ArcGIS Collector

Goal and Background:
This lab was designed to introduce ESRI ArcCollector as a tool for collecting data in the field.  ArcCollector is an application that can be downloaded onto any apple or android device and used to  collect spatial data.  The application is set up in a mapping interface that allows the user to drop a point and fill out information.  In this lab, a microclimate survey was conducted by the class of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the surrounding area.  ArcCollector allows the class to simultaneously collect data points and add them to a map in real time.  Each group is able to collect information about the climate at different parts on campus, and update points on a map in real time.  This map can be viewed on a computer or phone and the progress of the data collection can be monitored.

Methods:

The first step to creating a collector map is to create an online map that has an empty feature class to be populated by people in the field.  This feature is given fields that are to be filled out by people in the field.  This was all done by Professor Hupy in this lab.  This lab began with down loading the ArcCollector app and signing into the UWEC Enterprise ArcGIS online account.  On a computer, a request was sent to be part of our class group on ArcGIS online.  Being a member of the group allowed users to have access to maps that were shared to that group.  Once a member of the Field Methods group and the app was opened on a phone, the user simply opened the map on collector and they were ready to add data!  The class was separated into groups of two and sent around campus to collect weather information.  The following list are the fields each group filled in when taking a data point:

-Temperature
-Wind Chill
-Dew Point
-Wind Speed
-Wind Direction
-Group Number
-Notes
-Time

To get this data a hand held "weather station" was used, this provided all the necessary data.  To data a data point, the "plus" icon in the app in selected and it prompts the user to enter the above data.  Each of the fields is filled out and when submit is selected, the app drops a point from the phone's gps with the data that was entered!  Each group was sent out for over an hour to collect as many points as they could.

Once back in the lab, the data collected in the field was downloaded onto a local drive off the internet by downloading the feature layer from ArcGIS online. This was simply done by finding the right layer that was created by Professor Hupy, and clicking it.  This opens a page that allows the user to open the feature in ArcMap Desktop.  The following image is a screenshot of the screen that allows the user to open the feature in desktop. (figure 1)

Figure 1

This opens ArcMap with the point feature open as a feature layer.  This data is not ready to be manipulated.  The actual point layer then needs to be exported as a feature class into the appropriate geodatabase.  Now the point feature is in a local drive and ready to be made into a high quality map.  The next step in this lab was to use this data to create maps.

Results:

A map with just the points where data was collected would not be very useful.  The true power to the data that was collected lies within its attributes.  The first map created is a map that symbolizes wind speed and direction.  The size of the arrow represents the speed of the wind and the direction of the arrow represents the direction the wind was coming from in that specific location.  It is very interesting to see how elevation, buildings, woods, and other elements affect wind speed and direction

Figure 2

 The next map is a map of a temperature raster overlaid on a topographic base map.  The temperature raster was created by using  a tool in ArcMap with the temperature data the class collected.  This build an image that shows where the hot and cold spots are located on campus.  If one if familiar with the Eau Claire campus, they know that lower campus sits between a large hill and the Chippewa River.  In late afternoon when this data was collected, 3-5 pm, the location of the sun meant the hill and other buildings were casting large shadows, making the temperature reading lower in many area of campus.  This can be seen in the map below, the center of the map has many areas that are blue. 

Figure 3

It only took about an hour to collect all this data.  The attributes of the points collected can be manipulated and turned into powerful visuals and analysis can be done to draw conclusions. 

Conclusion:

ArcCollector is a very powerful application that can be very valuable in many applications.  Within our class, we were able to collect hundreds of points in about an hour.  In order to do this without Collector, people would have to write down the data by hand, then come back into the lab and enter the data into an excel sheet by hand, then import the data into ArcMap.  They would also have to collect the coordinates of the point.  To do this for hundreds of points would take days instead of hours.  This method also requires more skills in ArcMap.  Collector allows people with little GIS experience to collect valuable data very easily. You might be thinking, what if there is no internet access?  Collector has a solution! Maps can be downloaded onto collector and points can be added to the map.  This data can be uploaded to ArcGIS online when an internet connection is established.  GPS's use satellite signal that does not require internet.  Collector also supports streaming line data, attaching pictures to points, taking multiple kinds of spatial data and many more! This data is easily transferred into other Arc applications that allows for advanced data manipulation to take place.

