ArcGIS Field Maps

Configure maps for the field

ArcGIS Field Maps is a mobile solution that allows you to streamline field workflows and take maps anywhere. Maps are configured in the Field Maps web app  and used in the field with the Field Maps mobile app.  

Before mobile workers use maps in the field, it’s important to ensure they have everything they need to be successful. For example, if mobile workers won’t have internet access, prepare their maps for offline use. If they’ll be collecting data, configure the form and feature templates so they can easily capture assets and perform inspections. The Field Maps web app allows you to configure maps you’ve created for the field so mobile workers are always prepared. 

My maps 

When you first sign in to the Field Maps web app, the Maps page appears. This page shows all the maps you own and allows you to configure certain settings directly from the map card. If you’re an administrator, you can view and configure all maps in your organization. Click Filter, then click All maps.

Maps page in Grid view

You can view maps in a grid (shown above) or in a table (shown below). Click Grid or Table to switch between the two views.

Maps page in Table view

If you have maps that you don’t want to appear in the Field Maps mobile app, click the checkbox and then click Hide in Field Maps Mobile. This setting is helpful if you have maps made for dashboards or other apps that mobile workers don’t need in the field. You can view maps you’ve hidden by clicking the Hidden tab.   

Duplicate a map to create a copy that includes the same layers and settings. This is helpful if you have a map that you want to repurpose for a similar workflow. The map card also allows you to configure the Sharing settings, begin to Configure the map, and Delete the map. 

Map overview 

When you click Configure, the Overview page appears. From this page, you can check the offline and sharing settings for you map, and you can edit the title of the map, the summary, and the map’s thumbnail. The changes you make will also be updated in the Field Maps mobile app.  

Overview page

Content page 

The Content page displays all the items in your map, including editable layers, reference layers, tables, and basemaps. From the Content page, you can add and remove layers and  configure the form and feature templates for editable layers and tables. Mobile workers use forms and feature templates when collecting data in the field.  

Feature templates 

Feature templates help you categorize assets so mobile workers can easily collect specific kinds of data in the field. Feature templates you’ve created using ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, or ArcGIS Pro can be configured on the Content page of the Field Maps web app.  

You can configure the display name and description for each feature template as well as its default values. You can also drag feature templates in the order you want them to appear in the mobile app—placing more commonly used templates at the top of the list.  

Drag and drop a feature template

Smart form 

The Form builder in the Field Maps web app allows you to build smart forms that mobile workers use to capture assets and perform inspections in the field. Build a form by dragging attributes and form elements onto the form canvas. Form elements help organize your form, and attributes are used as entries that mobile workers fill out in the field.  

Drag an attribute

There are a variety of ways to configure the form—group entries together, add conditional visibility statements, edit display name and input types, and more. Once you’ve saved the form in the Field Maps web app, the changes are applied to the form in the mobile app. See Configure the form to learn more. 

Smart form in the web app and in the mobile app

Offline

If mobile workers have an unreliable internet connection in the field, configure their maps for offline use. The Offline page of the Field Maps web app allows you to configure the offline settings needed for any workflow.  

Offline

The Offline page contains the following sections: 

To learn more about taking maps offline, see Take Your Web Maps Offline with Field Maps (PDF) 

Map settings

The Settings page allows you to simplify deployment for field workflows by configuring settings for the map.

Settings page

You can configure the following settings:

To learn more about configuring map settings in the Field Maps web app, see Map settings.

Sharing 

Decide who has access to your maps by configuring the sharing settings. The Sharing page allows you to share maps with anyone, your organization, or groups within your organization. You can also share maps with testers and mobile workers via link or QR code. To learn more, see Share your maps for use in Field Maps 

Share map via link or QR code

Additional resources 

To learn more about configuring maps for the field, check out the following resources: 

Have questions about ArcGIS Field Maps? Want to know what’s coming next? Join the conversation in the Field Maps Community 

This post was originally published on December 28, 2020 and has been updated.

About the author

Josh is a Product Writer with a background in geography and comparative literature. When he isn't writing for the field apps team, he enjoys reading short stories and playing his bass clarinet.

Connect:
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Next Article

Clustering and Binning Features in Map Viewer

Read this article