Field Notes

Conserving Atlanta’s tree canopy: a conversation with Trees Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia is often called the city of trees, however increased development over the past several years has threatened the natural landscape the city is known for. Trees Atlanta is one organization working to restore the city's tree population by raising awareness and developing a variety of initiatives to plant trees across the city. One of these initiatives is the Front Yard Tree Program, which allows Atlanta residents to request that trees be planted right outside of their home. In this episode, we talk with Angela McTigue and James Moy, members of Trees Atlanta who use surveys and mobile maps to drive their conservation efforts.

Mapping seaside: Protecting sea turtles with GIS

Amber Kuehn is the director of the Sea Turtle Patrol on Hilton Head Island. During nesting season, her and her team of volunteers wake up before the sun to look for one thing: sea turtle nests. On this episode of Field Notes, learn how ArcGIS Field Maps and EOS receivers are used to map sea turtle nests, listen to first-hand accounts of sea turtle encounters, and understand the importance of protecting this endangered species.

Field Notes Season 3

Welcome to the Field Notes podcast, where we engage with customers and Esri staff to understand mobile GIS, share stories from the field, and explore all things Field Operations. On this season, we're focusing on how field apps are used across a variety of environmental efforts.

Field Snack #3: Farewell, 2022

Another year flies by and with it another season of the Field Notes podcast.  On this short, final episode, Josh and D’Maia reflect on the past year of podcasting about Esri Field Apps and mobile GIS.
We hope you have a happy holiday season and a fantastic new year! We have so many exciting things in store for season three of Field Notes, and can’t wait to see you then. In the meantime, be sure to fill out the feedback survey so we create the content you want to listen to.

Transforming the Oldham County Water District with GNSS

Kenny Ratliff is the GIS Manager at the Oldham County Water District, where they manage 370 miles of water main and treat 1.2 billion gallons of water annually. On this episode of Field Notes, Kenny discusses how Esri Field Apps and EOS Positioning Systems helped transform their mobile operations from paper mapping to robust, high-accuracy data management. Check out the full episode announcement blog post.
Oldham County Water District would like to dedicate this episode to Board Commissioner Mel Milburn.  A Surveyor and Professional Engineer, he was a strong advocate for GIS use by the utility.  His unexpected passing just prior to this release is a loss for the organization.
Additional resources
EOS Positioning Systems
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Field Maps)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Survey123)
Use a high-accuracy receiver (QuickCapture)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (AppStudio)

Best practices for GNSS data collection

On this episode, we’re joined by Dan Colbert and Jeff Ryan from Trimble. They talk about the value of high-accuracy data collection and share best practices for using GNSS receivers—covering everything from preparing a data collection project to practical tips while working with receivers in the field.
Timestamps
2:57—Difference between GPS and GNSS
4:27—Examples of when high-accuracy data collection is necessary
7:00—Additional value of using GNSS receivers
11:00—What to consider when preparing for GNSS data collection
17:43—Factors that don’t affect high-accuracy
19:46—Best practices while using GNSS receivers in the field
Additional resources
Trimble Positioning
Trimble Catalyst
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Field Maps)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Survey123)
Use a high-accuracy receiver (QuickCapture)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (AppStudio)

Field Snack #2: Covering the basics of high-accuracy data collection

High-accuracy data collection is often a requirement when adding and inspecting assets on a map. While your phone can provide a location accuracy of a few meters, high-accuracy GNSS receivers can ensure submeter, or even centimeter level accuracy when collecting data.
On this Field Snack, we break down the basics of high-accuracy data collection—covering basic definitions and terminology, the ArcGIS data model for GPS metadata, and how GNSS receivers can be paired with Esri field apps.
Additional resources
To the Sea, Safely (ArcWatch article)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Field Maps)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (Survey123)
Use a high-accuracy receiver (QuickCapture)
Prepare for high-accuracy data collection (AppStudio)

From the ground level: streamlining city workflows with field apps

David Webb is a GIS Solutions Developer for the engineering firm, Meshek & Associates. We first met David at the User Conference, where he stopped by our booth every day to discuss the latest features and capabilities of Esri Field Apps. In David’s role, he is tasked with developing mobile solutions for clients that help integrate modern GIS capabilities into their city workflows. It was a pleasure to sit down with him and talk about his experiences and passion for GIS. Check out the announcement blog post: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/field-notes/from-the-ground-level-streamlining-city-workflows-with-field-apps/

Locate, route, respond: navigating to utility assets with mobile maps

In this episode of Field Notes, we dive into creating and using maps for mobile navigation. We sit down with Katherine Fuller to learn how her team at San Diego Gas and Electric uses mobile map packages (MMPKs), route layers, and custom locators in ArcGIS Navigator to route to assets, view attribute information, and respond to emergencies in the field. 
Additional Resources:
ArcGIS Navigator Overview page
Prepare Navigator (help topic)
Manage hydrant inspections (Learn lesson)
 

Live from San Diego: UC 2022

Another Esri User Conference is in the books, and it was a whirlwind to say the least! It was wonderful spending a week devoted to GIS in sunny San Diego, and it was fantastic talking to so many customers about Esri Field Apps. Hear from some of those voices on the latest episode of Field Notes.
The following are additional resources mentioned in this episode of Field Notes:
Esri User Conference Website
Plenary recordings
What's new in ArcGIS Mobile apps