Survey 123

Goal and Background:

Your smartphone has advanced to the point where it can more or less function as your own portable computer, mapping and data collection companies have taken advantage of this by creating applications like Arc Collector and Survey123.  This lab goes over the process of using Survey123 online to create a form that can drop a point on a map.  In this case a mock form will be created for a homeowners association to get an understanding of how prepared people are for disaster preparedness.This survey technology is very beneficial because it reduces time and costs less money.  Without Survey123, forms would need to be printed out and distributed to all the homeowners.  This would then be filed away or entered into a GIS system (if they had access to one).   Survey123 makes eliminates the need for paper forms to be printed and delivered.  It also puts the information directly into a spatial database.  This is important because if a disaster did occur, this information could be given to emergency response teams and could be used to save lives.

Methods:

This lab was done by following the ESRI online course Get Started with Survey123 for ArcGIS. To create a survey, the online version of form creator was utilized on the Survey123 website.  A enterprise account was necessary to access this.  The user first clicks "Create a form" and is prompted to pick the web designer version.  Once this is complete the user will see a screen like the image below.

This is the interface that the user creates their form from.  In the "Add" tab on the right, they are able to select what kind of question they want to add to their survey.  These range from simple text inputs, to multiple choice, to dropping a geopoint on a map.  The question the user selects can be dragged into a spot on the survey or simply clicked on to be added.  Once the question is added the user can edit the question to display the text, a hint, and what the answers are if it is multiple choice or select one.  The user can also select if the questions are required or not.  The tutorial went over how to add a variety of questions related to disaster preparedness.  It also went over how to make certain questions only show up if certain answers are selected and how to quickly make a lot of questions by using the duplicate feature.  Once the survey was done, it was viewed in preview mode to see how it would look on a computer, tablet, and phone.  This is so the user can customize the format to look right on whatever platform would be viewing it the most. Once this was complete, the survey was published.  The following image is an example of what a finished survey looks like.

Results:

The online version of Survey123 is an easy way to create surveys that can be accessible to anyone who has the app or access to the internet.  It is a well created way to make a survey with no headache at all. It allows the user to customize the survey enough to be unique to their use and is not limiting. The resulting survey looks nice and is not confusing to use.  This is important because nobody want to have to complete a survey that confuses them.  This goes back to the old saying K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid.  One of the most important things that comes from Survey123 is a point feature class that can be added to most Arc platforms.  The geopoint question drops a point and the rest of the survey is stored as attribute data for that point.  This data can be printed out as tables, but as geographers we don't like that, so this data can be added to maps!  This feature class can also be shared with emergency service entities to allow them more information about who they are trying to rescue.  Things like how many floors and how many people in the house are very useful to those people.  Routing services can also be created based off these features for emergency services.  

Conclusion:

The online version of Survey123 is very easy to use.  I have experience using the desktop version that involves making a form on Microsoft Excel and that is nowhere near as easy to use as the online version.  A couple questions come to mind comparing the two, how easy is it to get this survey onto a portal? It appears that the online version can be accessed to anyone with a ArcGIS online account but what about portal? Do they have a portal version of the Survey123 web designer?  The web designer is WAY easier to use and would be very useful to use with a private portal.  Other than these small concerns, Survey123 is a powerful tool that can be used for many things.  The feature created from Survey123 can be brought into ArcCollector, when this feature is used in collector, it shows a nice interface for dropping points with whatever drop down menus were created for that survey.  When used with collector, a geopoint question is not necessary because the user is dropping the point in collector.  Overall, Survey123 is a very useful tool that only makes spatial data easier to collect! 

Using BadElf GPS with IOs device

Introduction:

GPS's are very useful devices that are getting more and more useful with advancing technology.  The software that supports GPS units is ever advancing and creating new opportunities for GPS application.  This lab goes through the possible applications of the BadElf GPS and its use with an IOS device.

Methods:

The BadElf GPS is a hand held GPS unit that can be linked to an Apple IOS device via bluetooth.  They make a range of units from survey grade to a version that plugs into the lightning port of an apple device to get about 10ft gps accuracy.

BadElf has a free app that supports a variety of features for their gps units.  For the purposes of this lab, the tracklog feature was demonstrated.  Once paired with their devices, the class headed outside.  Once outside, the bottom button was held down and the tracklog mode was activated.  This enabled the gps unit to start recording data.  The class was then instructed to walk around campus.  After 15-20 minutes the class regrouped and downloaded the tracklogs onto the BadElf App.  This was done by going to the app and simply selecting "Download Tracklogs."  After the tracklogs were downloaded they had to be put into a format that could be put onto a computer.  The app comes with a share feature that does this for the user.  The share button allows the user to send the tracklog as a KML or a GPX with an email.  The KML can be brought into Arcmap and converted into  a layer file.  This layerfile is then exported into a feature class and can be used in the map like the one below.

