Basemap layer types

For some projects, basemaps are optional—providing little more than a nice backdrop for your operational layers. For other projects, basemaps provide essential reference information needed in your field workflow. You can add one or more basemaps to a mobile project. The basemap underlays your operational data. When choosing your basemap layers or layers, consider what information you need the basemap to provide and how your field workers will be accessing it.

The ideal content of basemaps varies from one organization to the next and from one workflow to the next. For example, field workers for a utility company may need a basemap that shows facility footprints and/or streets, while field workers for search and rescue missions may need terrain or topography as their basemap.

One of the biggest factors in selecting the best basemap for your project is your available resources. If you need a detailed basemap and you can ensure network connectivity in the field, then an online basemap that resides on a server and is served to field workers on the fly is a great option. On the other hand, if you do not have access to the network in the field, you're restricted to using offline basemaps. In this case, your field device will need to have enough storage space to manage the data.

StreetMap for ArcGIS for Windows Mobile and tiled datasets work in disconnected environments, while ArcGIS Online basemaps and image services do not. If you have your own imagery or other data you want to use in a basemap, you can create your own tiled dataset in ArcMap.

Do you need your basemap to do more than provide background data? StreetMap for ArcGIS for Windows Mobile provides added functionality such as geocoding and turn-by-turn routing. This data and functionality is only available as a disconnected basemap.

Another consideration is the level of cartographic quality you want and how much control you want over scale levels and resolution. You must balance the needs of your project with the constraints of available technology to find the right basemap solution for you.

Characteristics of basemaps

The following subsections describe the characteristics of the basemap types supported by ArcGIS for Windows Mobile.

StreetMap for Windows Mobile

StreetMap for Windows Mobile is a data product licensed for use with ArcGIS for Windows Mobile. Data can be extracted to match the extent of your study area. Field workers can use this dataset for geocoding and turn-by-turn routing. StreetMap for Windows Mobile can be provisioned onto Windows or Windows Mobile devices for local (disconnected) use in the field. The files are stored on your mobile device, so keep in mind the available storage space of your equipment.

Tile packages and tiled datasets

For offline use, you can also provision your Windows or Windows Mobile devices with tile packages or tiled datasets containing basemap data. The data is stored on your mobile device which means it can render faster than online basemaps. You can leverage the same map content you use in ArcMap and use it in the field applications. This means you have the cartographic capabilities of ArcGIS for Desktop to construct a high-quality basemap for use on your mobile device or devices. As with StreetMap for Windows Mobile, the size of a tile package or tiled dataset can be a matter of concern, as it must be stored on your mobile device.

ArcGIS Online map service

If you do not have your own basemap datasets and you have Internet connectivity in the field, you can use the connected map services from ArcGIS Online at no cost. Such map services can be satellite imagery, topographic maps, or other speciality maps. With map services, the data (tiled images) is not stored on your mobile device but is streamed via the Internet. This makes ArcGIS Online basemaps a good option if there is limited storage space on your device. Scale levels of these basemap services can vary due to the availability and resolution of the data for any given basemap.

ArcGIS for Server tiled map service

Your field workers can also connect to the map services hosted on your on-premise ArcGIS for Serverand have these services display on their mobile devices when connected. As with ArcGIS Online map services, the tiled map data of your services is stored on your server. When the data source is updated on the server, your field workers will be able to receive those updates. However, you need network connectivity in the field for the basemap to display.