Aug 15, 2023

Public workspaceLagash Archaeological Survey and Recording System (LASRS) - Creating Collection Forms with ArcGIS Field Maps

DOI
dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx9o3zg8j/v1
  • 1Penn Museum
Paul C. Zimmerman
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DOI: dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx9o3zg8j/v1
Protocol Citation: Paul C. Zimmerman 2023. Lagash Archaeological Survey and Recording System (LASRS) - Creating Collection Forms with ArcGIS Field Maps. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.kxygx9o3zg8j/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License,  which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: January 31, 2023
Last Modified: August 15, 2023
Protocol Integer ID: 76180
Keywords: Archaeology, Survey, GIS
Abstract
By carefully creating a mobile GIS data collection routine for ArcGIS Field Maps, in-field collection of archaeological survey data can be sped up significantly. This protocol outlines how we created such a routine for the Lagash Archaeological Project.
Materials
This protocol was developed for ArcGIS Online.
Create the Field Maps Project
Create the Field Maps Project
Log into your ArcGIS Online account with the web browser of your choice.
Click the waffle (grid of dots) menu in the upper right, and select Field Maps.



Click the New map button.
Name the first layer Samples, leaving the Layer type as Point layer.
Click the plus button to create a new point layer named Notes, then click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
Turn on high-accuracy GPS receivers if you will use an external GPS device (such as an RTK rover) for data collection, otherwise leave this turned off if you intend to use the iPad’s internal GPS.
Leave 3D spaces turned off, and click the Next button at the bottom of the page.
Change the Map title to something that is appropriate for the project.
Set the Feature layer title to <Map title> Observations.
Optionally, save the map to a particular folder, then click the Create map button at the bottom of the page.
In the Field Maps interface, click on your avatar in the upper right, and select My content.
Configure the Samples Layer
Configure the Samples Layer
Click on the title of the Feature layer created in step 9.
Click on the Samples layer.
Click on Data in the upper right, and switch the view from Table to Fields.
Add the four following fields, using all lower-case and no special characters or spaces for the Field Name:
  • Status (string; non-null; default value: Positive)
  • Surveyor (string; non-null)
  • Write-Off Reason (string)
  • Explanation (optional) (string)
Click the Status field and then the Create List button. The new list will have the following three values (use the same Label and Code, for simplicity):
  • Positive
  • Negative
  • Write-Off
Click the Surveyor field and then the Create List button. Add entries for each member of the team and an extra catch-all entry called (not listed).
Click on the Write-Off Reason field and then the Create List button. Add entries for each possible reason why a target location may be written off, plus an extra catch-all entry called Other. If data entry will be bilingual, both the English and second language entries must be in the Label field, which is what will be presented to the surveyors on their tablets. For Lagash, the following write-off reasons are entered:
  • Berm/Canal قناة او ساتر
  • Excavation/Spoil Heap حفر او تراب خارج الحفرة
  • Field غطاء نباتي - Road طريق
  • Slope منحدر
  • Structure بناية
  • Vegetation شجيرات
  • Water ماء
  • Other اخرى
Configure the Notes Layer
Configure the Notes Layer
Click the pull-down menu in the upper left to switch from the Samples layer to the Notes layer.
Add the three following fields, using all lower-case and no special characters or spaces for the Field Name:
  • Observation (string; non-null)
  • Surveyor (string; non-null)
  • Description (optional) (string)
Click the Surveyor field and then the Create List button. Add entries for each member of the team and an extra catch-all entry called (not listed).

Note
Because ArcGIS Online doesn’t provide a way to reference a single list in multiple fields, this list will be a duplicate of the one created in step 17.

Click on the Observation field and then the Create List button. Add entries for each feature or phenomenon that is likely to be observed, plus an extra catch-all entry called Other. If data entry will be bilingual, both the English and second language entries must be in the Label field, which is what will be presented to the surveyors on their tablets. For Lagash, the following values are entered:
  • Animal Burrow حفرة حيوانات
  • Artifact لقى اثارية
  • Drain/Oven انبوب فخارية او تنور
  • Tire Tracks/Road طريق
  • Wadi/Wash وادي
  • Wall جدار
  • Other اخرى
Import the Targets Layer
Import the Targets Layer
Click on Content at the top of the web page.
Click on the Web Map item saved in step 8.
Click the Open in Map Viewer button.
Click the down arrow next to the Add button and select Add layer from file.
Locate the zip archive created in the final step of the Rectangular Survey Grid Creation with QGIS protocol and upload it as a hosted feature layer.
In the Add Layer screen, set the Title to <Map title> Targets and click the Create and add to map button.
Click the three dots in the newly-created layer and select Rename. Change the name to Targets.
Drag the Targets layer to the bottom of the stack, and the Notes layer to the top then click the Save and open (folder with blue dot) button in the left sidebar and save your changes.

Current state of the example project, with the grid of orange dots on the map showing the imported shapefile, the layers ordered correctly, and the Save and open button circled.

Configure Layer Symbology and Base Map Imagery
Configure Layer Symbology and Base Map Imagery
Click on the Open in Map Viewer Classic link at the top of the web page.
Mouse over the Notes layer and click the Change Style (shapes) icon.



