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Working with ArcPad 7 Transcript

Copyright © 2006 ESRI

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Presenter: Jian LangeESRI Redlands, CA

Co-Presenter: Shane ClarkeESRI Olympia, WA

Working with ArcPad 7

Hello, my name is Jian Lange and I'm the ArcPad Product Manager with ESRI in Redlands.

Joining me today is Shane Clarke, another Product Manager of ArcPad from the ESRI Olympia

office. We would like to welcome you to the live training seminar, Working with ArcPad 7.

Copyright © 2006 ESRI. All rights reserved. 1

Copyright © 2004 ESRI. All rights reserved.

Seminar overviewTopics

Overview of ArcPad 7Using ArcPad 7Where to go from here?

FormatTopics include software demonstrations, reviews, and Q & A sessions

In today's seminar, we will discuss three main topics. First, we'll cover the overview of ArcPad,

its workflow, and new functions in ArcPad 7. Then, we will provide an overview of the ArcPad

interface and out-of-the box functionality. In the last topic, we will discuss some general

principles and tips on using ArcPad. We will conduct two software demonstrations and have

review periods followed by question-and-answer sessions. During those sessions, Shane and I

will answer some of your questions.



Overview of ArcPad 7

So, let's get started with our first topic, the overview of ArcPad 7.



What is mobile GIS?The expansion of GIS from the office into the field

Before we start talking about the specifics of ArcPad, we need to understand the bigger picture

first. What is mobile GIS? Mobile GIS, or field GIS, is taking GIS data from the office into the

field using mobile devices.



What is mobile GIS?The expansion of GIS from the office into the fieldEnables field-based personnel to display, capture, and analyze geographic information

It enables mobile workers to display, capture, and analyze geographic information in the field.



What is mobile GIS?The expansion of GIS from the office into the fieldEnables field-based personnel to display, capture, and analyze geographic informationMore choices becoming available for field data capture

Mobile devices

Wireless connectivity

Field GIS software

Integrated sensorsPositioning technology

Mobile GIS is a growing technology, and more and more choices are becoming available. It

integrates several technologies including a broad range of mobile devices, GPS positioning

systems, field GIS software, wireless connectivity to access real-time information, and integrated

sensors such as digital cameras and RFID scanners to record descriptive feature attributes.



What is ArcPad?ESRI's mobile GIS software for field mapping applications

Designed for broad range of mobile systems

So, what is ArcPad? ArcPad is ESRI’s software for mobile GIS and field mapping applications

using handheld and mobile devices. ArcPad supports numerous devices from Tablet PCs to

Windows mobile PDAs.




Designed for broad range of mobile systemsAllows input from: • GPS receivers • Range finders • Digital cameras • Other devices

With ArcPad, you can integrate GPS, range finders, and digital cameras into GIS data collection.




Designed for broad range of mobile systems Allows input from: • GPS receivers • Range finders • Digital cameras • Other devicesCaptures, analyzes, and displays GIS data

ArcPad includes out-of-the-box functionality to display, capture, and analyze GIS data in the

field.




Designed for broad range of mobile systems Allows input from: • GPS receivers • Range finders • Digital cameras • Other devicesCaptures, analyzes, and displays GIS dataHas extensive customization capabilities

ArcPad is easy to customize to your specific applications, with or without programming.




Designed for broad range of mobile systems Allows input from: • GPS receivers • Range finders • Digital cameras • Other devicesCaptures, analyzes, and displays GIS data Has extensive customization capabilitiesPart of enterprise ArcGIS solution

The enterprise GIS data can be shared with field workers using ArcPad, for updating and decision

making. Therefore, ArcPad is part of your enterprise ArcGIS solution.



ArcPad applicationsWide variety of applications:

Street sign inventoryRoad pavement managementHabitat mappingPower pole maintenanceIncident reporting and inspectionForestry mappingMilitary fieldworkFire rescueFire hydrant inspection

ArcPad is designed for organizations wanting to expand the benefits of GIS from the office to

workers in the field. It is used by a variety of field workers including firefighters, police officers,

utility workers, inspectors, military, biologists, and more. Applications include field mapping,

asset inventory, asset maintenance, inspections, and incident reporting.



ArcPad workflowDesign and create geodatabase schema

GIS Database

The recommended ArcPad workflow is to first design the geodatabase schema in ArcGIS.



ArcPad workflowDesign and create geodatabase schemaExtract data with ArcGIS Desktop

Template schemas or data to be editedBackground reference data

GIS Database

ArcGIS

Desktop

Then use ArcGIS Desktop to extract data from the geodatabase, either features or template

schemas for editing in ArcPad.





