveraging Location Intelligence for Sustainable Operations in Telecommunications  A Light Reading Webinar sponsored by Esri This session will be moderated by Terry Sweeney, Contributing Editor, Light Reading The telecommunications industry is working harder than ever before to meet demands and connect society to what’s important in their lives. Today, service providers need to ensure they are also delivering services sustainably and understand environmental impacts while building and maintaining networks. While doing so, teams need to ensure they can maximize limited resources, safeguard the customer experience, and deliver services deeper into rural communities. Since virtually every aspect of business in the telecommunications industry involves location, it only makes sense for organizations to take a geographic approach to manage their networks efficiently and sustainably. By using maps and spatial thinking to plan and design, analyze, collaborate, and capitalize market opportunities, organizations can provide the best possible awareness and understanding for completing tasks and solving problems. This conversational webinar highlights how service providers of any size can utilize location to unify data and information contained in existing operations and business support systems to deliver comprehensive understanding throughout the organization while providing sustainable, equitable, socially responsible operations workflows.   Register Today:  https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4313026/3CA209690099D1947B4D4463965C6513?partnerref=UM_LRLIKA_2023725_1   ... View more

  News & Updates Spatial analysis is a core part of GIS and has evolved with the technology over the years.  At this year's Esri UC, there were 3 major trends in spatial analysis: Cloud Big Data Architectures, GeoAI, and Graph Analytics. Learn more about these emerging spatial analysis trends.      Hurricane season is here.  Esri offers a variety of disaster response resources for organizations and GIS analysts. Check out one of these resources,  'Map in a minute: Map a hurricane using ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Living Atlas' to learn how to quickly configure a web map to monitor real-time weather.   Action Required: ArcGIS Online SAML Customers ArcGIS Online Organization administrators who have enabled Best Practices for SAML Security features “Enable signed request” and/or “Allow Encrypt Assertion” will need to obtain the new ArcGIS Online Service Provider metadata file + certificate and associate it with their Identity Provider. Learn more here.   Product Updates: ArcGIS Insights 2023.2 ArcGIS Story Maps 2023     Recent TGI5s TGI5 - Episode 079 - Introduction to Arcade  TGI5 - Episode 080 - Using Webhooks to Forward Survey123 Responses  TGI5 - Episode 081 - ArcGIS Data Pipelines  TGI5 - Episode 082 - HLD & Walkout Survey Workflow  TGI5 - Episode 083 - Create a Hosted Feature Layer from Scratch    Meetups & Events In August the Esri Telecom Team hosted the third virtual meetup of the year. The topic for this meetup was 'What's New in ArcGIS 2023'.  The Esri team highlighted new updates to ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise/Online, ArcGIS Living Atlas, and ArcGIS Apps. If you missed this meetup you can watch the recording below, and see you at the next one.   TGI60 - ArcGIS 2023    Telecom Insights The telecommunications industry is working harder than ever before to meet demands and connect society to what’s important in their lives. Today, service providers need to ensure they are also delivering services sustainably and understand environmental impacts while building and maintaining networks. While doing so, teams need to ensure they can maximize limited resources, safeguard the customer experience, and deliver services deeper into rural communities. Since virtually every aspect of business in the telecommunications industry involves location, it only makes sense for organizations to take a geographic approach to manage their networks efficiently and sustainably. By using maps and spatial thinking to plan and design, analyze, collaborate, and capitalize market opportunities, organizations can provide the best possible awareness and understanding for completing tasks and solving problems. This conversational webinar highlights how service providers of any size can utilize location to unify data and information contained in existing operations and business support systems to deliver comprehensive understanding throughout the organization while providing sustainable, equitable, socially responsible operations workflows. Register for this upcoming webinar today: Leveraging Location Intelligence for Sustainable Operations in Telecom Thursday, September 07, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 1 hour For more insights, be sure to sign up for the Telecom News newsletter at esri.com/telecom.     Previous Bits & Bytes: TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - March 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - April 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - May 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - June 2023  TelUC Bits & Bytes Newsletter - July 2023    ... View more

  Welcome back to TGI5. In this episode we walk through how to create a hosted feature layer in ArcGIS Online, how to modify the attribute schema, and set the symbology for the map layer, all without ever opening ArcGIS Pro.     Patrick Huls ... View more

Welcome back to Telecom GIS in 5 Minutes. In this episode we take a look at the new ArcGIS Data Pipelines capability in ArcGIS Online. Data Pipelines is a new native data integration capability of ArcGIS Online that makes it faster and easier to access, prepare, and integrate data.  The example Data Pipeline we've highlighted in this episode shows how to join an asset inventory layer with a live weather feed layer to produce a new warnings layer based on potentially impacted infrastructure.   Introducing Data Pipelines - https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/announcements/introducing-data-pipelines-beta-in-arcgis-online/   Patrick Huls ... View more