Will you have a presentation for Data Reviewer or similar at the Esri User Conference?
Our plans for the UC include technical workshops focused on using and configuring Data Reviewer. While this may not be specific to water/wastewater utilities, it does provide a good overview of the tools available within Data Reviewer. We will also have staff dedicated to demonstrating and answering questions on Data Reviewer at the Esri booth. You may visit the Esri water / wastewater industry solutions booth as well for more information. As we get closer to the UC we’ll post a blog that provides a detailed agenda of our activities.
How long does it take to set up such a system of checks and workflows?
It really depends upon your organizational needs for standardized GIS workflow management and quality control, and how detailed your specific requirements are. While one organization may have high-level requirements that might only take a couple hours to configure, another may have specific requirements that could take several weeks or more. Setting up Data Reviewer checks is the easy part, more time is typically spent defining and understanding your organization’s quality requirements. There are several resources such as a tutorial on configuring Data Reviewer that is available on the Resource Center, a Data Reviewer checks poster, and training options on the Esri Training site. For users who’d like help with implementing Data Reviewer or Workflow Manager, Esri can help via a services engagement or EEAP credits. Contact your local Esri office or arcgisteamwater@esri.com if you have any questions.
Is there a recorded presentation of Data Reviewer for use at a water utility?
Yes, please visit the video gallery on the Water Utilities Resource Center or the Data Reviewer Resource Center. The direct link to the video for Using Data Reviewer for Infrastructure is here and the direct link to the record version of the webcast that was presented on 2/15/2011 can be found here.
Where can I download a template or sample set of Data Reviewer checks for Water Utilities?
You can download the Data Reviewer for Infrastructure template from the gallery page on the Water Utilities Resource Center or the Data Reviewer Resource Center. The entries are the same.
Can "management" type reports be generated off of the tables to answer questions such as "How many edits were performed by each staff member last month?”
The reports within Data Reviewer all relate to quality such as number of features validated, number of errors returned, and percent total accuracy of your data. However, ArcGIS Workflow Manager can generate reports that show things like breakdown of number of edits per user.
Does Data Reviewer take the place of JTX?
No. Data Reviewer is a separate standalone extension to ArcGIS Desktop that helps automate and simplify the data quality control process. JTX, or ArcGIS Workflow Manager as it is called at version 10, is a separate extension to ArcGIS that helps create and manage your day-to-day workflows. While Data Reviewer and Workflow Manager are distinct extensions, they can also be integrated as shown in the demonstrations.
Is the Data Reviewer template based on the data model on the Water Utilities and Local Government Resource Centers?
Yes it is. The Data Reviewer for Infrastructure template has a detailed Getting Started guide that will walk you through configuring the extension for the data model provided on both Water Utilities and Local Government resource centers.
What level of ArcGIS licensing is required to run Data Reviewer?
Data Reviewer can be used with ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo levels of licensing.
Can Data Reviewer be used to perform data quality control on enterprise geodatabases or does it work with personal and/or file geodatabases as well?
Data Reviewer can be used to perform quality control on any type of geodatabase – personal, file, or enterprise. Additionally, shapefiles and standalone XML files in the case of metadata validation can also be validated using Data Reviewer.
Are there any documents that describe the tools in the Editing Template and the configuration of those tools?
Yes, Below are links to detailed overview documents.
Attribute Assistant Overview
Desktop Construction Tools Overview
Desktop Add In Overview
Are there any beta versions that I can test?
Yes, we are using the forums to deliver the beta releases. Please check the beta thread for these versions.
We currently use data base triggers to update some of our attributes, for example we have triggers that automatically calculate the slope of sanitary sewer mains once inverts and lengths are entered. How much of this type of functionality would we lose by migrating to the Infrastructure Editing Templates and does the Infrastructure Editing Template include these sorts of functionalities built in?
The Infrastructure Editing Templates includes functionality to perform these types of task through the Attribute Assistant. It’s important to note that the Infrastructure Editing Template achieves this functionality strictly at the desktop application level and not through database triggers.
Because the Attribute Assistant functionality is achieved purely thought the desktop application, it will not cause you to lose any existing functionality achieved through database triggers. If you are going to use the Attribute Assistant and database triggers we strongly urge you to extensively test your workflows in a staging environment to ensure there are no issues.
How do I get my data to work with the templates?
The templates are configured to work with the schema for the sample geodatabase that is included with the template download. You can configure the templates to use your data schema or you can choose to adopt a GDB schema that is similar to the templates. Most likely it is easier and more appropriate to configure the templates to use your data schema.
Each template was designed to use the map document or documents and/or a set of configuration files included in the download. To use your data you will also need to change any data references in the map documents and configuration files to be your data.
We suggest you try the template out with the sample data and get familiar with its tools and how it works before you try to configure a template to work with your data. If you still have questions on how to configure the template on your data, please let us know by using the forum or contacting us at ArcGISTeamWater@esri.com.
Infrastructure Editing Tools
The Toolbars and the Construction tools utilize a configuration file to define which layers and field to use. You will need to update these files to work with your data. The config file location is listed below.
CIP models and Costing Toolset
You will need to manually update the models to work with your data. These models are not intended to be used as is, but as a guide for building your own geoprocessing models. The Project Costing tools utilize 3 tables for configuration, piCIPCost, piCIPDefinition, piCIPReplacement.
piCIPDefinition - Defines which layers and fields to evaluate.
piCIPCost - Defines the cost per unit or feature based on the fields defined in the definition table
piCIPReplacement - If the strategy is set to replacement we costing an asset, the tool uses the values defined by the fields to look up the replacement values and uses those for cost lookup in the cost table.