Edit data in the field with ArcPadAttribute rules are validated

GIS Database

ArcGIS

DesktopArcPad

The next is to perform the necessary data edit in the field with ArcPad.





Edit data in the field with ArcPadAttribute rules are validated

Check in and validate ArcPad edits to enterprisegeodatabase

GIS Database

ArcGIS

DesktopArcPad

And finally, update the geodatabase with the ArcPad edits.



ArcPad benefitsStreamlines workflow

Smart, task-oriented solutionsIncreases productivity

Reduces office work and data entry time Improves data accuracyResults in more accurate and current data for analysis and decision making

Traditionally, paper maps are what have been used in the field by mobile workers. Field edits

were performed using sketches and notes on these paper maps. Once back in the office, those

field edits were then manually entered into the GIS database. The ArcPad workflow, as outlined

before, has enormous productivity gains. It eliminates the major portion of office work

previously required. More importantly, it improves the accuracy of the field GIS data resulting in

a more accurate and current database for analysis and decision making. This is a major benefit of

mobile GIS applications.



ArcPad 7 enhancementsImproved performance

ArcPad 7 is a major ArcPad release. It offers enhancements in the area of performance, including

quicker access and loading of spatial data.



ArcPad 7 enhancementsImproved performanceEnhanced editing tools

Offsets for points, lines, and polygonsRepeated featuresSegmented line featuresSnappingUndo

There are new, enhanced editing tools including offsets, repeated attributes, segmented line

features, snapping, and undo.





Range finder and camera support

ArcPad now supports range finders and digital cameras.





Range finder and camera supportImproved symbology and labeling

It also supports ArcGIS symbology and style sheets and has more labeling options. Maps in

ArcPad 7 look the same as in ArcMap.





Range finder and camera supportImproved symbology and labelingSupport for Graphics layer

For redlining or mark-up

Using the newly available Graphics layer, you can now take notes on maps in the field.






For redlining or mark-upImport/export tools for ArcGIS

ArcPad 7 includes additional tools for ArcMap, which are automatically installed with ArcPad

installation. These new tools allow you to extract data, including symbologies, for use with

ArcPad 7.






For redlining or mark-upImport/export tools for ArcGISCustomization

Wizard for creating custom forms

In the area of customization, you can now create simple custom forms within ArcPad.



Software demonstration

Let's go to our first software demonstration. Both of our demos today will use data from a city in

the United States. The purpose of our first demo is to demonstrate an out-of-the-box solution to

extract data from a geodatabase for editing in ArcPad. Here, we're looking at an ArcMap

document in ArcGIS Desktop. It contains data layers of electrical lines with meters and

inspection polygons and an aerial photo of the city. Our task today is to do a field inspection of

the electrical network. Here is the ArcPad toolbar for ArcGIS. Using the Get Data for ArcPad 7

tool, we want to select all the data layers that we would like to copy to our mobile device. Next,

we specify the layers that we will edit in the field. Now we specify the output folder and check

that we would like to only extract data within the current display extent. Now, the data is being

extracted from the geodatabase with the selected features exported to shapefiles. The next step is

to use ActiveSync to synchronize the data to the field device. For the purposes of this

demonstration today, we will use ArcPad on the desktop here.

Once we've checked the data, I'll copy it onto the field device. I will use ArcPad to open the

ArcPad map document created for us by the extracting tool from ArcGIS Desktop. The first thing

you notice is that the symbology, as well as the data, is extracted from the geodatabase. The map

in ArcPad looks the same as in ArcGIS Desktop. Sometimes, however, some of the symbols

which work well in the office may not work as well in the outdoor environment. For example, for


the Inspection layer, the colors for the Fallen trees and Trees need trimming look almost identical

under direct sunlight. ArcPad gives you the capability to change the symbology in the field. I'm

going to change the Trees need trimming and select a more distinguishable color.

During the inspection, I notice an area right here where the trees need to be trimmed. If I have

my GPS receiver, I can walk along the area and record this inspection area. Now I start

digitizing. As I finish digitizing, I see this custom input form. This is created automatically by

the Check Out data tool from ArcGIS Desktop. The domains and subtitles in the geodatabase are

exported here to this custom input form. I'm going to select the attribute Trees need trimming

here. There, I finished digitizing my first inspection polygon. Also during the inspection, I

notice that there are some new electrical lines being added in the area. Next, I'm going to digitize

the electrical lines. Again, the subtypes and domains you find in the geodatabase are exported

automatically to this custom input form as a pick list. The last thing I'm going to add is the

electric meter. There, I've finished the inspection work of the day.

