Configure Communications Data Management

Communications Data Management can be used to map coax, copper, fiber, and wireless system assets, edit data, and view system maps in the field and office.

Communications Data Management also includes a data model to store information about typical communications system assets. To explore the schema, view the data dictionary.

In this topic, you'll learn how to configure the Communications Data Management solution to meet specific needs of your organization.

Tip:

As you configure the solution, record the configurations or alterations you make with each version in a change log. This information will be valuable if you upgrade to a new version and need to evaluate the effort required.

Create the Communications Data Manager ArcGIS Pro project

First, you will create a map project in ArcGIS Pro that can be used for adding and editing assets and related information.

1. Start ArcGIS Pro; if you are already in a project, click the Project tab and click New.

   Note:

   Ensure that you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization.

2. Under New Project, click Map.
3. In the New Project dialog box, for Name, type Communications Data Manager.
4. Click OK.
5. In the Catalog pane, click the Portal tab, browse to the Communications Data Management folder, and double-click to open it.
6. Right-click the CommunicationsSystem feature service and click Add To Current Map.
7. Right-click the ServiceableLocations feature service and click Add To Current Map.
8. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click Snapping to turn snapping on.
9. Save the project.

Load data

In some cases, you may need to load existing data into the solution before sharing the maps or applications. Review the maps or applications provided with the solution and determine what, if any, source data you want to load.

Depending on the format of your source data, you may chose to use the Append tool or the Data Loading toolset. Once you have determined what source data must be loaded and which data loading approach to use, complete one of the following data loading workflows.

Tip:

If you do have to load data into the solution, you may want to develop a source-target matrix to track how your source data will be loaded into the target layer or layers used in the solution.

Use the Append tool

In ArcGIS Pro, the Append tool can be used to append multiple input datasets to an existing target dataset. Input datasets can be point, line, or polygon feature classes.

To append features to the target layer or layers using the Append tool, complete the following steps:

1. If necessary, open the Communications Data Manager project and the map you created previously.
2. On the Analysis tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools to open the Geoprocessing pane.
3. In the search bar, type Append and click to open the Append tool.
4. For Input Datasets, browse to your existing communications data.
5. For Target Dataset, choose the appropriate CommunicationsSystem layer from the drop-down menu.
6. For Field Matching Type, choose Use the field map to reconcile schema differences to perform field mapping.
7. Update your field mapping and click Run.

   Tip:

   For more information about updating field mapping, see Usage in Append (Data Management).

8. Repeat this process as needed to load all your existing data into the target communications schema.

Use the Data Loading toolset

The Data Loading toolset contains tools to streamline data loading from a source schema to a target schema. The tools help reduce the time and complexity of migrating to a new data schema.

1. If necessary, open the Communications Data Manager project you created previously.
2. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Toolboxes tab.
3. Expand Data Management Tools, and then expand the Data Loading toolset.
4. Review the Data Loading toolset documentation to understand how to load data into the CommunicationsSystem and ServiceableLocations layers.

Add members to groups in your organization

Communications Data Managementincludes three groups designed to help managers organize their members based on their privileges and their work: Communications Editors, Communications Field Users, and Communications Office Users.

To add members to the groups, complete the following steps:

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization and verify that you have privileges to manage member groups.
2. Click Groups at the top of the site.
3. Browse to a group and click it to open the group page.
4. On the Overview tab, click Invite members.
5. Check the check box next to the members that you want to add and click Add members to group.
6. Repeat these steps for each group that you need to add members to.

The provided groups are intended to be used by members with a minimum of the following user types in order to fully use the provided maps and apps:

Group name	User type
Communications Editors	Creator
Communications Field Users	Mobile Worker
Communications Office Users	Viewer

Set the default map extent to your service territory

When the Communications Data Management solution is deployed into your organization, it uses the map default set in your organization. If this property has not been set, you may want to quickly update a few maps to your service territory manually to avoid having to pan and zoom to your area each time you open a map. Follow the steps below to update the initial extent of the maps provided with this solution.

1. Verify you are signed in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. To set the default map extent for the Communications Field Editor map, open the Communications Field Editor map in Map Viewer.
3. Zoom the map to the desired extent and save it.
4. Repeat these steps to change the extent for the Communications Viewer and Communications Editor web maps.

Configure the dashboard

When you deploy the Communications Data Management solution to your organization, you can change the spatial reference. If you selected a spatial reference with a linear unit other than meters, you must revise the dashboard by completing the following steps:

1. In a browser, sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. To configure the Communications Dashboard application, browse to the Communications Dashboard item page and click Edit Dashboard.
3. Navigate to the Cable tab and click the configure button on the Total Cable indicator.
4. On the Data tab, change the Factor setting to the correct conversion.

   The dashboard Factor setting is configured to convert meters to miles. Learn more about how to convert values.

5. Click Done and then the save button .