Mapping Underground Assets using ArcGIS for Windows Mobile

ArcGIS for Windows Mobile 3.0 opens the door to exciting new opportunities for you to leverage Mobile GIS and streamline your field operational needs. The ArcGIS application, available on rugged handheld devices, is being used today for mapping assets with precision and ease.

With the 3.0 release we have augmented the ArcGIS application with a new task that can be used to map underground assets. Using the Underground Collection Task you can connect your mobile device to a RadioDetection RD8000 Line Locator and accurately map the location and depth of buried pipe and cable.

Peter Mann and Morgan Zhang collect buried pipeline

The Underground Collection task leverages the same workflow as the Collect Features task – it guides you through the process of picking a feature template and editing attributes for the pipeline or cable that you are going to create. Within the attribute form you can establish all of the unique properties of the feature you are capturing (type, diameter, material, status, etc) along with photos or additional media elements you would like to attach to it.

Underground Collection Task uses the same workflow as Collect Features Task

The way that you capture location however is quite unique. It uses bluetooth to connect the handheld mobile device to the RD8000 line locator and will create a new pipeline or cable (line) feature along with buried depth (point) feature simultaneously as you walk along locating and capturing readings with the RD8000. The line feature will contain the attribute information (type, status, photos…) along with a unique LineID value. The point feature will contain the depth reading (and any other metadata you choose to capture from the line locator) along with a LineID value that can be used to join the points you capture to the line that is created automatically. Capture is simply a matter of pressing the Graph key which saves SurveyCERT™ measurements and sends commands to the connected rugged device. Once received it will capture your current position using the GPS receiver embedded in your mobile device and create both a new depth point and pipeline vertex. Readings are managed in a list and you can replace/remove readings from the list. You can also view what you have captured on the map as well.

Workflow for capturing the line location and depth readings

The Underground Collection Task is a project extension that includes a custom task developed using the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Windows Mobile. This extension not only customizes the ArcGIS app on Windows Mobile devices but extends the Mobile Project Center application so that anyone within the organization can configure the extension to fit your information model. With 3.0 we have added the ability for you to package and deploy custom tasks within the project file – easing your provisioning process.

If you download the Underground Collection task, simply follow the instructions document to see how you can extend your mobile projects with this new capability. Dlls are provided so you can test out the extension without the need for a developer. The code is provided as well if you would like to extend its capabilities.

Special thanks to Peter Mann from SPX for his assistance and expertise with the RD8000 Line Locator. Without the generosity of Peter and SPX this extension would not have been possible.

Applications Team