The next step is to use ActiveSync to copy the field edits to the synchronized folder on the

desktop. Now, back in the office, I would like to check in the field edits I made in ArcPad into

my geodatabase. We use the simple Check In tool to do that. Notice that the features I added in

the field are now being updated in the geodatabase. Also, the symbology I defined in ArcPad for

visibility purposes does not affect the symbology used in ArcMap.

In this demo, we showed an out-of-the-box solution for extracting data from a geodatabase for

editing in ArcPad. Domain and subtype rules are exported to a custom form which enforces

attributes integrity on capturing data in the field with ArcPad. We also used the simple Check In

tool to update the geodatabase with the ArcPad field edits.



Review and Q & AWhat is mobile GIS?What is ArcPad?ArcPad applications and workflowArcPad benefitsArcPad 7 enhancements

In this section, we went over mobile technology and discussed features and benefits of ArcPad.

We also talked about the recommended ArcPad workflow, and finally, the new enhancements in

ArcPad 7.

I will now turn the seminar over to Shane who will answer some of your questions.

Thanks, Jian. First question comes from Wasama in New Market who asks, "Does ArcPad 7

support data checkout/check-in workflow with SDE?" The Check Out/Check In tools only work

with geodatabases—either personal geodatabases or enterprise geodatabases. So if these

geodatabases are managed through SDE, then the tools will work with those.

The next question comes from Max in Modena who asks, "I noticed you have an aerial

photograph in your example. Is there a size limitation to how large the project can be, either file

size or dimensions when extracting the data from ArcGIS Desktop?” Yes, there is a file size

limitation and this limitation is approximately 17 megabytes for the image that is extracted from

the screen view. The easiest way to determine whether you've reached this limitation or not is to

use the tools in ArcGIS Desktop to export the current viewed image to a TIFF image, and view

the size of that TIFF image. If it is over about 17 megabytes, it is too big.


The next question comes from Steve from San Diego who asks, "What is meant by integrated

sensors?" Integrated sensors is a term that we use for a wide variety of input devices. These

devices may be built into a mobile device or they may be connected by some form of wireless

communication. And these devices include GPS receivers, laser range finders, water meters, any

device which is sending data to your mobile device.

The next question comes from Jennie in Seattle who asks, "Can ArcPad capture Z values from the

GPS?" The answer is yes. ArcPad does capture the Z values coming from a GPS position. The

condition of the shapefile that you capture the data into is defined as the Z shapefile. With that,

I'll hand it back to Jian.



Using ArcPad 7

Now, let's talk about some of the out-of -the-box functionalities in ArcPad 7.



Preparing data for ArcPadCreate new data in ArcPad

New shapefilesNew input forms with QuickForm tool

The first step is to prepare data for the field. There are several options to prepare data to be used

in ArcPad. You can create new shapefiles in ArcPad, and in ArcPad 7 you can use the

QuickForm to create custom input forms. This ensures that data is captured accurately in the

field.





Use existing shapefilesCreate ArcPad 7 symbology filesCreate input forms with QuickForm tool or ArcPad Application Builder

You may also add existing shapefiles and various image formats to ArcPad.






Extract data from geodatabaseInput forms created automatically

As we've seen in the previous demo, by using ArcPad tools for ArcGIS, data can be extracted

from a geodatabase for editing in ArcPad in the field.






Extract data from geodatabaseInput forms created automatically

For faster performance:Use shapefile indexes (spatial and attribute)Use scale-dependent symbology and labeling

For faster performance, we recommend that you extract the appropriate subset of data, and you

sift out indexes and scale-dependent symbology.



Extracting data using ArcPad tools Check out data from ArcGIS to be used in the field

Either the geodatabase schema or the data layersCustom forms are created • Based on geodatabase domains and subtypes

Create ArcPad 7 symbology files

Shapefiles, raster images, symbologies,ArcGIS graphic layers, styles

ArcGIS

Desktop

The ArcPad tools for ArcGIS toolbar provide some of the tools for preparing data for use with

ArcPad. The Get Data for ArcGIS ArcPad 7 tool lets you extract data from your ArcGIS

database to a checkout folder which then can be uploaded to a mobile device. The checkout

features are converted into shapefiles for editing in ArcPad. As we saw in the demo, the ArcPad

tools in ArcGIS automatically create custom input forms using the domains and subtypes you find

in the geodatabase to generate pick lists. ArcPad 7 supports most of the layer properties and

symbology supported by ArcGIS Desktop.



Displaying data in ArcPadSupports multiple GIS data formats

ShapefilesRaster imagesArcIMS

Easy-to-use map navigation toolsPan, zoom, spatial bookmarks, and automatic map rotation

ArcPad supports a multilayer environment with industry-standard vector map and raster images.

