Introduction
In this week’s lab, we were able to play around with Arc Collector. Arc Collector is an app that can be download on multiple devices including IOS and Andriod that is used collectively with ArcGIS products. Arc Collector lets you collect data based on the location of certain items (bathrooms, gathering areas and much more), in all helping you create maps that can be useful for individuals. This app is great way to make Ground Control Points as you are pinpointing certain objects off your device and marking them on a map. While accuracy may be an issue, this applies down a great foundation of where certain things are and necessary adjustments may be made once collected.
Methods
Tutorials:
Try Collector:
Collector Map:
The first tutorial was a refresher on how to use the app. Although the tutorial was based on being located at a Park, I was not able to do so. I instead followed along with the tutorial and used my backyard as an example. For the tutorial, it wanted me to identify objects and paths. Since I have both in my backyard I was able to identify a bench and a gravel path. Once over the object, you click ‘capture’ and it pinpoints the location (figure 1). As seen in the picture below, once captured you are able to type the amenity and give further notes for identification. I also was able to take a picture of my bench which is located on the ‘attached tab’.
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| Figure 1 (Arc Collector Identify a Bench) |
The next thing that I completed was developing a path on the map. For this, you need to choose path type (mine was gravel). Once on the path, you click the (+) button to mark the path as you walk along. Once moving, you click the overflow menu to start streaming and it captures your path quite accurately depending on how strong your signal strength is. Since I used my backyard gravel path and it was raining outside my depiction is slightly off but here is an example of what it looks like below (figure 2).
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| Figure 2 (Arc Collector Creating a Path) |
After this tutorial, it was time to complete ‘creating your own map’ tutorial. In this case, I again used my backyard but, expanded upon what I already had. For this part, we needed to access ArcGIS Online to develop the map from the data collected from Arc Collector. The first thing we needed to do was create a new feature layer. I was able to create point, line, and polygon layers. I then labeled them as Places, Paths and Areas (which I was typing at the time. (Figure 3)
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| Figure 3 (ArcGIS Online, Editing Feature Layers Names) |
I continued through the tutorial and began to add more fields to my map. One field was called type of amenity. Since I needed to accommodate for my backyard, I instead added a fountain, barn, and table for my labels. The labels indicate what certain things are my clicking them on the map. It gives the viewers a general idea of what things are (figure 4).
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| Figure 4 (ArcGIS Online Creating Labels for Field) |
Once I was finished needed to enable attachments so that when I gathered further objects/ paths and areas on Arc Collector, It would formulate them onto the map I created. Once finished I saved the map as Hometown and added a Tag, “Yard,” to give a further description of where I was at (Figure 5).
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| Figure 5: ArcGIS Online, Saving My Map |
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| Figure 6: Location of where I created my map, Northern Long Island, NY. |
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| Figure 7: What I collected using Arc Collector (Small Barn, Bird Fountain, Table, Gravel Path) |
Discussion / Conclusion
In conclusion, this lab was a great way to get familiar with another application associated with ArcGIS. It is nice to develop knowledge of more applications and see how they relate to one another. Being able to use my phone made it convenient to create points for my map and it was really cool how it pinpointed them. This app can be a great tool for the UAS industry. Instead of gathering data in a small space, with a drone you can link Arc Collector to the drone and gather numerous amounts of data for objects, paths, and areas that may need to be mapped for convenience.
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