Geospatial Field Methods: Activity 8: Developing a Project on ArcCollector

Introduction

Smartphones now hold the same and more capabilities than some GPS units. They are able to locate coordinates and also access online information. With the development of the ArcCollector app, smartphones now enable you to map information and update it live online. The objective of this exercise was to gain practice in creating a map with appropriate features and domains and collect data points using the ArcCollector app. In my project, I mapped squirrels around lower campus to see if there was any distributional pattern between types of squirrels and if there were any behavioral tendencies. Data collection was done on Friday November 27, 2015 between the hours of 2pm and 3.30pm. The study area consisted of all of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire lower campus region on the southern side of the Chippewa River foot bridge and the southern path in Putnam Park behind Davies Center. Temperature was approximately 25 degrees F (-3.9 C) and the weather was sunny and calm.

Methods

To begin the activity, I first created a geodatabase to store the domains and then created domains and a feature class in ArcCatalog. I created domains to set acceptable values for attributes regarding the squirrels I would be mapping later. For each domain, I had to choose a type: range domain (set allowable range of values for an attribute) or coded domain (set codes as values for an attribute). I created a coded domain for the squirrel color (grey, red, black, or white), a range domain for date, a range domain for temperature, a coded domain for behavior (eating, watching, or burying food), and a coded domain for location (ground, tree, or garbage can).

To practice, I then created a point feature class from the domain and named it "Squirrels" as this feature class would later be used to collect data points in the ArcCollector app on squirrel locations and behavior. Once this was finished, I published the feature class on ArcGIS online by following the instructions on ArcGIS for preparing data. Once the feature class was published, I created a map on ArcGIS by simply adding a basemap and setting the address to the UWEC campus address so it would zoom in on the study area and added the published feature class to the map. The steps to prepare a map on ArcCollector can be found here. It was then ready for data collection.

The data collection process ran smoothly as it is as simple as clicking the plus symbol to add a point and choosing the correct coded value or entering the correct range value for each of the attributes set by the domains created previously. I walked the entire area of the southern lower campus and added all the squirrels I could visually spot. I did not to add squirrels if I walked a particular route a second time. This was a measure taken to eliminate any double entries. However, I realized I had made my domains rather poorly. For instance, I had one variable labeled incorrectly and I observed more behaviors than just the couple I had set as codes for the behavior domain.

To fix this, I went back to ArcMap and edited my domains to re-label the incorrect domain and added the code "running" under the Behavior domain. I re-published the feature class to ArcGIS and created a new map on the ArcGIS website. I then collected data in the same manner as before with the new feature class (Fig. 1). Only 22 squirrels were found and mapped. This time, there was no error in the domains.

Fig. 1: Final Domains within the Database created into a Feature Class. This figure shows the Behavior domain highlighted at the top and its code values listed on the bottom.

Results

The resulting map showed 22 squirrels found throughout the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire lower campus on November 27 (Fig. 2). Interestingly, The squirrels were found to be distributed in a clustered manner--squirrels were found in groupings rather than spread randomly across the study area. It also found that there is a potential territory based on color of the squirrel as black squirrels were found only in one area near Katherine Hall and little grey, red, or white squirrels were found in this area. Grey and red squirrels were found in all other groups in abundance while no black squirrels were found in these areas. The map can be found either by following this link:

http://uwec.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=67ec369bb4d542a786ae164e0ad5fcdf or by logging on to ArcGIS online and locating the map in either the UWEC group or public. It is published as "Aumann_Collector_Map." Metadata for the squirrel feature class was created in ArcGIS (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2: Map of squirrels by color on the lower campus of UW-Eau Claire using the feature class and map published on ArcGIS online. Cartographic aids (legend, compass rose, etc..,) were added after online map was brought into ArcMap for desktop.

Fig. 3: Metadata of Squirrel feature class after the online map was brought into ArcGIS.

Discussion

After completing this activity, I found that using the mobile app for data collection is a great alternative to the GPS. It allows you to update the data on a basemap on the fly and is very user-friendly. However, you cannot edit domains once they are uploaded to ArcGIS and it is crucial to have a detailed and well-done feature class created before uploading it online and collecting data. Creating your own geodatabase, feature class, and setting domains is not as complicated as it may sound, though it is very easy to miss details when setting the domains. The biggest problem is not knowing what you could run into in the field and not taking account for all the unknown factors. I think it would be best practice to test the potential domains before creating the final product for your data collection process or at least add a couple fields to log locations of your study subject that has attributes not accounted for in the domains so you can go back and edit them after your data collection is completed.

Conclusion

During this activity, I practiced creating a geodatabase with a feature class created by domains I set within the geodatabase and publishing this feature class to ArcGIS online for creation of a map. I took this map and collected data using the ArcCollector mobile App. I learned preparation is key before data collection and it is easy to forget or to not even be aware of factors needed for the data collection process when setting the domains. In future projects, I will make sure a preliminary test is done in the field before creating the final map or fields are added to the feature class in which I can store locations and edit the attributes after the data collection process is finished.