One “magical” power of the new ArcGIS Online Organizations is the ability to publish editable feature services. This opens a world of collaboration in the construction of data.
A “feature service” is a data layer that can be used in many maps. This is in contrast to just pushing a zipped shapefile into a map, which is indeed cool but creates just a set of “notes,” usable only in that specific map or its “offspring.” A feature service is an independent layer, with its own metadata; it can be documented, commented on, searched for, and added independently to other maps and apps. Feature services can be classified and symbolized, queried, analyzed via geoprocessing tools, and downloaded by the owner for further work in ArcMap.
“Editable feature services” are feature services in which users can make modifications, such as adding new records or changing the values in a record’s attributes. For instance, I have posted a simple editable feature service allowing readers of this blog to add a record showing their location, age, gender, and favorite morning beverage. I could create a service for my classes (plus those of other educators) to use on a field trip, allowing collection of precisely defined data, for a project in science or social studies. At Esri’s T3G (“Teachers Teaching Teachers GIS”) Institute in 2012, participants did exactly this, collecting tree data and attaching photos to certain records. {See GRCF map}
The magic comes from generating this editable feature service in ArcMap, publishing it through ArcGIS Online into a map, and then letting students use GPS-enabled smartphones or tablets to record the data. They can quickly fill out a form, attach a photo, hit submit, refresh their map, and see their data plus items generated by classmates, on the fly while out in the field. This rapid feedback boosts interest in the activity at hand — they are looking at THEIR data gathered just a moment ago! It even facilitates data entry by eliminating replication, thereby reducing error.
What does it take to do this? ArcMap 10, an ArcGIS Online Organization account, a basic understanding of databases, and a question to explore. Is there an example to look at? See “NOTES” in ArcGIS Online, and notice that it includes a downloadable map package. The metadata talks of ArcGIS Server, but you can also use an ArcGIS Online Organization subscription.
Excellent! So, how can I do this? If NOTES does everything you want, you can download the linked map package and publish it into your own ArcGIS Online Organization. But chances are you want to create your own special project. To do this, you need to plan carefully your data collection process. A new ArcLesson walks you through creating and using an editable feature service. (Alternative download site for 11mb PDF here.) It’s easy to do. So now the question is “What kind of data collection project should you do?” Water quality? Local historic sites? Tree inventory? Community assets? It’s worth spending some time dreaming and scheming, perhaps over your favorite breakfast beverage.
- Charlie Fitzpatrick, Esri Education Manager
Is there any way to determine who contributed a feature?
In this case, purposefully, no, there is not a way to determine who contributed the data, or anything about the accuracy of the data. This was strictly an exercise to have people see what an editable feature service is, and that it can be both fun and instructive. – Charlie
I have an organizational account and I have logged in and done everything up to step 31. I have not created any sample features because I want my students to start with an empty map. When I try check the catalog tree I do not see “My Hosted Services”. Any suggestions?
I am replying to my own post: One of the requirements to use a feature service is ArcGIS 10.1. I was only using 10.0. Once that was resolved it worked great.
I have servery questions need help, please
1) How could I download the feature class after a while?
2) How to update my web service if I modify the feature class’ attribute after publish?
3) How to set a default display extent? I mean, not the globe all the time.
4) How to pop up a field to contain Lat./Long. of that point? With local ArcGIS Server, it is easy, As this is cloud GIS, does user have all the controls/objects?
A-1. After a feature service is populated, an owner can download the data by returning to the item description page, or by displaying it inside ArcMap
A-2. Fundamental updates of a web service are best done by re-publishing.
A-3. Opening display extent is stored in the map, not in the service.
A-4. Lat/long can be displayed inside MapViewer using the measure tool. Generating a popup showing lat/long where you click, and having those attributes stored and displayable, is not right now part of the standard interface, but doable with coding; see the parts of ArcGIS Online that refer to working with the API.
Another question:
I can search my map with ArcGIS Online on my computer, but not phone, any suggestions?
Make sure the map is shared with the public or that the user on phone is logged in to an account that can see it. On the phone, make sure you search using the “Search for maps” (which users can miss) instead of “Search within this map”.