The production system of the U.S. Geological Surveys’ US Topo 1:24,000 scale topographic maps have utilized the ESRI Workflow Manager (WMX) extension since 2011. WMX has enabled production editors to generate and edit cartographic content as well as provide a platform to quality control final products. With a yearly goal of more than 18,000 maps, WMX provides the mechanism for a highly efficient production line as well as producing a more consistent high quality product. To build a workflow for any program can be challenging which can lead to a misconception that it is too difficult or expensive to implement. This discussion will use the US Topo experience to showcase the variety of options available to support a production line of any size. Steps to break down a project to determine the ideal workflow course will be covered. Finally, ideas on how to approach an established workflow and make adjustments for better efficiency will be examined.

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Sara M Boyer
Graphics Specialist
National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
GIS in the Rockies Conference
Denver, CO
September 19, 2018
Building an ESRI’s Workflow
Manager to Maximize High
Quality, Consistent Data
Products in Large Volume

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Goal
◼ Introduce what Workflow Manager can do
◼ For you
◼ For your staff
◼ For your products
◼ For your company

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Workflow Manager for US Topo
◼ 2011/2012 - Job Tracking (JTX) was introduced into
the production line
Yearly goal of 18,000 maps
Over 21,000 maps were published in fiscal year 2017 and in
2018
◼ In 2013 - major overhaul to the workflows and
overall system.
◼ In 2015 - workflows were once again overhauled but
the base system remained relatively the same
◼ 2018 - only minor changes to the workflows

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Why Workflow Manager

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Why Workflow Manager
◼ Automates routine, repetitive and/or complicated steps
◼ Assures important steps are not missed
◼ Reduces errors and cost
◼ Quicker and easier training for new employees
◼ Tracking of projects, jobs, and work
◼ Improve quality and accuracy
◼ Allocate work

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+ 6Preparing for a Workflow Manager
System
◼ Detailed understanding of a project's
process
◼ Identify what steps are vital or
routine
◼ Brainstorm
◼ Lists
◼ Drawings
First - Break down your overall process into
broad sections or activities
◼ Related processes
◼ Distinct work groups
◼ Data
◼ Dependencies

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Building workflows –
US Topo example

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Corrections
Edit Annotation
Quality Control
US Topo
Production Line Activities
Create Projects
Generate
Annotation from
Labels

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Corrections
Create Projects
Edit Annotation
Quality Control
Generate
Annotation from
Labels
◼ Questions to ask
◼ What geoprocessing tools exist that
you current use or be useful for
your process
◼ SDE Database?
◼ Versions?
◼ Check Out/In data
◼ Avoid data conflicts
◼ Who and/or what steps will need
notifications?
◼ Are there any workflows or steps
that you will want contained to
supervisors or leads?
◼ Ratio of work done by
supervisors/leads vs production
◼ Do you anticipate or require custom
steps? Python script tools?
Start thinking details
Supervisor
or Lead
Production
Staff

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Project Init Workflow
(Parent)
Create Projects
Both uses and updates the
Production Status Table
Unique project name i.e. Texas
2018

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Annotation Generation
Workflow
**Creates a FGDB on local drive
**Creates polygons around designated
features and assigns a 1000 weight
**Creates Labels by access to mxd
**Runs intersect tool
**Converts labels to annotation
**Loads data to local drive

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Correction Job
Workflow
Edit Annotation
Corrections

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■ First introduced to production line in 2013
■ Extensive customization
■ Original QA/QC
■ Consisted of manually filling in a spreadsheet
■ 64 quad QA/QC could take 1-3 days
■ Manually copy files from one folder to another
splitting they copies from accepted and rejected
■ PDF Review Workflow QA/QC
■ 64 quads in ½ day
■ PDFs are now automatically copied and pasted to
correct folder depending on accepted or rejected
■ Comments via Geospatial Location Tool are
converted to point feature class (geospatial location,
who made the comment, comment)
■ Correction workflow contains the point feature class
in the mxd. Editor can quickly find and fix error.
Quality Control
PDF Review Workflow

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Things to remember
■ Put the effort into assuring a solid foundation
■ Brain storming. Better to have too much than miss important steps
■ Use flowcharts, diagrams to really understand your needs
■ Work with your technical staff as well as those who will be running the
workflows on a daily bases
■ Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
■ Don’t think WMX has to take over the entire process

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Building an ESRI’s Workflow Manager to Maximize
High Quality, Consistent Data Products in Large
Volume
Questions
Sara Boyer
Graphics Specialist
sboyer@usgs.gov
National GeospatialTechnical Operations Center - USGS
Denver, Colorado