In addition, ArcPad can act as a client to ArcGIS, ArcIMS, or to the Geography Network.

ArcPad has a number of map navigation tools including pan, zoom, spatial bookmarks, and map

rotation.



Querying data in ArcPadIdentify features by attributes

ArcPad provides the tools to query your data to solve problems and retrieve information directly

in the field. With ArcPad, you can uncover information about features by tapping on them.



Querying data in ArcPadIdentify features by attributesUse hyperlinks to external files

Photos, documents, videos, and sound

You can display additional information about features that hyperlink to pictures, video, or voice

recording.




Photos, documents, videos, and soundLocate features by coordinates

You can locate the feature within the extent of your map, label it, and zoom to it.




Photos, documents, videos, and soundLocate features by coordinatesFind features by attribute query

You can find features by attribute query…




Photos, documents, videos, and soundLocate features by coordinatesFind features by attribute queryMeasure distance, radius, and area on a map

…and measure the distance between features and determine the area of a polygon feature.



Capturing and editing dataData capture

Point, line, polygon, and textGeometry and attributesExisting or new features

In addition to displaying and querying data, ArcPad allows you to capture and edit spatial data

including points, lines, and polygons.





Editing toolsInsert, append, and move verticesMove, rotate, scale, and resize featuresSnapping Undo Offsets Repeated attributes Segmented line features

ArcPad includes editing tools for offsets, repeated attributes, segmented line features, snapping,

and more.





Editing toolsInsert, append, and move verticesMove, rotate, scale, and resize featuresSnapping Undo Offsets Repeated attributes Segmented line features

Editing of Graphics layer Field sketches and notes

By editing a Graphics layer, you can record field sketches and notes. These sketches can become

part of the geodatabase and be shared and exchanged to and from ArcGIS Desktop.



Using a GPS in ArcPadSelect GPS capture tool

GPS point captureGPS vertex captureGPS streaming vertices capture

Using the incoming GPS coordinates, you can capture points, polylines, and polygon features.

You can also move existing points and vertices to current GPS positions.





View GPS Position Window

The GPS Position Window is used to display information about GPS satellites, GPS position, as

well as navigational information.





View GPS Position WindowSet GPS preferences

Capture optionsQuality options AlertsGPS height

ArcPad includes a number of user-specified options that can be used to control which of the

incoming GPS coordinates are used. For example, the quality options allow you to specify the

maximum PDOP value. You can use these options to ensure that ArcPad only uses those GPS

coordinates that meet your accuracy requirements for data capture.





View GPS Position WindowSet GPS preferences

Capture optionsQuality options AlertsGPS height

Activate GPS Tracklog

When you activate a GPS Tracklog, ArcPad automatically records each GPS position it receives

as a point feature in a shapefile.



Using other data capture devicesRange finders

Take offset measurements • Distance, bearing, and inclination

In ArcPad, offset measurements automatically transferred to the reference position

Other data capture devices, including range finders and digital cameras, are also supported in

ArcPad. A range finder provides an accurate offset to pinpoint desired features that are not

accessible. Range finders provide offset measurements such as distance, bearing, and inclination.

In ArcPad, when a range finder is connected and activated, the measurements are automatically

transferred.



Using other data capture devicesRange finders

Take offset measurements • Distance, bearing, and inclination

In ArcPad, offset measurements automatically transferred to the reference position

CamerasAssociate photos with features or photo layersUse EXIF supportView photos with the Identify and Hyperlink tools

Digital cameras are also integrated with ArcPad. From within ArcPad, you can control the

connected camera by previewing the image then taking the photo. A digital photo can be linked

to the actual location where the photo was taken and associated with its descriptive attribute

information. Each photo becomes part of ArcPad's project and can be accessed through

hyperlinks to features. Digital photos which have GPS coordinates embedded in standard EXIF

header of the image can also be displayed on an ArcPad map as a photo layer.



Working with offsets Use offsets when mapping the location object is:

Difficult to access Dangerous to occupyWhen it’s not possible to get a GPS

One of the new features in ArcPad 7 is the support of offsets. Now, let's take a closer look at

working with offsets. Offsets are used, when the object you would like to map is difficult to

access or dangerous to occupy. For example, you may wish to map a manhole in the middle of a

busy street.



Working with offsets Use offsets when mapping the location object is:

Difficult to access Dangerous to occupyWhen it’s not possible to get a GPS

GPS is not always the most effective means for field data collection

Requires view of the skyDesigned to compute location of its antenna • One must be at the location!