This is one application that the bad elf can be used for.  There are many other application that can be used with a BadElf gps. Collector and Survey 123 are two applications developed by esri.  Collector is a data collection application that allows for people in the field to collect data onto maps that have been set up.  Survey 123 is a form based application that allows the user to make forms that create features that can be used in collector.  A BadElf gps can be used to collect more accurate data gps data for these applications.

GIS4Mobile, Theodolite, Gaia GPS, and Galileo Offline Maps, are all mapping applications that can be used with the BadElf GPS.  The gps is used to create higher accuracy for the applications.  A phone gps is not very accurate and using the BadElf gps with these applications can get the accuracy to within a foot depending on the unit.

Conclusion:

With software applications being developed everyday, the use of an external gps is getting easier to use and it is able to be used in many more situations.  For a few hundred dollars, anyone can purchase a gps unit that easily connects to a phone and is in sync with a multitude of mapping applications. This will continue to evolve and the uses of gps's with keep growing!

Navigation Map

Introduction:

Being able to navigate is one of the most important skills to have.  The world is a large place and in order to get around without getting lost, a person must possess the skill to navigate! Throughout history people have been navigating from using the stars and sun to using a gps in todays day and age.  Besides just a gps or compass, a person will need a map to help assist them in navigating to a place.  This assignment is to create navigation maps for a later time to assist with groups finding their way through the woods. One map will be focused on assisting navigation with a compass and using step counts.  The other map will be focused on assisting GPS navigation.  Each map will contain specific items that make them useful in assisting in gps, or compass navigation.

Methods:

To create a map that is useful to navigating with a compass, a coordinate system based off of meter must be used.  It would be no use to have coordinates on this map because it will not help a person locate themselves.  Knowing they are "35 meters" from that creek will be useful but not "that creek is at 35.23345 degrees north."  For the first map, A grid will help the user understand distances using meters. This map was created using data provided by Professor Hupy.  First the map and data had to be put into the proper coordinate system and projection.  In this case it was wgs 84 UTM zome 15n.  This allows for the meter grid system.  Once this was done, the proper 11x17 map layout was set and the map was created.  The UTM map shows a grid in meters that will allows the person viewing the map to navigate based off landmarks and distance.


The second map created was similar to the first map except everything was projected into a local coordinate system of NAD_1983_HARN_WISCRS_EauClaire_County_Feet.  This map has a coordinate grid instead of a metered grid.  This allows for the map to have a local coordinate system.  The same procedure was used to create this map.

Litchfield Mine Survey

Introduction:
This class is a upper level geography course that teaches the basics of how to do field work.  This week's lab was a field day at a local mine designed to show the students how to do basic GPS survey and to introduce them to a variety of Unmanned Aerial System platforms and one robotic total station.  With technology advancing faster than ever, today's survey techniques are very advanced and accurate.  With the use of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) a mine can be surveyed in a few hours with centimeter accuracy.  This lab was designed to show the differences between multiple GPS and UAS platforms.

Both sections of Field Methods met at the Litchfield mine on a Saturday, September 30th.  This mine is located just southwest of Eau Claire WI.

Methods:

To begin the day the class walked around as a whole and placed out Ground Control Points for later use with the drone imagery.  The GCP's were set out in a way that none of them were clustered together in one area and they were spread on a variety of surfaces.  Some on top of piles of material and some on the low ground.  To get accurate measurements of piles, GCP's were placed on top, and around the largest piles.  A GCP is just a square that is placed on the ground that is taken with a GPS.  This makes it a known point and allows the imagery to be tied down to where it is in the world accurately.  After laying down the GCP's, the class was split into groups to go take coordinated of the GCP's with a variety of GPS's.  These GPS's included:

-Iphone
-Bad Elf GPS Unit
-Trimble R2
-Septentrio Altus NR2
-Arrow GPS Markers
-Topcon HiPer


The accuracy of these GPS's are to be compared when the data is processed at a later date.  Some of these units have sub-cm accuracy and some have around 10m accuracy.  The purpose of this lab and field day is to compare what units are actually more accurate.  The following link is a link to the Bad Elf and Iphone GPS Coordinates. The other data is not yet processed.

https://universityofwieauclaire-my.sharepoint.com/personal/bealir_uwec_edu/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?guestaccesstoken=W9LCwEn%2f9mv843morGhbvirEw7%2bbscnLlBTRUwJL2qI%3d&docid=2_09c2590b8e4a049eda216cf5714bb358f&rev=1

The following map is a hand drawn map of where the GCP's were located.  This is to help find the GCP's when processing the imagery.

