Collecting features on Windows Device

Using the ArcGIS application running on Windows device, you can collect geometries, attributes and attachments for features.

Tip:

The data used in this topic is based on the data model discussed in A sample data model for field data collection.

Before collecting a geometry, you need to select one of the following tools: GPS location, GPS streaming, map sketching or entering X/Y coordinates. To collect attributes, you can choose values from a pick list or input values directly. Your project administrator might have specified valid ranges of values for some attributes, and as you have input a value the application is capable of checking the data integrity. If your map layer supports attachment, you can also attach stock files to features.

To start collecting data, you need to use the Collect Features task:

Steps:

1. Launch the field appellation and open the project to work on. See Opening/Closing/Deleting projects for detailed instructions.

   After the project is open, the View Map page shows up.

2. At the bottom of the page, tap Tasks > Collect Features to bring up the Collect Features page. If there's only one feature type then this page will be skipped.
   Tip:

   You can filter some map layers by tapping Menu > Filter Layers, then uncheck the layers you don't need and tap OK. You can also group feature types by layers via Menu > Group By Layer. The result is as shown below:

3. Tap the feature type you want to collect.

   The Collect [name of feature type] page shows. In the center of the page you see the Collect Geometry button, Collect Attributes button and if the feature type has attachment support, the Attachments button. Also notice that when you finish collecting a feature, you can save it by tapping the Finish button at the bottom right.

Collecting geometry

The tools you can use to collect geometry include:

• GPS location — Capturing the location from GPS receiver at one shot.
• GPS streaming (for line and polygon features only) — Capturing a series of locations from GPS receiver in a regular time/distance interval.
• Map sketching — Drawing a feature directly on the map.
• Add X/Y location — Entering coordinates.

Using any of the tools, you can apply an offset to the geometry you captured. Using an offset is particularly useful when the feature you want to collect is not easily accessible, such as a feature in the middle of water, or on a busy street where there are a lot of traffic.

To start collecting geometry, on the Collect [name of feature type] page, tap Collect Geometry. The tools you can use to collect the selected feature type will be listed on the next page. Read the following sub-sections to learn more details on each of these geometry collection methods.

Using GPS location

Steps:

1. On the Collect [name of feature type] page, tap Collect using GPS Position.
2. Ensure that your GPS is turned on and connected. If not, you can do so by tapping at the upper right, then tap Connect to GPS.
3. When you have GPS connected and the signal quality is good, the Use GPS Position button is enabled. Tap the button to capture the current GPS location. If you need, repeat this step to collect more locations.
4. If you're collecting a line or a polygon, you can also tap the Remove Last Location button or the Start Over button which allows you to edit or recollect the geometry.
5. If you need to offset the last collected location, tap Offset Last Location. The Offset Last Location window appears. Enter the bearing (0 is north, 90 is east), distance and the unit you want to offset, then tap Ok to accept.
6. When finished, tap Accept to accept the collected geometry.

   The Collect [name of feature type] page appears again with a check mark on the Re-collect Geometry button to indicate that the geometry has been collected.

Using GPS streaming (for lines and polygons only)

On the Collect [name of feature type] page, tap Stream GPS Position. For more details on how to perform GPS streaming, read the Streaming with default settings subsection. To learn more about how to offset the geometry to be collected, read the Streaming with offset subsection. By default, when you collect data using GPS streaming, a location is captured every 5 seconds. To change this setting, read the Configuring streaming settings subsection.

Streaming with default settings

Steps:

1. If you haven't connected to GPS, do so by tapping tap at the upper right, then tap Connect to GPS.
2. When your GPS is connected and the signal quality is good, the Start Streaming button becomes enabled. Tap the button to start streaming.

   The geometry being collected is displayed on map, and the number of locations collected is shown on the panel to the left.

3. To pause or finish streaming, tap Stop Streaming. You can tap Resume Streaming to resume. You can also re-collect the geometry by tapping Start Over.

Streaming with offset

Steps:

1. Make sure streaming hasn't begun, then tap Offset.
2. The GPS Streaming Offset window appears. Select the lateral offset direction (with respect to the direction you are heading to), the distance and the unit to offset, then tap Ok.

