Power Automate is one of my favorite options for automating GIS workflows. Getting started using Power Automate with ArcGIS is a breeze by using the pre-made templates for basic workflows using the ArcGIS connector or the Survey123 connector to interact with feature layers, geocoding, and survey forms.
A Synopsis of the New ArcGIS Online Update
Esri released a new ArcGIS Online update in October 2023. You can read their blog about the update here. Below is a quick summary of the updates I found to be the most pertinent:
Spruce Up Your Survey123 Skills: Part 2
Creating Survey123 forms in Survey123 Connect provides access to many options for supercharged forms that streamline the user experience and minimize data entry errors. Calculations for questions using pulldata() function and its various functionalities allow for pre-population of answers, incorporation of advanced logic, external data lookup and other techniques that are not available with standard XLSforms.
Spruce up Your Survey123 Skills: Part 1
Survey123 Connect offers an array of ways to create powerful and customized forms for collecting data, but learning how to use some of the functionality can be intimidating. In an attempt to reduce the intimidation and spruce up your existing skills, we will review some of the functionality and how it works.
A New Branch on the Versioning Tree: An Overview of Branch Versioning
Enterprise geodatabase versioning is an integral part of Enterprise GIS workflows and allows for flexible and manageable workflows for multiuser editing scenarios. Branch versioning is a new type of geodatabase versioning available to Esri users. This new type of versioning has been reconfigured to alleviate some of the pain-points when using traditional versioning and relies on a services-based platform for version use and management. The branch versioning configuration also provides the backbone needed to extend available add-ons/usability of GIS data. Certain solutions like the Utility Network, Trace Network, Parcel Fabric, and Indoors within ArcGIS Enterprise all require data to be branch versioned. Another immensely powerful add-on for branch versioned data is the Validation and Batch Calculation Attribute Rules. Branch versioning may be a great solution when evaluating current and anticipated workflows and can open the door to a new age of capabilities for Enterprise GIS data.
Class is starting, get out your Notebook! An Introduction to using Notebooks in ArcGIS Online
Have you become reliant on Attribute Rules in your desktop workflows? Are you frustrated that you can’t extend those to your ArcGIS Online users? Well, we feel your pain. Attribute Rules have greatly simplified some of our processes and we have been looking for ways to replicate those natively in ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS Notebooks provide a web-based tool for ArcGIS Online users to closely replicate workflows built around those Attribute Rules you know and love.
Is Your Data Unique? A Refresher on Unique Identifiers
For proper data management, every item should be uniquely identified. Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) offer a truly unique identification method for each feature or table row. In the ArcGIS world, GUID values are commonly interacted with as Global IDs. The term “Global ID” is the official name for GUID values that are generated and managed by ArcGIS software. Is this Global ID value something we take for granted because it is so easily managed in ArcGIS? Maybe. If that is the case, this short read will lessen that chance and at minimum increase and/or refresh your understanding of how they work.
Simplify Data Migration Using the Data Loading Tools
The Data Loading Tools are a free solution provided by Esri designed to help simplify and streamline the ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) process from a source dataset to a target dataset. The tools are packaged as a python add-in for ArcGIS Pro and help simplify migration by harnessing Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Within the spreadsheets migration mapping from the source schema to target schema can be set up for feature classes, fields, and even coded value domains. This toolbox is most used to assist with migrating data into the robust Utility Network schema, but it can be used for all ETL tasks!
Data Validation Using Attribute Rules
By coupling ArcGIS Pro with some creative Arcade expressions, the editing and QA/QC experience can be greatly improved by adding attribute rules to a geodatabase layer. In this article we will focus on how to harness calculation-type attribute rules to perform validation checks on the existing data and…
Need to get your HTTPS In Order? We're here to help.
If you still need to upgrade your ArcGIS Online/Enterprise items to HTTPS this article is for you! Starting on December 8, 2020 ESRI will update their security settings to require all items to be referenced using secure URLs with HTTPS prefixes. This blog article will walk you through the basics of the security change, what it means for your organization, and even how to find and fix items needing updated…