It is also used because GPS is not always the most effective means for data collection. The

situations where GPS has been least effective have been locations where the view of the sky is

obstructed, such as under very dense trees, or in locations where most of the sky is blocked by

buildings, such as in urban downtown area. Additionally, a GPS receiver is designed to compute

the location of its antenna. This means, in order to capture that location, you have to go to that

location. As we mentioned earlier, it is not always practical to physically visit the location of

every object that you wish to map.



Simple offsetsLine or polygon features are offset to the left or right of a polyline

Captured via pen or GPS by a constant specified distance

Left offset, distance: 5 m Right offset, distance: 5 m

There are two types of offsets in ArcPad: simple and complex. A simple offset is performed on a

polyline or polygon and only uses the distance measurement. Using a simple offset, you could

map a feature that is a constant distance away from a polyline captured via a pen or GPS. You

can also specify whether the new feature is left or right of the captured polyline. For example,

you could map a distance of a new sidewalk to the left of and add a distance of 5 meters from the

center of an existing road.



One point offset (distance-bearing)Create a point or vertex offset from a single reference pointReference point can be set by pen or GPSRequires distance and direction from reference point to targetRequires inclination to calculate the elevation (Z) value

Distance from R to T

Bearing from R to T

Reference Point

Target

Complex offsets can be used for point features and vertices of polylines and polygons. Complex

offsets use a combination of distance, bearing, and inclination measurements. ArcPad supports

one-point offsets and two-point offsets. A one-point offset uses distance and bearing

measurements to determine the offset. The reference point can be set by GPS or pen or manually

input coordinates. If your application requires elevation data, please make sure that the system

you purchase can provide inclination and that you're storing your results in the shapefile that

supports a Z value.



Two point offset (distance-distance)Create a point or vertex offset based on two reference pointsReference point can be set by pen or GPS

Reference Point B

Reference Point A

Target L RDistance from A to T

Distance from B to T

A two-point offset is based on two reference points. Again, the reference points can be set using

pen, GPS, or manually entered coordinates. There are two variations available in ArcPad for the

two-point offset. The first one uses two distance measurements. Note that the distance-distance

or solution requires that you specify which side of the AB line the offset point lies. With the

range finder active, the fields are automatically populated.



Two point offset (bearing-bearing)Create a point or vertex offset based on two reference points

Reference Point A

TargetReference Point B

Bearing from B to T

Bearing from A to T

The second variation of the two-point offset uses two bearing measurements to calculate the

offset. This is used when two bearings are known from the reference points but distances are not.



Working with traversesUse traverses to create polylines and polygons using offsets

Traverses in ArcPad enable you to create polylines and polygons using offsets. In ArcPad, there

are two types of traverses.



Working with traversesUse traverses to create polylines and polygons using offsetsLinear traverse

Capturing the vertex of a polyline or polygon from a known point as you walk along a line

A linear traverse enables you to capture the vertex of a polyline or polygon from a known point as

you walk along a traverse. For example, you may use linear traverse to capture a path under a

dense canopy where GPS signals are blocked. With a linear traverse, your reference point is

always the last point you captured.



Working with traversesUse traverses to create polylines and polygons using offsetsLinear traverse

Capturing the vertex of a polyline or polygon from a known point as you walk along a line

Radial traverseUsing one fixed reference point to create a traverse relative tothat fixed point to capture a polyline or polygon

A radial traverse uses one fixed reference point and creates the traverse relative to the fixed point.

In other words, you are always standing at the same fixed point while capturing multiple vertices.



Updating a GIS databaseCheck in edits made in ArcPad

Option to undo/release check out

ArcGIS

Desktop

Shapefiles, ArcPad graphic layers

Once you complete the field edits, you may want to check in updates you made in ArcPad to your

GIS database. This is done using the Check In tool in ArcPad tools for ArcGIS. You also have

an option to remove unwanted checkouts from the transaction log.



Software demonstration

Now, let's go to our second software demonstration. In this demonstration, we will revisit the city

from our first demo. In our previous demo, we had added secondary electrical lines in the field.

Now, if we zoom to the line we added, you can see that the secondary line is not connected to the

main electrical line the way it is supposed to be. If we zoom to the meter we added, it's also not

connected to the electrical line where it should.

Using the snapping capability in ArcPad 7, we can ensure that those lines are connected correctly.

First, we'll set our snap tolerance to 15 feet. Then, we'll turn on the snapping for the layer of

secondary line. Now, we'll redigitize those lines and meters. First, we'll add the secondary line,

finish the attribution, then we'll add the electric meter. Now, if we zoom to the line we just

digitized, as you can see, it snapped correctly to the main electrical line. The same goes for the

meter which snaps correctly to the vertex of the secondary line. By pressing the CTRL key on

the desktop, you can see your snapping background. The same thing can be done on your mobile

device by pressing the center key.

