NOCO GIS User Meet, Loveland, CO - Mobile GIS

It was good to get out of the office and meet some of the local GISers yesterday as I spent the afternoon at the city of Loveland' s HQ for a GIS user group meetup. This group meets quarterly (roughly) and discusses who's doing what and has special speakers to entertain and inform. Yesterday's meet was focused on mobile GIS. Apparently after polling attendees at the previous meet-up, the topic of mobile GIS was on most people's minds, thus the focus of this meeting.

The meet had a strong ESRI flavor as it was sponsored by ESRI - several staff from Broomfield organized the meeting and shared with us details of the ESRI Mobile GIS solutions, from ArcPad to ArcGIS mobile. We heard from the city of Fort Collins about their mobile code enforcement plans for citing/managing infractions on the local by-laws. the team uses ArcPad and Dell Axim PDAs (wow, haven't seen them in years!!) on the upside they plan on updating things this fall with some spanky Panasonic Toughbooks - a tip, those Axims make great paper-weights! We also heard about ArcGIS 9.3, ArcPAd 7.1 and we got a good primer from Ryan Smith of ESC on what to look for when setting up and purchasing mobile GIS equipment (hardware, software). Finally, we heard that ArcGIS 9.3 "might" be coming on in June and the next NOCO GIS Meet up is planned for August 14 at the city of Loveland.

ESRI's ArcPad 7.1 trial download now back online

I just heard from ESRI's ArcPad marketing team, apparently a server issue may have prevented some people from accessing the free trial download.. the problem has now been rectified. From ESRI... we experienced a server issue on esri.com when we uploaded the 7.1 download files yesterday. This was resolved within an hour or so and all files should be ready to download now. Please try again and my apologies for the inconvenience. See more in the announcement or jump directly to www.esri.com/arcpad.

ArcPad 7.1 now available

Finally, it's here! In version 7.1, the ArcPad object model has been updated to support data relationship rules and includes improved data management tools. (Note: ArcPad Application Builder 7.1 is sold separately)

ArcPad 7.1 includes the following enhancements:
· out-of-the-box solutions to view and edit relational databases in the field
· QuickProject—A simple data template to capture various geographic features and help both new and experienced users become immediately productive
· StreetMap extension—Includes the most recent North American street map data from Tele Atlas, providing geocoding, routing functionalities, and a preconfigured basemap for users at no additional cost
· Enhanced query capabilities—Includes a query builder and query forms that support predefined, customized queries
· ArcPad Data Manager extension for ArcGIS Desktop—Interactive tools in ArcMap and ArcPad that allow simple automation of field workflows and easier management of mobile GIS project deployments

To try a fully functional evaluation copy of ArcPad 7.1, visit www.esri.com/arcpad. The ArcPad Application Builder 7.1 update will be shipped automatically to customers who are current on maintenance without additional cost. Users who have purchased ArcPad 7.0.1 since October 22, 2007, will be eligible for a free upgrade to ArcPad 7.1.

Adams County Colorado using ike GPS and ArcPad technology from North South GIS

Another HOT topic at yesterday's GIS in the Rockies was GPS tagging of photos for your GIS project. Adams County Colorado is using a very cool mobile field data collection solution thanks to the help of NorthSouth GIS, a local GIS consulting firm. Adams County is Colorado's 5th largest county and home to more than 400,000 people. However, the county is for the most part rural so data capture can be a huge undertaking. The county had a need to capture a vast amount of data by sending field crews to record coordinates along with digital photography. They wanted highly accurate data and needed to build a database that could be shared over the the county by staff. Using the Ike GPS laser data capture device from NSG the county has been able to captured GPS tagged photography, attach event data to these data, QC in the office, upload to their server, and distribute the information via an enterprise system.

The county has managed to implement a very efficient system and has streamlined their workflows, however, what wowed attendees at the session was the Ike device. Developer by a company called surveylab, ike is billed as the World's only fully integrated data capture device... I have to agree.. this device is indeed WOW technology! The ike GPS / laser scanner provides users wit: a compass, range finder, GPS, digital camera, ArcPad support.. and much more!

Some more details on ike:
- offers traditional GPS use and data capture
- GPS laser enables data collection from a safe distance
- collect data from up to 1000 m distance
- weighs 1200 g
- desktop synch
- runs on Windows Mobile
- comes with ArcPad application builder (optional) and the ike SDK
- 3.5" screen (320x240)
- rugged
- supports 1GB SD card and 64 MB RAM

For more on this see http://www.co.adams.co.us/ or http://www.northsouthgis.com/ and http://www.survey-lab.com/

Mobile Map connect takes ESRI data to the field

Speaking of ArcPad and mobile GIS, Geoage today has introduced ESRI UC attendees to their Mobile Map Connect application. According to Don fromm Geoage who I just spoke with, Mobile Map Connect enables ESRI users to take their maps and data into the field, with little mobile know-how etc... so newbies can get up and running fast, right out of the box and with little or no training. The solution works on any Windows mobile enabled device. See www.geoage.com for more

Intro to ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad at 7.1

Just listening to an intro session focused on ESRI’s extension of GIS beyond the office and into a mobile environment. Why mobile GIS?? Need to take GIS into the field to enable timely, relevant, and accurate decisions. Making real-time decisions in the field enables more collaboration between the field and the office.

