This document discusses using Collector for ArcGIS to enable field data collection and empower utility operations. Collector allows users to collect data using mobile devices and publish it to ArcGIS Online or Portal for use across the organization. While Collector currently only supports connected access, Esri is working on offline support which is not yet suitable for most utility workflows due to limitations like an inability to use dynamic map services. The document provides recommendations for implementing Collector, including publishing editable feature services and creating web maps for use in the app.

1. Collector for ArcGIS
Out-of-the-box Field Solution Driving Major Value

2. Informal Poll
 How many folks are using ArcGIS Online?
 How many have tried Collector?
 How many are using Collector for a production use
case?

3. Collector is Part of ArcGIS Online
 Collector is an OOTB App
for iOS and Android
 Consumes WebMaps Published in
ArcGIS Online ***or Portal for ArcGIS
 Licensed via your ArcGIS Online
Organizational Account
In Summary – Let’s Start with ArcGIS Online

4. ArcGIS Online – GIS Evolving
The Landscape of GIS is Changing
 ArcGIS – A Complete GIS Platform
 Mapping, Analyzing, and Managing
Geographic Information
Desktop Web Device
Server Online Content
and Services

5. ArcGIS Online – GIS Evolving
Accessible Anywhere
Desktop Web Device

6. ArcGIS Online – GIS Evolving
Powered by Services
Server Online Content
and Services

7. What it Means to ArcFM Utilities
 Leverage your existing investment in:
 ArcSDE
 ArcGIS Server
 ArcFM
 Keep your On-Premise GIS Data Secure
Behind Your Firewall
 Create New Field Workflows – Quickly!
 Integrate/Automate/Empower Field Data
in the Back Office

8. ArcGIS Online w/Collector Architecture

9. Publishing Feature Services for Collector
 Feature Service Options
 Utility-Hosted ArcGIS Server (recommended)
 Service Managed Internally
 Data Stored on Utility-Owned Server
 ArcSDE Feature Classes are EASY to publish
 Internal Hosting Makes Empowerment Straight Forward
 ArcGIS Online-Hosted
 Cloud Hosted, Reduces Load on Your Servers
 Can publish via Shapefile, CSV, or File Geodatabase
 Need Plan to Transfer/Replicate Data to Back Office

10. Publishing Feature Services for Collector
 Create New Feature Class
 Non-Versioned Feature Class
 Points, Lines, or Polygons
 No ArcFM Classes
 Best Practices
 Create a dedicated AGOL dataset to contain all editable classes
 Set Projection on AGOL dataset to WGS 84 Web Mercator (auxiliary
sphere) for optimized speed in Collector
 Use Domains wherever possible for easy field data entry
 Apply Defaults to any applicable fields to minimize field interaction

11. Publishing Feature Services for Collector
 Enable Attachments
 Collector has Native Attachment Support
 Creates related _ATTACH table
 Stores Attachments in DB
 Best Practices
 Review and determine permanent storage options for back office
photos
 Default is in GDB but table space can get HUGE
 Can create an app to export pics to a linked share drive

12. Publishing Feature Services for Collector
 Publish to ArcGIS Server
 Editable Feature Service
 Enable Editing Access
 Very Easy Post 10.1
 Best Practices
 Secure your ArcGIS Server + Web Adaptor with SSL (https only)
 Secure your Feature Service with ArcGIS Server Security

13. Publishing Feature Services for Collector
 Service Must Be Available Over the Internet (DMZ)

14. Creating your AGOL WebMap
 Within Your ArcGIS Online Account
 Add Feature Service to AGOL
 Use Https Url
 Enter Credentials
 Add good Tags for searching
 Best Practices
 Add the item to My Content, not directly to a map
 Save the Username/Password with the Service Item

15. Creating your AGOL WebMap
 Create a New WebMap
 Add Backdrop Data Map Services
 Add Feature Service from Org
 Save & Share WebMap w/Groups
 Best Practices
 Test adding collection points in the ArcGIS.com WebMap
 Fix Issues on ArcGIS.com before testing Collector

16. Consume WebMap in Collector
 Log In to Organizational Account
 Only Maps with Collectable Items are Available
 Default Location is Your Current GPS Location
 Click the Map Button on Add Screen to place point on map

17. Consume WebMap in Collector
 Collected Data is Instantaneously Saved to Server / SDE
 Available in ArcGIS.com, ArcMap, Dashboard, any AGOL App
 Will include attachment data