You may also remember that in our previous demo, we had added an inspection area where trees

need to be trimmed. Instead of walking along the area to record the inspection polygon, we can

also use a range finder and use offsets and radial traverse to capture the inspection polygon. First,


I'm going to set my reference point which will be the point where I will be standing. I'll select

this cul-de-sac. With my laser range finder, I'll start taking measurements. The range finder

returns the distance and bearings to calculate the offset point. I'll continue taking all the

measurements until I'm done. Now I go to the attributes. Now I've finished digitizing the

polygon by standing at one fixed point using my laser range finder and radial traverse to digitize

the inspection polygon.

The last thing I would like to show here is how to use Graphics layer to capture field notes and

sketches. I'll first add a new graphic layer and call it “inspections.” In ArcPad Graphics layer,

you can store text, points, polygons, and polylines, actually lines. I would like to mark the area

that I would like to come back to inspect later. I'm going to use the Freehand Line tool, and then

add some text. Set the text symbol, color. Now, as you see, I added a field note on my ArcPad

map. This Graphics layer can be easily imported into ArcGIS and then shared with other users as

well.

In this demonstration, we showed some ArcPad editing tools using GPS, pen, or range finder.

We used snapping to ensure correct connectivity of features and Graphics layer to add some field

notes.



Review and Q & APreparing data for ArcPadDisplaying dataQuerying dataCapturing and editing dataUsing data capture devices

Using a GPSUsing a range finder and a cameraWorking with offsets

Updating a GIS database

In this section, we discussed some of ArcPad's out-of-the-box functionality. We talked about

preparing data for ArcPad, displaying data, and querying data. We also talked about the data

capture and editing functionalities in ArcPad, including working with offsets. We covered the

use of data capture devices such as GPS, range finders, and digital cameras. Finally, we covered

how to check in the ArcPad edits to your GIS database using the ArcPad tools in ArcGIS

Desktop. I will now turn the seminar over to Shane who will answer some of your questions.

The first question comes from Brent in Linsey who asks, "Can a snapping buffer be altered?"

Yes, you can change the snapping buffer at any time. However, the new snapping buffer that you

set will only be used for new features that you add or edit. They won't be changed retrospectively

for the existing features that you've added or edited.

The next question comes from John in Fort Myers who asks, "Does ArcPad need one geodatabase

to extract all data from a single project? Or can multiple geodatabases be extracted from and

updated on a single project?" You can extract data for reference data from multiple geodatabases.

However, you can only extract data for editing in ArcPad from a single geodatabase.


Ray from Mountain Home Air Force Base asks, "When making field edits, if you just make

attribute changes only with no new features, do these come through as well?" Yes, these edits do

come through. When you have checked out data from a geodatabase for editing in ArcPad and

you edit in ArcPad, you can edit either the geometry or the attributes or both of these, and all of

these edits will be updated to your geodatabase when you check the data in.

Brent from Richmond Hills asks, "Is there a ratio between increasing the PDOP value and the

result in decreased accuracy? In other words, if you increase the PDOP by 1, does the accuracy

decrease by, say, 1 meter?” In practical terms, there are many factors that impact the accuracy of

your GPS position. PDOP is just one of them and often may not always be the most significant

issue. The quality of the GPS receiver, the size of the antenna, the troposphere conditions, if

you've got multipass rejection, if you're working under canopy—all of these are variables that

impact your accuracy. So, going just by PDOP is not a sufficient indication of accuracy.

Gary from Orlando asks, "Can ArcPad symbolize close subtypes, or is there only one symbol per

shape?" When you extract the subtypes from the geodatabase for use in ArcPad, these subtypes

are not stored as attributes associated with the shape files. They are stored as part of the custom

input form. So you cannot, in ArcPad, symbolize on the subtype. You can only symbolize on the

attributes that are actually stored in the current shapefile. Secondly, you can only symbolize in

ArcPad on a single attribute per symbol or per shape.

Ruth Ann from Merced asks, "What aerial photography file type does ArcPad 7 support?”

ArcPad 7 supports a wide variety of image types including MrSID, both generation 2 and

generation 3; JPEG 2000; TIFF, including a wide variety of compression formats that are

included with TIFF images; PNG; JPEG; bitmap; and CADRG.

David from Gainesville asks, "Does ArcPad support image catalogs?" The answer is no, it does

not.

