Item: ArcGIS
Rating: 8
Author: Ardath Dixon

Overall Satisfaction with ArcGIS

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I work at a Land Trust. I use the ESRI mobile app (FieldMaps) all the time to record photos, notes, and locations of infringements, maintenance tasks, manmade items, signage, and boundary pins. I record new / updated trail locations using FieldMaps, and sync it with my trail data layers organized by parcel in the appropriate desktop line layer. Then I sync it with the online layer with all parcels' trails consolidated, which automatically syncs into the web and mobile maps. I use ArcGIS Pro (desktop) to make trail maps and Town permit proposal maps for boardwalks on wetland areas. I created a polygon layer for all of the protected areas, with fields noting the year protected, the deed acreage, the survey acreage (if measured), and the book/page number of its recorded legal protection (e.g., deed restriction, conservation easement, trail easement, etc.).

Pros and Cons

Pros

Gives a way for me to see existing data and my current location, to find very specific locations when bushwhacking in the field.
Allows for web layers that once edited, sync with updated data everywhere they're displayed.
Can hold a lot of data: many photos attached to many points, all stored in an online point layer that can be accessed from multiple devices.

Cons

Let me edit an online data layer's fields without having to re-create a brand new layer and copy the previous data into it.
Save past copies of online data layers somewhere, to backtrack if need be (address the current need to save layers offline on a regular basis via ArcGIS Pro as backup)
Let symbology incorporate 2 fields. E.g., colors for one field (Town vs. Land Trust as the owner) and pattern for another field (leashes required or not). Right now, I just have to create a 3rd field that spells it out and has different symbology for each different option. Would love if the attribute table could stay more clean and simple, and if the symbology feature could incorporate 2+ fields.

Return on Investment

Has helped me organize infringement observations much better! Previously, folks used a paper map with hand-marked drawings for locations, and an excel spreadsheet with the neighboring landowners' contact information and correspondence records. Now, it can be all in one place, including a geographic location, photos, and the spreadsheet with necessary information as the attribute table of the point layer. Makes it a lot quicker and easier to find records of past observations and correspondence. Saves time and has made it much easier to actually follow up with the neighbors about their infringement observations, which is our legal duty.
I make our own trail maps, rather than any past contractor with fees.
Has helped improve communication with trail users, showing where and how different rules apply. This hopefully has been reducing incidents and conflicts, thanks to more successful education at the start.

Alternatives Considered

QGIS, Leaflet, OpenStreetMap and Mapbox

Key Insights

Do you think ArcGIS delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with ArcGIS's feature set?

Yes

Did ArcGIS live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of ArcGIS go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy ArcGIS again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft Excel, Adobe Illustrator CC, Remote Desktop Manager, Google Chrome, Dropbox, Adobe Acrobat

Likelihood to Recommend

I'm very grateful to be able to use it, and I have a master's degree with a focus in Geospatial Analysis. There can be a bit of a learning curve, and I try to build user-friendly ways for volunteers to see & collect data. Meanwhile, if a colleague is less confident with building such a system, it may be more difficult for them to implement.

Comments

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ESRI review (ArcGIS)