ArcGIS Collector App- Reviewed

ArcGIS Collector App- Reviewed

It's no secret that Cloudpoint is an Esri Shop. Being in the Business Partner Network, receiving the AGOL Specialist  status ... we drink the kool-aid.

So What? Get over it. 

Still, as skeptical consumers and technologists, there is still a part of us that wants to test. Make sure we're progressing rather than regressing. We want to make sure we know and understand the different options for our customers and what has been released. One of the worst things is to spend 100s of hours with your head down working away on a solution only to find out something very close was released for free or very cost-effectively months ago. (True Story)

EF4 "Washington" Tornado Mapped

With all of this technology, With all of this knowledge with all of this progress, planning and pride, in the end, all we can do is stand and watch...then help rebuild after the storm. 

We really haven't been in the office too much this week. For obvious reasons. However thanks to the ease of ArcGIS Online and work of some other GIS folks in the area, we are able to set up this map depicting the relative path and some field verified points of destruction in the area. http://ow.ly/r49V0

Zoom Out to see the ESTIMATED Tornado Path and More areas Affected.

View Larger Map

Also *Special Shoutout to City of Pekin GIS and the OSM Volunteer Editors busy digitizing home footprints. 

The ArcGIS Marketplace (Maps & Apps)

Just wanted to keep everyone abreast on the latest information when it comes to ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Online applications.  

The ArcGIS Marketplace provides a way to access maps & apps from Esri, distributors, and partners.  The Marketplace contains both free and paid apps that are designed to help your organization access and share your GIS data seamlessly with either in-house staff or the public.  Similar to Apple's app store or Android apps found on Google Play, the ArcGIS marketplace is intended to be a one-stop shop for your Esri based mapping needs.

ArcGIS Online Specialists in Town!

ArcGIS Online Specialists in Town!

ROANOKE, Illinois - Friday, September 20, 2013- Cloudpoint Geographics Inc. has received the designation of being a ArcGIS Online Specialist from Esri Inc of Redlands California.  The ArcGIS Online Specialty  is for partners who have made ArcGIS Online an integral part of their business and want to increase their business around Web GIS and the ArcGIS platform.

Topology & Geometric Networking... Say What???

Topology & Geometric Networking... Say What???

These are two big words often used in the geospatial world but who really knows or cares what they mean?  Well now you can alllow yourself to be "In the Know".

Topology is the arrangement for how point, line, and polygon features share geometry.  In other words, it's provides a means to make sure all of your pipes are connected to all of the network structures such as valves, hydrants, and/or manholes, etc.  In addition you can make sure that there are no improper overlaps or intersections as in a tax parcel layer so your maps accurately represent what's out there in reality. 

Mobile Asset Management Solutions

Mobile Asset Management Solutions

A large challenge of a small business owner is to keep track of what is going on while being very involved in providing the service. A solution for this problem is asset management. Many asset management solutions can cost thousands of dollars in subscriptions and that doesn’t even include the cost of the equipment...

Mobile LIDAR: For Sign Inventories?

Mobile LIDAR: For Sign Inventories?

Not many people have heard of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) until the Illinois DOT started flying counties to get topographic data and surveyors started using tripod based scanners to create detailed Topo maps. As the general public learns about the new technology, people are finding other uses. Mobile LIDAR is adapting the technology to a vehicle that can be used to collected data more efficiently and at maintains good accuracy. Because of this efficiency, Mobile LIDAR is becoming a standard for data collection. 

Getting Back Bing Maps

Getting Back Bing Maps

ArcGIS.com is a great online GIS tool. Earlier this year, Esri had to remove the Microsoft Bing base maps that were previously available to users. All conspiracy theories aside, this was a huge blow to online data collection. The Bing imagery is crystal clear and while second to Google in overall coverage, In a few areas the quality is actually far superior. As well, Esri does not have a good imagery-plus-streetname basemap similar to Bing's hybrid map. 

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So what's my accuracy??? Mobile Device GPS with iPad, iPhone, & Android

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So what's my accuracy??? Mobile Device GPS with iPad, iPhone, & Android

If you have ever been involved with a GIS project that requires data collection using a handheld device there is no doubt that you at some point ask yourself "Is this spatially accurate enough?".  Well here is some evidence that proves those little tiny GPS chips within those smartphones are actually pretty good.

So you can't afford to replace your Traffic Signs?

So you can't afford to replace your Traffic Signs?

Some people worry that they have to replace all of their street or traffic signs that are not in compliance with the minimum retroreflectivity requirements as set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  However, this is not always the case. The objective of the guidelines is to get street departments, public works officials, and transportation agencies to establish a management method to maintain their signs.

Creating a GIS: Tutorial

Creating a GIS: Tutorial

Amidst all of the Conference attending, Sign inventorying and ArcGIS Online administering, Cloudpoint staff has found time to do a little training for our customers. One of the most common questions is "How do I create my own Layer?" If you are a GIS pro, this may seem like a question with an obvious answer. Keep in mind that the Vast majority of ArcGIS desktop users do not use ArcGIS Desktop day-in/day-out. Also, search Google for "Create a shapefile" the best result is a Wiki-How article without any pictures. As good as Esri online help is, Silverlight apps are hard to index. So, why a shapefile and why not a Geodatabase Feature Class? one word: Portability.