Lastly, Vlad from Portugal asks, "Can I use toolbars or maps created with ArcPad 6 without any

limitations in ArcPad 7?" The answer to that is yes. Apart from some minor issues that are rarely

being counted, the toolbar, the customization that you've created in ArcPad 6, is supported in

ArcPad 7. However, bear in mind that ArcPad 7 supports a richer set of symbology and

functionality. So, in order to take advantage of these, it's recommended that you regenerate your


maps, or use an ArcPad 7 that takes advantage of the new symbology support. With that, I'll hand

it back to Jian.

Thank you, Shane.



Where to go from here?

In our last topic, I would like to briefly offer some general suggestions and tips on using ArcPad.



Project planning Questions to consider:

Who is the target field user?What is the field environment?What task(s) will be performed? • How often or urgent?• Regional or local?• Vehicle-based or on-foot?

Will a custom application be needed?What data will be used in the field?• Type of data (vector, raster, layers, formats)• Projections and datums• Size and display (symbology) of data

What equipment will be needed?What is the budget for?• Equipment, labor, or equipment failure and mistakes?

Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself when planning a mobile solution with the end

user. What field environment will you be working in? Under what conditions? Vehicle based or

not? Is customization needed? What data will you require? What's your budget? Responding to

this assessment will help determine your specific requirements for hardware, software, and

support, and will influence your development timeline as well as required resources.



Selecting suitable hardware

XPShorterLargerHeavierLarger screen

WM/CELongerSmallerLighterSmaller screen

OSBatteryLife

SizeWeightApplication Needs

WM/CEAll daySmallerLighterSmallerFoot based

XPLessImportant

LessImportant

LessImportant

LargerVehicle based

OSBatteryLife

SizeWeightScreenSize

Means of Transport

Here are some device-specific considerations. By examining your application needs and

requirements regarding device weight, size, speed, battery power, and operating system, you will

be able to select hardware that is most suitable for your specific project needs. For example, if

your application is vehicle based and the field workers spend a short amount of time away from

the vehicle, Tablet PC may be an ideal device to use. In these applications, device weight, size,

and battery life are not an issue. However, if your mobile GIS application requires field workers

to spend a lot of time walking, the Tablet PC will not be a suitable device because in this case, the

device weight, size, and battery life are an issue.



Using customization in ArcPadWhy customize ArcPad?

Enforce data integrityCombine common tasksAutomate tasksAdd new tools or functionality

We suggest that all users customize their applications. You should use input forms to ensure data

integrity. Using customization can also help improve usability, fit your specific application,

automate tasks, and add new functionality.





QuickForm toolCreate simple custom input formsNo programming required

Customization in ArcPad is simple to accomplish. Users can create custom forms directly within

ArcPad while in the field. No programming is required.





QuickForm toolCreate simple custom input formsNo programming required

More customization options available with ArcPad Application Builder

If necessary, developers can create more advanced ArcPad customizations in the office using the

ArcPad Application Builder.



Tips Be pragmatic

Just because it’s possible, doesn’t make it practicalBe realistic

The perfect device/GPS does not exist, and probably never willKeep it simpleFor better performance:

Limit data volume to what is really neededUse spatial and attribute indexesUse scale-dependent symbology and labeling

Use custom forms and toolbarsIncreased efficiency of field usersIncreased accuracy of attribute data

Here are some tips for working with ArcPad. Some of them we have already covered in our

previous topics. Please keep in mind that ArcPad is a mapping tool for working with your GIS

data in the field. Your field devices generally have relatively slow CPUs, limited RAM and

storage capacity, and also a smaller display. Please take these into consideration. We also

recommend you use custom forms and toolbars in your ArcPad applications. They are simple to

do and ensure the quality of your field data collection.



Review and Q & AProject planningSelecting suitable hardwareUsing customization

In this section, we covered some general principles and tips for using ArcPad, a list of questions

you should ask yourself before starting your mobile application, considerations in finding a

suitable hardware device, and finally, customization to ensure the accuracy of the data you

capture in the field. I will now let Shane answer a few more of your questions.

Thanks, Jian. This question comes from Brian in Tumwater, who asks, "Is it possible to select

multiple types for a feature? The screen appears to allow only one." I presume by this question

that these types are the pick lists or drop-down list from the custom form. The answer to that is,

each attribute field can only store a single attribute string. So, you are only able to select a single

type for each attribute field or feature.

The second question comes from Richard in Lexington who asks, "After creating a point, a set of

options appeared that asked specific information to be defined. In other words, these pick lists

and selections in your custom input forms. Was this customized with an ArcPad or an

Application Builder?" The answer in this specific demo is that neither of these was used.

