Testing is also simplified with Experience Builder. Arkison says she can now test out changes and see how it's going to look without pushing them live. Arkison explains that she has unpublished pages on the Volunteer Portal that she keeps hidden until ready.
In addition, having apps and widgets hosted in one place has made it easier for viewers to find data. Martin says that now that all data is in one place in Experience Builder, she just sends one link to requesters.
The ability to customize the apps with Experience Builder has given the admin team more control over both the content and the aesthetic properties of the application. For example, Arkison says the team can easily change the app's colors, move URLs, or change blocks of text.
The PhotoMappers project has given volunteers an opportunity to help in times of crisis, which is why volunteers continue to participate, says Torpey. Martin is very pleased with the help it has given key customers like FEMA, and she says GISCorps has done an excellent job of evolving the apps to meet the needs of volunteer and emergency management.
"The one thing that I have seen is that this project has been something that the emergency management community has started to rely on. So it has become a data source that all levels are looking to use," says Martin.
Jeff Baranyi, an emergency management tech lead on the Esri public safety team who works with GISCorps and NAPSG Foundation, adds, "I think this is an example project where that promise of social media for providing situational awareness—especially in the early phases of a disaster—has really come into play and been a real value for the community."