Use Adopt-A-Catch Basin

The Adopt-A-Catch Basin solution delivers a set of capabilities that help you engage volunteers to keep catch basins clear of debris and functioning properly, manage volunteers and service requests, and monitor the adoption program.

In this topic, you’ll learn how to use the solution by assuming the role of a user and performing the workflows below.

Complete the volunteer application

Utilities and public works agencies cultivate a volunteer workforce to help maximize the capacity of operations staff and to engage their community. Community members interested in joining the Adopt-A-Catch Basin program first need to complete a volunteer application and receive approval before they can adopt and care for catch basins.

You will first assume the role of a community resident who is interested in volunteering in your city’s Adopt-A-Catch Basin program.

  1. In a browser, go to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  2. Scroll to the Become a Volunteer section.

    When community residents do not have a community account or are not signed in to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site, the site displays buttons to Create an account or Sign In with an existing account. If a community resident is logged into the site, the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site displays an Apply button, which can be used to access the Catch Basin Volunteer Application form. In the following steps, a community resident has created an account and is signed in to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.

  3. Click the Apply button.
  4. Complete the Catch Basin Volunteer Application form to express interest in becoming a volunteer.

    The application will be reviewed by a volunteer coordinator. After the application has been approved, the volunteer can adopt and report the status of catch basins.

  5. Close the browser tab used for the Catch Basin Volunteer Application and return to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.

Manage volunteers, catch basins, and service requests

You will now assume the role of a volunteer coordinator responsible for managing the Adopt-A-Catch Basin program. Your responsibilities include approving or denying volunteer applicants, updating adoption status on catch basins, and triaging catch basin service requests.

In this workflow, you will approve a pending volunteer application, update an adoption request, and manage a recently submitted catch basin service request.

  1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization and browse to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.

    Signed-in users from your organization will see a Manage Program page. This page displays metrics that help you understand your organization's key metrics for your Adopt-A-Catch Basin program and allows you to manage key activities related to your program.

  2. Click the Manage Program page.
  3. Scroll to the Manage Program Activities section and click the Volunteers button in the left panel of the Adopt-A-Catch Basin Manager to review volunteers.
  4. Click the Status column filter.
  5. Click the Status is drop-down arrow and choose Pending to view pending volunteer applications.
  6. Click one of the volunteer applications to view its details.
  7. On the Details tab, click the Edit button Edit.
  8. Click the Status drop-down arrow and choose Approved.
  9. Click Save.

    The Catch Basin Volunteer Notebook can be used to schedule a process that grants approved volunteers access to the Care for a Catch Basin section of Adopt-A-Catch Basin site, enabling volunteers to adopt new catch basins and report care on adopted catch basins.

  10. Optionally, click to expand the left panel of the Adopt-A-Catch Basin Manager and click Catch Basins.

    The Catch Basins tab can be used to update the adoption status of catch basins, modify the public visibility of a catch basin, and edit other catch basin adoption information.

  11. Select a catch basin by either clicking a catch basin on the map or selecting a record from the Catch Basin table.
  12. On the Details tab, click the Edit button Edit.
  13. Click the Publicly Visible drop-down arrow and choose No.
  14. Click Save.

    The selected catch basin will no longer be visible to the public and therefore volunteers will be unable to adopt and care for the catch basin, and the general public and volunteers will also be unable to request service for this catch basin.

  15. Optionally, click to expand the left panel of the Adopt-A-Catch Basin Manager and click Requests.
  16. Click the Status drop-down arrow and choose Submitted.
  17. In the Requests table, click a service request.
  18. On the Details tab, click the Edit button Edit.
  19. Click the Status drop-down arrow and change the status to Received.

    As new service requests are submitted by the community, update the status from Submitted to Received to acknowledge receipt of the new request. Continue to update the status of the request as you further investigate, prepare to address, and complete or cancel the service request.