Mobile Map Template
The Mobile Map Template uses the MobileMapTemplate.exe.config to define its parameters. In this file you can change what functions are visible, which layers are identifiable, what map service to use as well other parameters.
Infrastructure Operations Dashboard
The dashboards main config file is the config.xml. This files is loaded by default when the application starts. You can choose to load another config file by adding ?config=configother.xml to the url. The config file allows you to change the look and feel, map service and define the widgets. Each widget has its own configuration file that also needs to be updated.
Citizen Interaction
The citizen interaction template utilizes the Config.js to define the layers and the text.
Where is the infrastructure tools configuration file located?
UPDATE: As of the 3-16-2011 release, the config file location has changed.
Windows 7 - C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming\ArcGISTemplates\EditingTemplate\Config
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\ArcGISTemplates\EditingTemplate\Config
Prior to 3-16-2011:
The tools each included a configuration file, but if you install the Construction tools, the addin’s look for the config file in the construction tools install folder first. Default installation paths listed below.
Construction Tools - C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS Templates\Local Government\Infrastructure Construction Tools
Windows 7 - C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\ESRI\Desktop10.0\AssemblyCache\{GUID}-
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\<UserName>\Local Settings\Application Data\ESRI\Desktop10.0\AssemblyCache\{GUID}02AF5989}
We are currently using ArcMap 9.3.1. What of this can we utilize now while our IT department prepares to migrate over to ArcMap 10, specifically can we use the symbology and or the different layer views of the template?
The templates where initially released on 9.3.1. The resource center contains both the 9.3.1 version and the versions for ArcGIS 10. It is also important to note that the map documents are examples of best practices for map design, so you can choose to adopt some of the cartographic practices in the map documents without using the tools for the templates.
What if you have to move something like a clean out of water valve?
The sample data included with the templates utilizes a geometric network for the feature classes that part of the utility networks. With the geometric network, connected features will be moved together. For example if a cleanout on a pipe is moved, the entire pipe will move with the cleanout. This makes data edits fast and ensure proper connectivity is of your assets are maintened.
You can read more about the geometric network here - http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/002r/002r00000001000000.htm
Is ArcInfo license needed for the Infrastructure Editing Toolbar? Will it run with ArcView license?
The template does not require ArcInfo, but to utilize all of the functionality in the template you will need ArcInfo.
Will the auto populate feature of the attribute assistant work on attributes in related tables as well as the attributes in a feature class?
The attribute assistant only works on the edited features and rows in a table. It does not make changes to related information. User community feedback may drive us to add this functionality at a later release.
When automatically adding the water and sewer connections it appears it connects to the "closest" location to the main. Can you select a location on the main? What about a station and an offset.
The Auto Add Lateral tools are not designed to allow you to pick the location on the main to snap the lateral too. The intent of the Auto Add Lateral tools are designed to speed up data creation by automatically snapping a lateral to the nearest main.
The out of the box editing environment in ArcGIS allows you to snap a point to a precise location on a line or to snap a point measure a distance up or down a line.
A sample workflow for station and offset can be found here:
Will "profile" work at ArcEditor license level? Any other add-ins needed?
The “profile” tool works with ArcView, ArcEditor and ArcInfo and requires the Spatial Analyst Extension.
Will a reclaim water system be added to the template in the future?
We currently have no plans to add Reclaimed Water to the templates. However the templates are intended for your organization to configure them to work with your organizations data. You can represent your reclaimed water system in your geodatabase and than configured the maps and tools to work with your reclaimed water feature classes.
Can the costing tools factor in labor costs?
The cost analyst tools look at a cost factor base on the one or two fields, such as Diameter and material. When you build the cost for these field combinations, you can factor labor cost into this cost value. You can also specify a multiplier on your mains. The tools with evaluate the fields, look up the cost and apply the multiplier. After the initial cost is provided, you can manually override any of these values.
Can other utilities be added to the mobile mapper to be used by field locators?
Yes, the mobile map layers are defined by the mobile operations MXD. You can add additional layers to this MXD and rebuild the cache and the new layers will be accessible in the mobile map. You also need to adjust the configuration file if you want to group the layers or have them listed in the Id tag.
Can the dashboards be run locally on a desktop or does it require server?
The dashboards are not designed to be run locally on a desktop, they are a web application. The dashboards require ArcGIS Server, a web server (such as IIS) and web browser trying to access the dashboards require Adobe Flash.
Are there templates that work with 9.3 if we haven't upgraded yet?
Yes, the initial release of the template was at 9.3. The 9.3 templates are still available as a download from the resource center.
Could the templates be adapted for metric or other units of measurement?
Yes. The templates utilize the units of measure set in the map documents, as well as any local currency and measurement settings of the user’s computer.
Does the data extract function you displayed in the flex viewer template use the Data Interoperability extension for ArcGIS server therefore allowing you to specify any format supported by that toolset?
No, the data extract functions utilize the new Data Extract geoprocessing tools.
How can I use this template for multiple configurations.
The only template that can deploy with multiple configurations is the operations dashboard. The Flex Viewer allows you to pass the name of a config in the URL.
Do I need ArcHydro to run some of these templates?
No.
Will the mobile app work on Ipads or Android Tablets?
No, the mobile map template is designed for a Windows PC. However, Esri does support Android and iOS operating systems. The map services for the mobile map template can be utilized on Android and iOS devices to deliver a common look and feel to all of a utilities mobile maps.
Is the profile tool available in 9.3+.
The profile tool is new in the Templates for ArcGIS 10.
Any other attributes automatically created like elevation? Such as a generic sequence of numbers for numerous manholes or fire hydrants.
The Attribute Assistants can be used to create unique IDs, extract elevation data and other operations. This blog defines all the rules that you can define.