18. Empower the Data
What will you do with the data?
Geoprocessing Systems Integration Workflow

19. Empower New Data Use Case
Expose Public
WebMap
Show Streetlights
Combine w/GPS
Capture Outages
Include Photo

20. Empower New Data Use Case
Email Customer
Auto-Generate
Service Request

21. Focus on the Collector Pattern
 Expose New Data to Field Operations
 Collect New Data from Field Operations
 Empower Your Operations thru GP, SI, Workflow, & Reporting
 The value of the solution lies in using the out-of-the-box Collector application
(and other OOTB apps – green app, dashboard, explorer)
 Esri maintains the software and releases quarterly via auto online distribution
 Keep your automation in the back office – increase ROI, simpler upgrade path

22. What About Disconnected Access?
 Previous Patterns were focused on connected access
 In March 2014, Esri released first offline support
 Utilities have been using disconnected ArcEngine apps for a long time
 ArcFM Viewer, TC GoSync, OneView, etc.
 Sets the expectation pretty high
 Good News – Esri is thinking about it
 Bad News – I don’t think it will support most utility workflows… yet

23. Disconnected Collector Support
 Supports three map service types:
 Feature Services w/Editing Operations
 Tiled Map Services
 Esri Basemap Services
 What’s Missing?
 Dynamic Map Services
 Why do we care?
 The utility backdrop data is crucial to field operations & decision making
 Dynamic map data cannot be downloaded to the Collector device

24. Disconnected - What Can We Do
 Enable Feature Services for Offline Access in AGOL
 Allows for Map to be Downloaded to the Device & Edits
to be Synched Back to Feature Service

25. Disconnected - What Can We Do
 Downloading the Map:
 Defines a specified spatial extent (my work area for today)
 Defines a zoom level for the cache
 Caches the tiled basemap
 Caches the Feature Service
 Collects Features Locally Just as If Connected
 After Establishing Network Connectivity, Syncing the Map:
 Passes the local features back into the Feature Service
 Feature Service doesn’t know about the offline collection

26. Disconnected – Limiting Factors
 No Dynamic Map Service:
 No ArcFM utility data (poles, valves, splices, etc.)
 This data is critical to our operations…
 What are the Options?

27. Disconnected – Limiting Factors, Option #1
 Create a custom tiled basemap
 Custom hosted basemap with our utility data
 Tile the map
 ArcGIS Online Credits can be used to tile your map ($)
 How often do you need to refresh the tiles???
 Tiled basemaps are not interactive (no clicking, no attributes)

28. Disconnected – Limiting Factors, Option #2
 Create a tile package (tpk) with our utility data
 Data can be side loaded onto device
(iTunes for iOS, network/external hard drive for Android)
 How often do you need to refresh the side loaded data???
 Tiled basemaps are not interactive (no clicking, no attributes)
 Back to regularly synching data to our devices
(now a tpk instead of gdb)

29. Disconnected – My Editorial Thoughts
Neither backdrop option is great
 When compared to the Engine environment
 Still transferring/publishing static data stores
 Not much different than ArcFM Replication or GoSync MIMS
This is a good first step for Esri
 Not ready for prime time disconnected utility use cases
 Connected is absolutely ready for use!
 Esri wants to make disconnected usage a replacement for
ArcPad so they are headed in the right direction
In the short term utilities requiring disconnected
access should stay with Engine or consider other
solutions…

30. SSP Research, Blogs, Case Studies
We prototype ArcGIS applications and write about them…
• www.sspinnovations.com/blog/category/arcgis-online
• www.sspinnovations.com/case-studies/category/arcgis-online
Example Past ArcGIS Online Articles:
• Pole Inspections on Your iPad via ArcGIS Online
• Powerful Utility Reporting with ArcGIS Online
• Customer Engagement Using ArcGIS Online
• Creating ArcGIS Online Outage Maps
• HEMC Implements ArcGIS Online Inspections
• Esri Maps for Office with ArcGIS Online
• Exploring Tabular Data with ArcGIS Online
• Filtering Your Data with ArcGIS Online
• Searching Your Data with ArcGIS Online
• MLGW Meter Collection with ArcGIS Online
• ArcGIS Online Credits Estimator
• ArcFM Feeder Map for ArcGIS Online
• Electric Asset Locator in ArcGIS Online
• Our Look at Offline Access with Collector for ArcGIS Online

31. SSP Research, Blogs, Case Studies
We’re Always Looking for New Topics
….Send us your ArcGIS Online Ideas
www.sspinnovations.com/contact-us

32. Questions?
Enabling Utility Operations
with ArcGIS Online
Skye Perry
Principal Consultant
skye.perry@sspinnovations.com