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Importing Multiple GPS Sources

Question asked by HMArnold on Jun 22, 2018
Latest reply on Jun 26, 2018 by tkowal

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We are working on a project to identify the GPS locations of multiple species of birds on an island using drone photos. We would like to have the ability to work with and enable/disable the display of individual species on the map, so Layers seems to be the logical way to go.

Currently we can generate CSV files for each species with the Species Name, Lat, and Lon values, either all species at once or a separate CSV file for each species.

Both approaches work, and with each species loaded separately, the layers can be enabled like we want, but with 30 or more species, that's 30 manual "Add Data XY/Export To Layer/Delete Import Event Layer" operations. Since we plan to do this several times for each environmental survey, that's a lot of iterative manual processing. If we load the entire show at one time, we get everything placed properly, but don't have individual display control over the different species.

When everything is loaded at once, we can select the different species, but I can't see a way to control individual colors or display control using selection.

Is there a way to import XY GPS data in bulk and retain the ability to control display according to a field using desktop operations?

We have the capability to externally generate CSV and DBF files with any combination of fields or records.

Any suggestions appreciated, including search terms that would guide me to something like this already covered in the forum.

Thanks in advance

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Dan_Patterson

Jun 22, 2018 5:48 AM

A couple of things.

If you want the ability identify an individual observer. You should set up your gps to record a comment field with the user's name (at least some gps units offer this)

If you can't record a comment, then you need to put one in. Excel can do this quickly, or better still you can script loading the csv files, provide an extra column then a key to identify a user.

Once you have the csv files appended you create the event layer once, then use the Copy Features tool (or right-click on the layer, select Data …. ) and create a featureclass.

If you don't want to add the extra field identifier, before hand, then you could do it after.

With the identifier field, you can produce a new field which concatenates the class with the user key to use as a supplementary symbology... so instead of just having 'butterfly' as a species without keys... you could have 'butterfly 1' which would identify butterflies in area 1 which may have been collected by Bob

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HMArnold @ Dan_Patterson on Jun 22, 2018 8:08 AM

Dan,

Thanks for the response - Feature Class was one of the things I was going to look into.

I understand what you're saying about the GPS note field, but we're recovering the Lat/Lon from marks made on an orthophoto using the world file to convert from mage X,Y to WGS 1984 Lat/Lon, so we're carrying which species it is from that.

And thanks to your suggestion of using irregular polygons to select various points, we are able to select and report things like "Great Blue Herons in Bobs Area".

I'm just trying to cut down on the manual labor of importing the separate CSV files.

I will study the Feature Class, but would it not be possible to import the entire CSV with all points for all species as a single import, then move to the Feature Class all at once?

I assume once its in a feature class I will be able to turn the display of individual species on and off?

Thanks for heading me in this direction - you saved me hours of fumbling around

Hank

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Dan_Patterson

@ HMArnold on Jun 22, 2018 11:09 AM

you bring in the csv all at once then make featureclass.... You just can't bring in multiple csv files all at once without separate scripting to make it THE one file... that is what I was going on about in my options. And yes, "Symbology" is the term you are looking for, and I presume "point symbols"

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tkowal @ HMArnold on Jun 26, 2018 8:03 AM

If all the species are set up in one table and loaded "Once", yes you will be able to create layers (query or definition based) for individual species. Having them together also will give you better management, QA opurtunities and more flexibility. However, some thought should go into how you design your tables and what your ultimate needs may be... Your first pass could be something like this:

You could load your sightings feature class for example and under the FC properties choose definition query and put something like this to show All ducks species: Order="Anseriformes" or a specific Duck SpeciesID = 3 or Species="Snow goose" using my above example.

For more flexibility and scaleability you could enhance your design by creating Related and lookup tables then shorting or simplifying the field collection fields... you can do this as you learn more GIS techniques...

In this you would have your Sightings Layer and then you would add the Related Species Table and form a relationship GPS Field Data.SepciesID = Species Table.SpeciesID Notice how you field collection only contains the absolutely the minimum required data... the other info is attached by relationships (Save LOTS of Typing and Typo errors). BTW your Definition Query (First Example) would pretty much be the same to isolate single or groupings of birds.

Hope this did not confuse too much.

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Dan_Patterson Jun 22, 2018 5:48 AM
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Correct Answer
A couple of things.
If you want the ability identify an individual observer. You should set up your gps to record a comment field with the user's name (at least some gps units offer this)
If you can't record a comment, then you need to put one in. Excel can do this quickly, or better still you can script loading the csv files, provide an extra column then a key to identify a user.
Once you have the csv files appended you create the event layer once, then use the Copy Features tool (or right-click on the layer, select Data …. ) and create a featureclass.
If you don't want to add the extra field identifier, before hand, then you could do it after.

With the identifier field, you can produce a new field which concatenates the class with the user key to use as a supplementary symbology... so instead of just having 'butterfly' as a species without keys... you could have 'butterfly 1' which would identify butterflies in area 1 which may have been collected by Bob
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- HMArnold @ Dan_Patterson on Jun 22, 2018 8:08 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Dan,
  
  Thanks for the response - Feature Class was one of the things I was going to look into.
  
  I understand what you're saying about the GPS note field, but we're recovering the Lat/Lon from marks made on an orthophoto using the world file to convert from mage X,Y to WGS 1984 Lat/Lon, so we're carrying which species it is from that.
  
  And thanks to your suggestion of using irregular polygons to select various points, we are able to select and report things like "Great Blue Herons in Bobs Area".
  
  I'm just trying to cut down on the manual labor of importing the separate CSV files.
  
  I will study the Feature Class, but would it not be possible to import the entire CSV with all points for all species as a single import, then move to the Feature Class all at once?
  
  I assume once its in a feature class I will be able to turn the display of individual species on and off?
  
  Thanks for heading me in this direction - you saved me hours of fumbling around
  
  Hank
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  - Dan_Patterson @ HMArnold on Jun 22, 2018 11:09 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    you bring in the csv all at once then make featureclass.... You just can't bring in multiple csv files all at once without separate scripting to make it THE one file... that is what I was going on about in my options. And yes, "Symbology" is the term you are looking for, and I presume "point symbols"
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - tkowal @ HMArnold on Jun 26, 2018 8:03 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    If all the species are set up in one table and loaded "Once", yes you will be able to create layers (query or definition based) for individual species. Having them together also will give you better management, QA opurtunities and more flexibility. However, some thought should go into how you design your tables and what your ultimate needs may be... Your first pass could be something like this:
    
    You could load your sightings feature class for example and under the FC properties choose definition query and put something like this to show All ducks species: Order="Anseriformes" or a specific Duck SpeciesID = 3 or Species="Snow goose" using my above example.
    
    For more flexibility and scaleability you could enhance your design by creating Related and lookup tables then shorting or simplifying the field collection fields... you can do this as you learn more GIS techniques...
    
    In this you would have your Sightings Layer and then you would add the Related Species Table and form a relationship GPS Field Data.SepciesID = Species Table.SpeciesID Notice how you field collection only contains the absolutely the minimum required data... the other info is attached by relationships (Save LOTS of Typing and Typo errors). BTW your Definition Query (First Example) would pretty much be the same to isolate single or groupings of birds.
    
    Hope this did not confuse too much.
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