Collect and edit offline event data using the ArcGIS Field Maps mobile app

Available with Location Referencing license.

Multiple individuals in an organization can be responsible for maintaining linear referenced data managed with ArcGIS Pipeline Referencing. These responsibilities can include workers in the field who need to collect or update LRS event data.

The collection of data in the field can take place over a long time and in remote locations with limited connectivity. When this event data is collected offline using ArcGIS Field Maps, the route information can change for collected events before the events are synced with the system.

To ensure that events are located correctly when they are brought back to the system, the sync service compares route edits made during disconnected event collection in Field Maps and applies configured event behaviors to any events located on routes that were edited during that time.

Pipeline Referencing supports offline event data collection and editing from sync-enabled feature services using the Field Maps mobile app on iOS or Android.

Learn more about Field Maps mobile app requirements

The following diagram shows the overall disconnected editing and sync workflow:

Overview of offline data collection and publishing workflow

Feature services must have the Replica Tracking and sync capabilities enabled, as well as the linear referencing and version management capabilities, to download a local copy (replica) of the data. This allows mobile workers to collect and edit the data in the field while they are disconnected.

When a replica is downloaded to a device, an associated replica version is automatically created from the default version. The user can edit the local data and sync it with the associated replica version when connectivity is available. Syncing pushes the collected local data into the associated replica version, so it can be posted in ArcGIS Pro to the default version.

Note:

When a mobile worker syncs the data collected while offline, the Apply Event Behaviors tool runs automatically if the route was edited in the default version. If the route was not edited in the default version while data is collected in the offline map, the tool does not run.

Updates can be reviewed once they have been posted to the default version from the associated replica version.

The overall workflow can be divided into three parts:

Data preparation for use in offline feature services

Offline data collection begins with the online data preparation and publishing steps.

To prepare data for offline use, complete the following steps:

  1. Enable replica tracking for all the feature layers that need to be published.

    Use the Enable Replica Tracking tool, or right-click the LRS dataset in the ArcGIS Pro Catalog pane, click Manage, and check the Replica Tracking check box.

  2. Publish the feature service by doing the following:
    1. Enable synchronization in the feature service's feature properties using the Enable Sync check box.
    2. Check the Apply default to features with z-values check box and set the Default z-value when inserting or updating features value to 0.
    3. In the Sync section, for Version Creation, click Create a version for each downloaded map.
      Feature Properties pane
  3. Ensure that the version management and linear referencing capabilities are enabled when it is published as a service.
    Note:

    In the Sync section, for Version Creation, click Create a version for each downloaded map to collect and update LRS events with the Field Maps app.

    The Create a version for each user option does not support branch versioned datasets and cannot be used with LRS data.

    The None option syncs the data directly with the default and does not allow you to review and resolve conflicts for changes made by other editors. The last edit applied to the default version is saved to the default version.

Learn more about preparing data for use in offline feature services

Author a web map for offline data collection and editing

Once the feature service is published with the required capabilities described above, create a web map using the following steps:

  1. Open a web browser and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.

    If you're using ArcGIS Online, go to https://www.arcgis.com/home.

    If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, go to your portal.

  2. Click the Map tab to open Map Viewer.
  3. Click the Add tab, choose Browse layers, and browse to the sync-enabled feature service that you published.
    Browse layers option
  4. Add the sync-enabled feature service to the web map by clicking + Add.
    Add button
  5. Click Use as basemap to add a basemap that is enabled for offline use to the web map.
  6. Click Save.

    The Save Map dialog box appears. Provide a title for the map and optionally, tags, a summary, and a server folder.

    Note:

    A basemap is required in all web maps. The default Esri basemaps included in your portal are not enabled for offline use. Add an Esri basemap from ArcGIS Online to the web map.

    Learn more about the layer type requirements for offline use

Define an offline area, collect, and sync data

It is recommended that you create offline map areas ahead of time to simplify the experience of offline workers. Offline map areas allow you to package data from specific areas of a web map to make it easier and faster to download maps for offline use.

Multiple offline areas can be defined for a single web map. There are several options to define offline map areas. To simplify the experience for offline mobile workers, it is recommended that you use an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

Note:

You must be the map owner and have server privileges to create, edit, and manage offline map areas.

Download offline map areas to a device

To install Field Maps and download offline map areas to a device, complete the following steps:

  1. Open your ArcGIS organization's Field Maps web app, and ensure that the map you want to take offline has the Offline option enabled on the Offline tab.
  2. Review the Field Maps app requirements to ensure your device is supported.
  3. Install the Field Maps app on the device.
    Note:

    If Field Maps app data is published to ArcGIS Enterprise behind a firewall, you must install the same SSL certificate on the mobile device that is used for ArcGIS Server and Portal for ArcGIS.

    Learn more about configuring the mobile app

  4. If the web map includes defined offline map areas, complete the download defined map areas steps.

    Optionally, if no offline areas are specified in the web map, define and download a map area using the steps for your mobile operating system.