   The direction and amount to offset is displayed on the panel to the left.

Configuring streaming settings

Steps:

1. Make sure that streaming hasn't begun or is paused. Tap Menu > Streaming Settings.
2. The GPS Streaming Settings page shows up. Under the Streaming Settings area, tap Time or Distance as the mode, then set an interval and tap Save to accept.

To finish geometry collection, tap Accept. The Collect [name of feature type] page appears again with a check mark on the Re-collect Geometry button indicating that the geometry has been collected.

Sketching on map and adding X/Y location

You can use map sketching and adding X/Y location interchangeably. To access both tools, on the Collect [name of feature type] page, tap Collect Using Map.

Steps:

1. Tap to sketch the geometry of the feature. At any time you can edit the collected geometry by tapping Menu, Remove Last Location or Start Over.
2. To add a known X/Y location, tap Menu > Add X/Y Location.

   The Collect X/Y Location window appears. If you've started collecting the geometry of the feature, the coordinates shown are the last collected coordinates; otherwise they are the center of the current map extent.

3. Edit the coordinates and then tap Ok to accept.

   A new vertex will be added on the map using the coordinates specified.

4. Repeat the steps above to collect more locations.

You can also offset the last collected coordinates. Follow the steps below:

Steps:

1. On the map view, tap Menu > Offset Last Location.
2. The Offset Last Location window appears. Enter the bearing (0 is north, 90 is east), distance and the unit you want to offset, then tap Ok to accept.

To finish collecting the geometry, tap Accept on the bottom right of the page. The Collect [name of feature type] page appears again with a check mark on the Re-collect Geometry button indicating that the geometry has been collected.

Collecting attributes

You can collect attributes of a feature before or after collecting the feature's geometry. To collect attributes, on the Collect [name of feature type] page, tap Collect Attributes. You then see a list of attributes to collect as shown in the image below:

Based on how your project administrator configured the project, you might find that:

• Some attributes has a red text indicating that the field is required. You must fill out those fields in order to save (such as the What's the street name? and What's the street number? fields above).
• Some attributes provide you with a pick list to choose values from.
• Some attributes have been filled out for you (such as the Assessment Date and Assessor Identification field at the image above).
• Some attributes show you the valid range of values you can input (as shown in the image below, the Number of Floors field has a range of 0-5)

To edit an attribute, tap on it to bring up an input page, fill out a value or pick from a list, then click Ok to save the value and proceed to the next attributes.

When you have collected all attributes you can tap Ok to save the values.

Collecting attachments

If the feature type you're collecting has attachment support, you will see the Attachments button at the bottom of the Collect [name of feature type] page (as shown in the second image of this topic). You can add an attachment by adding a stock file (image, video or other types of files) or by taking a picture on the fly (if your device has camera support).

Note:

Multiple attachments can be added to a single feature.

Steps:

1. To collect attachments, tap the Attachments button.
2. The Manage Attachments page appears:
   • If your device has camera support, you can attach a picture on the fly. Tap Take a Picture to open the Take a Picture page, then tap the Capture button at the bottom right to capture an image.
     Tip:

     You can also switch to other shooting modes by tapping Menu then select Switch Camera, Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical.

   • To attach a stock file, tap Add a File (if your device has camera support) or Add New (if your device doesn't have camera support). The Select a File window appears. Tap the Folder drop down menu then browse to the folder containing the attachment. Tap the attachment you want to add, then tap Ok. Note that you can add a file of any format as an attachment.
     Note:

     The attachment is copied from the source location to the mobile project folder.

3. When you've added an attachment, the Attachments page appears and lists the added attachments:
   • To add more attachments, tap Add New, then repeat step 2.
   • To delete the added attachments, tap Menu > Delete. Then check one or more attachments and tap Delete at the bottom right of the Delete Attachments page.
   • To view an attachment, tap to open it.
     Note:

     In an Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 machine, if you try to open an attachment which your device doesn't have an associated program installed, a dialog pops up and prompts you to copy the file path of the attachment, tap Yes and you can then save the path and open the attachment from the path later when you install the associated program. In a Windows 8 machine, you will be prompted to select an associated program to open the file.

4. When finished, tap Done at the bottom left of the Attachments page.