  20. Click Save.

Adopt and care for catch basins

You will now assume the role of a community volunteer who wants to adopt and report care of a catch basin. In the following steps, the user has already been approved as a volunteer by a volunteer coordinator.

In this workflow, you will use the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site to adopt a catch basin near your home and report its condition.

  1. Verify that you are signed in to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site with your community identity and scroll to the Care for a Catch Basin section.

    The Care for a Catch Basin section is displayed when a volunteer's Catch Basin Volunteer Application has been approved by the volunteer coordinator.

  2. Use the map search bar to find catch basin near a specific address or click to select an available green catch basin on the map.
  3. In the selected catch basin's pop-up, click the Adopt button.

    The Catch Basin Adoption form opens in a new tab.

  4. Enter a nickname for the catch basin in the Nickname text box and click the Submit button.

    You now have an adopted catch basin and can report care activities.

  5. Close the browser tab containing the Catch Basin Adoption form and return to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  6. Your adopted catch basins will display as blue pins on the map in the Care for a Catch Basin section of the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site. If not already selected, click an adopted catch basin on the map.
  7. To report that the catch basin is clear of debris, click the Cleared button in the catch basin pop-up.

    The Catch Basin Activities form opens in a new browser tab.

  8. Type the date the catch basin was cleared, optionally attach a photo, and click the Submit button.

    You now have reported that the catch basin is clear of debris.

  9. Close the browser tab containing the Catch Basin Activities form and return to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  10. To release an adopted catch basin, select an adopted catch basin on the map and click the Release button.

    The Catch Basin Adoption form opens in a new tab.

  11. Click Submit to release the catch basin and make it available for other volunteers to adopt.
  12. Close the browser tab containing the Catch Basin Adoption form and return to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  13. Requests for service can be initiated on any catch basin, and by anyone, including people not enrolled in the volunteer program. Click any catch basin in the map, and click Request Service.

    The Catch Basin Request form opens in a new tab.

  14. Complete the form by selecting the request type and, optionally, attaching a photo and providing additional information and contact information as needed.
  15. Click Submit to complete the service request.

Monitor program performance

You will continue your role as a volunteer coordinator, this time looking to monitor the Adopt-A-Catch Basin program. In this workflow, you will use the Adopt-A-Catch Basin Dashboard to review key metrics and trends.

  1. Verify you are signed in to your organization and browse to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  2. Click the Manage Program page.
  3. Scroll to the Monitor Performance section.

    The Adopt-A-Catch Basin Dashboard displays key metrics about adoptions, number of clearings, and program activity over time.

  4. Use the Volunteers filter at the top of the Adopt-A-Catch Basin Dashboard to view clearings by individual volunteers.

    Note:
    Dashboard charts and indicators for clearings and adopted catch basins are filtered and updated based on the selected volunteer.

  5. Optionally, click an adopted catch basin on the map to view key details.

    The adopted catch basin map pop-up displays when the catch basin was last cleared and other adoption information such as adoptee username, adopted date, and catch basin nickname.

Email catch basin volunteers

Continuing your role as a volunteer coordinator, you will contact your network of volunteers and ask that they inspect their adopted catch basins ahead of a large storm. In this workflow, you will use the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site to draft and send an email to all approved volunteers in your program.

  1. Verify you are signed in to your organization and browse to the Adopt-A-Catch Basin site.
  2. If necessary, click the Edit button Edit to open the site editor.
  3. Hover over Adopt-A-Catch Basin at the top of the site editor and click Teams.
  4. In the list of results, click Approved Catch Basin Volunteers.
  5. Click the message button message all to message all approved volunteers or select volunteers individually and click Message.
  6. Type a subject and add text to the message's body.

    Note:
    To include a URL that doesn't have a arcgis.com or esri.com domain, contact your hub's administrator to register the domain for the URL you want to use. If the domain isn't registered, the email will not send.

  7. Click Send Message.

    Messages are sent from arcgis.com to the email address associated with the attendee's user profile.