Although you can use ArcPad, the QuickForm tool that's available within ArcPad, you can create

some custom input forms, or you can use ArcPad Studio, the application that's included with

Application Builder to create more advanced custom forms as well as more advanced


customization. The forms that you saw in the demo were not created using either of these. These

forms were created automatically from the Check Out tool in ArcGIS. In this case, you do not

need Application Builder.

William from North Charleston asks, "Does snapping work when using a GPS?" And the answer

is yes. If you have snapping enabled, the GPS coordinates that you receive from the GPS will

then be snapped to existing features. Obviously, if you are using a GPS and you have snapping

enabled, you need to determine whether you want the absolute coordinates from the GPS or

whether the existing coordinates of existing features override these GPS coordinates.

The next question comes from Brian in Tumwater who asks, "When do you perform differential

correction?" There are two types of differential correction. The first is termed real-time

differential correction, and this is done on the GPS receiver in the field as long as you've got a

real-time differential correction source. Examples of real-time differential correction are the

beacon differential correction or the WAAS real-time differential correction. The second type of

differential correction is termed postprocessing, and this type of differential correction is typically

or is always done back in the office once you've brought your data from the field, loaded it onto

your desktop PC, and then used Desktop tools to perform postprocess differential correction.

Ken from Albany asks, "How would Trimble's GPScorrect postprocessing change the ArcPad

data check-in process into ArcMap?" If you are using Trimble GPS receivers and the Trimble

GPScorrect extension for ArcPad, this GPScorrect extension collects all the information that is

needed for postprocessing back in the office. GPScorrect does not do any postprocessing. Once

you are back in the office and you wish to do postprocessing, you need to add an additional step

before you actually check in your data into your geodatabase. Using Trimble's GPS Analyst

extension to ArcMap, you would first postprocess your data collected in ArcPad, and then once

you've done that you update your data in the geodatabase.

The next question comes from David in Tampa. "If using ArcPad on a Windows mobile device

with a GPS receiver, can it automatically store the walking path in addition to points that may be

added in the field?" Yes, it can. ArcPad, irrespective of what device you're running it on, has

support for a GPS Tracklog, or a bread crumb trail that you can have active at any time and

simultaneously capture features for your shapefiles. This Tracklog can store information at the

frequency that you specify as you're walking along. This Tracklog is actually saved in a point


shapefile. At any point, you can actually take this point shapefile and load it into your Desktop

GIS system and use that to view the Tracklog or the points of where you've walked.

Ken from Albany asks, "If data is created in ArcPad while in the field, can the data then be

checked back into ArcMap using the check-in function?" I presume what is meant here is while

you are in the field, can you check that data back in. The answer is not really. You need to

connect your data or your mobile device to the PC that you use to check out your data, move the

data from your mobile device to that PC, and at that point, that data is available for checking in

and updating your geodatabase.

Miguel from Island View asks, "Are there significant differences between ArcPad Application

Builder 6.0.3 and 7.0?" Yes, there are numerous differences between these different versions of

ArcPad Application Builder. If you are using ArcPad 7, then you need to use ArcPad Application

Builder 7.0. ArcPad Application Builder 6.0.3 is not supported by ArcPad 7.0. What are these

differences? They take advantage of a whole range of improvements and functionality and

customization that are included with ArcPad 7. For more details on these, you can go to our Web

sites and there's more information posted there.

Brent from Richmond Hill asks, "Is it possible to select multiple features in ArcPad at the same

time in both the handheld and the desktop?" No, that is not supported in ArcPad. In ArcPad, you

can only select a single feature at a time.

That's all we've got time for. I will hand back to Jian.

Thank you, Shane.



For more informationArcPad product page

www.esri.com/arcpad

ArcPad supporthttp://support.esri.com

(Software tab > ArcGIS Mobile > ArcPad)Knowledge Base Discussion Forum

ArcScriptshttp://arcscripts.esri.com

Virtual Campus courseCustomizing ArcPad

Before we say good-bye, I would like to point out some resources available to you. On the ESRI

Web site, you can download at no cost the ArcPad evaluation software which is a fully functional

version of ArcPad 7 with a 20-minute timeout. There are also valuable ArcPad support resources

available on ESRI's support Web site with Knowledge Base documents, user discussion forums,

and downloadable software patches and utilities. The ArcScripts at arcscripts.esri.com is an

online venue for sharing scripts designed to work with ESRI software. Check under ArcPad for

ArcPad-related scripts. If you are interested in learning more on ArcPad customization, we do

have a Customizing ArcPad class available on the ESRI Virtual Campus site.

Your comments help us improve our seminars. Please take a moment to complete our survey.

Just click the Give Us Feedback link to take the survey.

We hope you enjoyed today's seminar. On behalf of ESRI, I would like to thank you all for

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