Once the GCP's were recorded with a variety of GPS's, it was time to fly! The first UAS to fly was a DJI Phantom 3 Pro.  DJI is one of the most popular brands of drone for public and commercial use.  The Phantom series is their most popular drone.  With about a 25 minute flight time this drone is a great portable drone for taking aerial imagery.  There are a variety of flight planning apps that allows the pilot to create a grid that the drone will follow for mapping. The program has the drone take off, fly the pattern, and land.  The image overlap, flight height, speed and other settings are set during the mission planner.  This is an affordable platform ($800-$1200) that is good for basic mapping applications

Phantom 3 Pro

The second UAS to fly was a SenseFly eBee.  This a fixed wing aircraft with a foam body that requires little to no flying skill for the pilot.  The Pilot in Command creates a flight plan using the app that the UAS comes with from SenseFly.  This is where the pattern the drone is to follow is set, as well as things like height, speed, rally points, and other things the platform needs to fly.  When the mission is planned the PIC (pilot in command) shakes the drone three times and throws it.  The eBee knows its suppose to start the mission and takes off into the sky. The eBee is a high level mapping UAS platform that is capable of getting centimeter accuracy with RTK GPS capabilities.

SenseFly eBee

The next platform to fly was a DJI Matrice 600 Pro.  This is a few steps up from the DJI Phantom. It has more motors and is much larger.  Instead of just one battery like the Phantom, this platform has 6. This almost doubles the battery life.  Besides the battery life and more motors, this platform has RTK GPS capabilities making it up to cm accurate. A similar mission planning software is used for the M600 as the Phantom.  One of the biggest differences between the M600 and the Phantom is the M600 can swap sensors.  A bigger more powerful camera can be put in the M600.  Different types of cameras for different applications can be put the in M600.  This is one of the biggest benefits of this platform.  The Matrice 600 falls in the range of $3000-$6000 depending on the sensor and GPS options it comes equipped with.  Putting an upgraded sensor on it is always an option and that can range from $500 to well over $50,000 depending on the sensor.

DJI Matrice 600 Pro

Last but not least the is the C-Astral Bramor.  This is by far the most expensive UAS at $70,000.  This is a high performance fixed wing drone capable of 3 hour flights.  This is an ideal platform for mapping large areas with cm accurate data.  This is a new drone on the market that Menet Aero displayed at the mine.  It is a fiberglass bodied drone with a wing span of more than 5 feet.  Equipped with RTK GPS this platform is for high end mapping applications.  The Bramor comes with an advanced mission planning software that allows for unique mapping applications like corridor mapping.  The most intriguing thing about the Bramor is it's parachute landing.  This means that it can be used when there is not a lot of room to land. 

C-Astral Bramor

Conclusion:

Starting with the GPS units, the high end sub-cm accurate GPS's were very easy to use.  Once a data collection app was set up, all the user needed to do was enter a few things about the point they were taking and hit submit.  This automatically populated a feature class and stored the coordinates.  This was easier than actually writing the coordinates down for the Bad Elf and Iphone.  We will see what GPS unit was more accurate at a later date.

This day was plagued with bad luck for the Unmanned Aerial Systems.  The Phantom flight went great once some technical difficulties were solved but once the fixed wings were pulled out things started to go downhill.  The eBee flight was off to a rocky start when it suddenly did a barrel roll while flying its pattern.  The pilot got concerned and told the drone to return to home.  The drone did not want to listen and started flying very irregularly doing more barrel rolls and getting higher and higher.  Suddenly the computer started chiming, "IMU FAILURE, IMU FAILURE" and the eBee started plummeting to the ground.  This was a bad first impression of the SenseFly eBee.  The drone was located by searching for it with the M600.  The M600 performed flawlessly finding the downed drone and flying its mission. 

The last drone flight of the day was the most exciting.  The C-Astral Bramor is a large platform that performed great.  It is launched by a catapult and then fly's its mission.  It is very stable while flying even with a slight wind.  Every thing went as planned until the landing.  The Bramor started its decent as normal and once at the proper elevation came in for landing.  The class watched eagerly for the chute to open.  Panic ensued when the pilot said "Joe...the chute didn't open."  The Bramor floated over the trees and into the woods.  About 15 seconds later a loud crash could be heard in the distance.  This was a freak accident that is still being investigated.