Collect data

Note:

The Collector for ArcGIS (Classic) help site is retired and no longer being updated. To learn about Collector retirement and to find the latest information on data collection, see Collector retirement.

In this exercise, you'll use the Damage Assessment Survey map to collect a damage assessment. You'll open the data collection map, collect the new damage assessment's location, provide information about the damage, add a photo, and save and share your work. You can either use the map you created in the exercise Create and share a map for data collection or you can use the map available in the trial mode of the app.

Open the map

In Collector, browse to and open the Damage Assessment Survey map that you made, or that's available in trial mode. If using the map you made, sign in to the app, open the map, and continue to the next section. If you want to use the map available in trial mode, follow these steps:

1. Install Collector for ArcGIS from the Windows Store if you don't already have it on your device.
2. Start the app.
3. On the initial screen, select Try Collector.

   Note:

   If you already installed and logged in to the app, you can access the trial functionality by signing out. From the Menu , choose your account, select the current account, and select Remove.

   The trial user's content is loaded in the app, and you're taken to the list of sample maps.

4. In the Filter Maps text box, type Damage to filter the sample maps shown and find the Damage Assessment Survey map.

   

   Note:

   You may have a different thumbnail for the map; that's okay—it matches the thumbnail used on ArcGIS Online.

5. Select the Damage Assessment Survey map card.

   The Damage Assessment Survey map opens. The extent shown reflects your current location if you enabled location services (otherwise, you see the extent at which the map was last saved).

   If location services are enabled, My Location shows a filled circle, indicating your location is displaying on the screen and that as you move, the map pans to remain centered on your location.

Collect damage location

With the map open, you're ready to create a damage assessment. In this exercise, you'll create a damage assessment for minor rain damage.

1. In the Collect new panel, select Minor to create a damage assessment for minor rain damage.

   An intelligent data entry form displays in the panel. The contents of this form match what was authored as the pop-up for the map in ArcGIS Online.

   Notice that the location of the damage has already been set based on your location. In the next step, you'll change that location by interacting with the map.

   

   Note:

   You may receive a message saying that you have poor location accuracy, and the location of the damage will say Unknown in the panel. For this exercise, that's okay—in the next step, you'll use the map to provide a location. To use your location on the map, you can adjust your required location accuracy. Select Settings and type a number in the text box under the Location accuracy section so that your current accuracy is within range of the required accuracy. When you're finished, select Close.

2. For this exercise, assume that you can view the damage, but you're not at its location. Perhaps it's inaccessible due to other damage in the area. However, you still want the damage assessment that you collect to be associated with the correct location. By default, Collector used your current location to set the collection location; use the map to set a different location for the damage assessment.

   The minor damage assessment moves to the chosen location.

   Note:

   To place the damage assessment more precisely on a touch device, long press to get a magnifier, and use that to place the assessment.

Provide damage information

With the location of the damage set, it's time to fill out the information requested in the form.

1. Provide the number of occupants for the damage assessment. First, select the Number of Occupants field, type 5, and then press Enter to move to the next field.
2. If you want, you can change the type of damage.

   The valid values for that field—Affected, Destroyed, Inaccessible, Major, and Minor—display when the field is selected. The choices are based on the data, and the data-driven form improves data quality by assisting with entering information and preventing invalid values from being entered.

   You want to leave your original selection of Minor. Select it again or click outside the list of choices to dismiss the choices.

Add a photo

In the previous sections, you created a new damage assessment, set a location, and assessed the damage. Now you'll add a photo of the damage as additional information for your damage assessment.

1. Under the Attachments heading of the panel, select Camera .

   The camera opens on your device.

2. Take a photo of the damage.
3. Select Use photo or Retake until you're satisfied with the photo.

   Note:

   Depending on the camera app you're using, you may see different options as you take a photo.

   Once you accept a photo, you're returned to the app, and your photo is included in the panel and ready to be added to the damage assessment.

Save, share, and review the damage assessment

You have completed your damage assessment. Now save it, share it, and review it.

1. Save the damage assessment by selecting Submit .

   Messages indicate the changes are being submitted and notify you of success. The feature is added to the server.

   You can see the damage assessment you created on the map. Since your edits are saved on the server along with all the other damage assessment data, your damage assessment is now shared with everyone using the map.

2. Select the damage assessment on the map and view its details.

   Information about the location you selected displays, including an entry for your assessment. If there is only your assessment at that location, you see its details. Otherwise, you'll see a list of all the assessments at that location. If you're viewing a list of multiple assessments, choose your newly created assessment to view its details.

3. Select the photo.
   • If your photo has already been downloaded, you immediately see the photo in full-screen mode.
   • If your photo has not been downloaded, the photo placeholder turns into a thumbnail of the photo you took. After the download is complete, select the photo again to see the photo in full-screen mode.

     

4. In the full-screen viewer, select Back to return to the map.

You've collected a new damage assessment and included a photo with it. You're ready to use the app to collect data for your own organization.