Collect offline data and edit it using Field Maps

The following sections are pertinent to map editors using Field Maps to capture event data in the field:

Consider the following when collecting events:

  • To add an event in the Field Maps app, you must provide the route ID and measure information for the event. The date is optional, but recommended.
  • Only event data can be collected or edited. If a calibration point, centerline, or route is created or edited, the synchronization process will fail.
  • You can add a line or point event.

Sync data from Field Maps

To sync data on the mobile device, complete the following steps :

  1. Once you have regained network connectivity, tap the Maps Overflow menu.

    The offline edits performed appear as a list below the Auto-sync option. You can review the edits before syncing them with the server.

    Field Maps Auto-sync option

Event creation and sync scenario

The examples below demonstrate adding events in the field to existing routes and synchronizing them with the database.

The replica database was created on 1/3/2023 to do field data collection.

The following diagram shows two routes, R1 and R2, that exist at the time the map is taken offline:

Routes in the offline map before editing

The following table provides details about the routes when the offline map was created:

Route IDFrom MeasureTo MeasureFrom DateTo Date

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

<Null>

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

The following table shows the configured event behavior for the event records in this scenario:

Event nameEvent behavior

E1

Stay put

E2

Retire

E3

Move

E4

Cover

The following diagram shows the events that were added to the routes using Field Maps:

Event records added using Field Maps

The following table provides details about the event records:

Event ID Route ID From Measure To Measure From Date To DateAttribute

E1 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

<Null>

DOTClass, Class1

E2 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

<Null>

Elevation, 20

E3 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

<Null>

OperatingPressure, 800

E4 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

<Null>

TemporaryOutage, Region1

E1 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

DOTClass, Class1

E2 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

Elevation, 20

E3 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

OperatingPressure, 800

E4 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

TemporaryOutage, Region1

While the map is offline, route R1 is extended from the beginning on 1/5/2023, and route R2 remains as is. The route editing is being done in the office connected to the database while the events are added in the field in a disconnected environment.

Routes after extension before sync

The following table provides details about the routes in the default version after R1 is extended at the beginning:

Route IDFrom MeasureTo MeasureFrom DateTo Date

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

1/5/2023

R1

0

12

1/5/2023

<Null>

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

Once a network connection is established, the data collected in the field (events) are synced back to the database.

The following workflow illustrates the routes to which event behaviors will be applied:

Routes and applied event behaviors after sync

If the routes (for which the events have been added or edited in the field) are edited on or after the day the data is taken offline, event behaviors are automatically run after sync.

Since R1 was extended (edited) on 1/5/2023, which is after the replica date of 1/3/2023, event behaviors are applied to the events added to R1 after the sync. R2 did no change, so no event behaviors are applied and only location errors are calculated.

The following diagram shows the routes and events after sync:

Routes after extension after sync

The newly-created event records have the following attributes:

  • E1 ID1 is represented by two time slices. With the Stay Put event behavior configured for extension, the original event is retired on 1/5/2023 as shown in the first record. The new time slice has dates from 1/5/2023 to <Null> and has measures from 0 to12 that are the result of extending the route.
  • E2 ID1 has the Retire event behavior configured for extension, so the event is retired after extending the route. The end date changes from <Null> to 1/5/2023.
  • E3 ID1 is represented by two time slices. With the Move event behavior configured for extension, the original event is retired on 1/5/2023 as shown in the first record. The new time slice has dates from 1/5/2023 to <Null> but keeps its measures from 5 to 15. This results in a location error for the event because the ending measure, 15, cannot be located on the route, which now has measures from 0 to 12.
  • E4 ID1 is represented by two time slices. With the Cover event behavior configured for extension, the original event is retired on 1/5/2023 as shown in the first record. The new time slice has dates from 1/5/2023 to <Null>, but the event still covers the entire route (start to end).

For the events on route R2, the location errors are generated after syncing. No event behaviors are applied to R2 because route R2 was not edited while data was being collected in the field.

The following table provides details about the events after sync:

Event ID Route ID From Measure To Measure From Date To DateLocation ErrorAttribute

E1 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

1/5/2023

No Error

DOTClass, Class1

E1ID1

R1

2

12

1/5/2023

<Null>

No Error

DOTClass, Class1

E2 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

1/5/2023

No Error

Elevation, 20

E3 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

1/5/2023

No Error

OperatingPressure, 800

E3 ID1

R1

5

15

1/5/2023

<Null>

Partial Match For The To Measure

OperatingPressure, 800

E4 ID1

R1

5

15

1/1/2023

1/5/2023

No Error

TemporaryOutage, Region1

E4 ID1

R1

0

12

1/5/2023

<Null>

No Error

TemporaryOutage, Region1,

E1 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

No Error

DOTClass, Class1

E2 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

No Error

Elevation, 20

E3ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

No Error

OperatingPressure, 800

E4 ID2

R2

10

50

1/1/2023

<Null>

No Error

TemporaryOutage, Region1,