Justin Brown, RG, GeologistMay 13, 2015 | MECC Seasoned Staff Update

Integrating GIS into Environmental Field Work

ArcGIS Collector

ArcGIS Collector Pros and Cons

• Pros─ Can easily add pre-defined attribute information to mapped features─ Wide range of user-defined feature class options─ Can be used with external Bluetooth-enabled external GPS─ Automatic data upload to Cloud ─ Supports sampling teams─ Can be used with different types of feature classes (line, point, polygon)─ Real-time monitoring of sample collection by sampling team─ For Android or Apple devices

• Cons─ Expensive/difficult to deploy─ Required dedicated GIS staff─ Requires training for field technicians─ Cannot add attributes on-the-fly─ Requires cellular or WiFi data connection

Map It GIS Data Collector

Map It Pros and Cons

• Pros─ Inexpensive─ Can easily add pre-defined attribute information to mapped features─ Wide range of user-defined feature class options─ Can be used with external Bluetooth-enabled external GPS─ Easy data exports to limited file types─ Offline map caching─ Offline data collection─ For Android or Apple devices

• Cons─ Difficult to set up and use─ Requires training for field technicians─ Cannot add attributes on-the-fly─ No automatic Cloud backup─ Single user only, cannot be used by a sampling team─ Works well with points data only

GISPro For IOS

GISPro Pros and Cons

• Pros─ Can collect many types of mapping data─ Can easily add attribute information to mapped features─ Wide range of pre-defined and user-defined feature class options─ Can be used with external Bluetooth-enabled external GPS─ Easy data exports to multiple file types

• Cons─ Expensive to fully utilize─ Requires GIS background or training for field technicians─ For Apple only─ Recent IOS updates cause the program to crash─ Needs a lot of computing power and available memory─ No automatic Cloud backup

Contact

• Justin Brown, RG, Geologist• (417) 799-2622• jbrown@geoengineers.com