ESRI's key Mobile GIS users:

Asset management – signs, hydrants, poles

Logistics – package delivery

Public Safety

Natural resource management – habitat and forestry

One of the main mobile solutions offered by ESRI is obviously ArcPad. Currently at release 7.1, the solution is currently in Beta and will likely be available in a couple of months. What can you do with ArcPad

- deploy data for field use

- use pre-loaded streetmap data, geocode, and create routes

- query data using query builder and customized query forms

- field data capture and editing

- use data capture deviced (GPS, range finder, camera)

- update enterprise database – including related tables

- navigate with your GPS

- customize ArcPad

- streetmap data is included (Canada and US)

- ArcPad 7.1 currently in Beta

Usability improvements in 7.1 – QuickProject

- focus on those new to GIS. Quickly create a new data capture project/template to get up and running fast.

ArcPad application builder is a provided tool for customizing ArcPad.

Developing for ArcPad - About The ArcGIS Mobile SDK

- ships with ArcGIS server, came with 9.2

- a suite of .Net components useful for building your own mobile solution

- Core capabilities – provide a method for synchronizing data to and fromm ArcGIS Server – optimized for wireless networks

- Enables display of rich maps on mobile devices (Pocket PC, smartphones)

- Provides and easy to use and standardized developer environment

Who’s using the SDK? Logistics (stops, deliveries), Utilities (sketching and markup), public safety, emergency response… What Can you do with the sDK? Design, serve, deploy, and Sync – design focused apps targeted at specific mobile workers, serve mobile web services, deploy large number of clients easily, synch field edits to a from a mobile web service.

Mobile platforms supported (mainly MS) running on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Many field-ready mobile devices are designed for all day use and offer enhanced wireless capabilities. These devices are designed to plug into the enterprise. Supported devices include smart phones, pocket PC phones, tablet PCs and laptops. Pocket PCs are ideally suited for all day long field work. Many offer touch screen UI, they can be rugged, and are affordable. I wish I could tell you more about ArcPAd at 7.1 but i guess that's in another session.

Finally... ESRI’s mobile team provides users with The StreetMap Mobile SDK – for building mobile navigation solutions. Provides components for mapping, geocoding, and much more.Of interest, clinets include the likes of Searc who have deployed a navigation solution to thousands of their vehicles. Enables them to move their vehicles safely and efficiently around the country.

Demo: we saw how a nav solution provided a voice (male or female) to warn driver if they are speeding etc… Directions can be reported in multiple languages. We entered a start and stop location and then an optimal route was returned to us and voice commands were presented to route our driver… pretty cool.

Taking GIS into the field with ArcPad – coming at 7.1

Imagine in the field with limited or no existing data. Enhancements .. street mapping extension (included with 7.1). Start your project and add a base data layer - data is provided for anywhere in the US or Canada. This is COOL! Using a GPS-enabled device data is collected in the field. Capture locations of objects using the point tool, add a photo to the feature, and store attribute information on the fly. Easily add options to available lists of categories (dynamically defined in the field) = rapid data capture. 7.1 supports editing of related tables. A new query builder tool provides the ability to quickly retrieve desired data and attributes. While n the field capturing data the user can quickly add or update multiple data types that are created via a database relationship(s). We're told ArcPad 7.1 should be available in a couple of months.

ArcPad 7.1 Beta program now open for mobile developers

From down-under, the ArcPad development crew has announced via their team blog that the ArcPad 7.1 Beta program is now underway - software and docs to be made available for download soon. Some new features according to the team:
The major feature introduced at ArcPad 7.1 is an out-of-the-box solution for supporting ‘related tables’.
In ArcPad 7.1 feature classes including relationships defined in the Geodatabase are extracted to a single ArcPad AXF File.
The ArcPad tools have also seen significant improvement in the area of data transfer and data sharing between ArcPad and ArcGIS in addition to support of related tables.
ArcPad Application Builder 7.1 has been improved to support ArcPad AXF files.
To find out more you will need to sign up for the beta program - we'll look forward to seeing some cool things real soon... how about support for Symbian OS? Source of inspiration http://arcpadteam.blogspot.com/ - register for the beta at http://beta.esri.com/Betaweb/index.cfm