Do you know how to capture data quickly? - ArcGIS QuickCapture

Hello Everyone,

Today let's talk about Rapid Data Collection and one of my favorite Field Data Collection tools ArcGIS QuickCapture. ArcGIS QuickCapture is Esri's "Big Button Application" with this application you create the interface for your field crews where all they do is tap a button and record the data. Like most all of Esri's tools, you have the ability to fully customize this interface and how your staff will interact with the application. Let's break it down...

Simplification.

You can collect points, lines, or polygons with QuickCapture. You can also collect streaming points commonly called "Breadcrumb Trail". You can collect images to go along with your point, line, or polygon, and you can also use the enhanced accuracy of a GNSS receiver if you would like to. All from a tablet or smartphone.

Each button you place into your application will collect a feature in the layer you tell it to with the attributes you tell it to.

For instance, you have a point layer that represents fire hydrants, but you have three common manufacturers of fire hydrants you use in your city. If you decide to use QuickCapture to start your fire hydrant inventory you could create a project with 3 buttons one for each manufacturer and configure the attributes to collect differently depending on which button you select. Now all the field crew has to do is walk up to the hydrant and select the correlating button as to the manufacturer and possibly snap a picture of the hydrant, if you want that in your inventory, and then move to the next one.

It can be as simple as you want. I created a QuickCapture once because a public works department wanted to collect when and who graded roads in the county so that when the public called and asked when it was the last time the road was graded they could quickly answer. This QuickCapture app consists of one polyline layer with time, date, and operator, fields. The operator opens the app and puts in their name and when they start grading the road they tap the button. When they stop grading they tap again and that's all.

That situation could be used when recording resurfacing of roads as well. So that you can have a record of where and when a road was resurfaced.

You can also use it for collecting point data like when you see a pothole, or a sign that needs repaired... You get the point. (pun intended)

It is very simple for you to create a field data collection application with minimal interaction from the crew that is automatically streaming data back to your organization in near real-time.

Let's Get Started...

Like all GIS projects, you need to plan. Figure out what you would like to collect and create or publish those feature services in your ArcGIS Online or you can deploy it in ArcGIS Portal if you have the QuickCapture designer deployed in your portal.

Open the QuickCapture Designer from the app launcher

Once you click on the Quick Capture app you will be brought to the Projects page.

Inside of the projects page is where you can select from previously created projects and or create a new project by clicking the ( + New Project ) button...

This gives you the option of starting with an existing layer or starting from a template.

Since you have already created and have layers you would like to start with select the Start from existing layers option...

After searching through your layers and selecting the ones you would like to use. You can click next and then name your project and where you would like it placed in your organization.

Once you enter in all the information click Create... This will create the app and start the designer. The designer is where you configure how you want the app to look and operate. The application will try and create buttons based on the layers you input.

Just like in my example before I am going to set different buttons for different brands of fire hydrants. Since I am collecting all fire hydrants in the same layer the default shows only one button but it is simple for me to click on the button and duplicate it twice then I will configure the appearance and data to be collected when you select a button.

Now that we have duplicated... We need to change the labels and the style of the buttons under the appearance tab. I am going to change the Label Text for Each button to be the brand of the fire hydrant I will set the data to collect when pressed... I will also set the color and size of the buttons.

Now that I have the appearance set for all three buttons it's time to set the Data Tab...

The data on this set is slim all I am configuring is the brand name and the URL for the parts list. I am not collecting the picture with the hydrant. You can enter text that doesn't change. You have up to 3 project input buttons which means inputs you can ask at the beginning of the project and apply to any or all collections. and also an input per button click if you would like. You can also pass through data from the device to an attribute field also.

This is just the minimum but there are many other things you can explore. Share the project accordingly and now all you have to do is download the application from the Apple Store or Google Play Store onto your device.

That's all for this week.

Hope this is helpful.

IUTU - Until Next Time Keep up the Good Work...