Click the OPTIONS button in the Location (Single symbol) selection under Change Style.



Click the Symbols link, and then select the blue notes icon in the SHAPES panel.



Set the Symbol Size to 30px, then click OK.
Click the OK button in the lower left to accept your changes to the symbology, then click the DONE button to return to the layers view.
Click the Save (floppy disk) button at the top of the web page to save your changes.
Mouse over the Samples layer and click the Change Style (shapes) icon.
Under Choose an attribute to show click Status.
Click the OPTIONS button in the Types (Unique symbols) selection under Change Style.
Drag the statuses so that Positive is above Negative in the list. Leave Write-Off at the bottom.
Click the blue dot next to Positive to change its symbol, and set the following values, then click OK.
  • SHAPE > Symbol Size: 14px
  • FILL > Custom Color: #38A800
  • OUTLINE > Custom Color: #000000
  • OUTLINE > Transparency: 0%
Click the red dot next to Negative to change its symbol, and set the following values, then click OK.
  • SHAPE > Symbol Size: 14px
  • FILL > Custom Color: #E60000
  • OUTLINE > Custom Color: #000000
  • OUTLINE > Transparency: 0%
Click the green dot next to Write-Off to change its symbol, and set the following values, then click OK.
  • SHAPE > Symbol Size: 14px
  • FILL > Custom Color: #ADADAD
  • OUTLINE > Custom Color: #000000
  • OUTLINE > Transparency: 0%
Click the OK button in the lower left to accept your changes to the symbology, then click the DONE button to return to the layers view.
Mouse over the Targets layer and click the Change Style (shapes) icon.
Click the OPTIONS button in the Location (Single symbol) selection under Change Style.
Click the Symbols link, and then select Basic from the Category menu in the SHAPES panel.
Select an appropriate black-and-white icon, adjust its Symbol Size, and click OK.



Click the OK button in the lower left to accept your changes to the symbology, then click the DONE button to return to the layers view.
Mouse over the Targets layer, click the three dots on the right, and select Create Labels.
Enable the Halo for readability.
Choose the alignment that makes the most sense for the orientation of your grid.
Set the Visibility Range to Street (1:5,000) or smaller, depending on your grid spacing.
Click the OK button in the lower left to accept your changes to the labels.
Click the Save (floppy disk) button at the top of the web page to save your changes.
Click the Basemap icon at the upper left of the web page and choose Imagery.
Click the Save (floppy disk) button at the top of the web page to save your changes.
Configure the Notes Popup and Data Collection Form
Configure the Notes Popup and Data Collection Form
Click the Open in Map Viewer link at the top right of the web page.
Click on the Notes layer to open its properties, then click on the Popups (gear in a dialog box) icon on the right hand edge of the web page.



Change the Title from Notes to Note.
Expand the Fields list panel and then click the Select fields link to select the following four fields, then click the Done button.
  • CreationDate
  • Observation
  • Surveyor
  • Description (optional)
Drag the Surveyor field above the Observation field.
Click the Fields icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Click the Description (optional) item and change its Display name to Description, then click Done.
Click the Labels icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Turn off the Enable labels option.
Click the Forms (lightning bolt) icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Click the Add all (3) link.
Drag Surveyor above Observation.
Change the Form title and the Display name of each field to be bilingual.

Select the Description (optional) field and change its Input type to Text - Multiline, then click the OK button in the lower right of the web page.

The fully-configured Notes form.

Configure the Samples Popup and Data Collection Form
Configure the Samples Popup and Data Collection Form
Click on the Samples layer to open its properties, then click on the Popups (gear in a dialog box) icon on the right hand edge of the web page.
Change the Title from Samples to {status}.
Expand the Fields list panel and then click the Select fields link to select the following four fields, then click the Done button.
  • CreationDate
  • Surveyor
  • Write-Off Reason
  • Explanation (optional)
Click the Fields icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Click the Explanation (optional) item and change its Display name to Explanation, then click Done.
Click the Labels icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Turn off the Enable labels option.
Click the Forms (lightning bolt) icon in the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Click the Add all (4) link.
Drag Status above Surveyor.
Change the Form title to {status} and the Display name of each field to be bilingual.
Select the Status field, then expand the Conditional visibility panel, and add the following expression: Status Is Empty. Name this rule Hide the Status Selector so that you can identify it easily.
Select the Write-Off Reason field, then expand the Conditional visibility panel, and add the following expression: Status Is Write-Off. Name this rule Show Write-Off Reason if Status is “Write-Off” so that you can identify it easily.
Select the Explanation (optional) field, then expand the Conditional visibility panel, and add the following expression: Status Is Write-Off. Name this rule Show Explanation if Status is “Write-Off” so that you can identify it easily.
Change the Input type of the Explanation (optional) field to Text - Multiline, then click the OK button in the lower right of the web page.


Click the grey area below the Explanation (optional) field then expand the form settings option in the lower right and check the Preserve values when fields are hidden with conditional visibility rules box.

The fully-configured Samples form.

Configure the Targets Popup
Configure the Targets Popup
Click on the Targets layer to open its properties, then click on the Popups (gear in a dialog box) icon on the right hand edge of the web page (see step 60 for identification of the buttons).
Change the Title from Field Maps Protocol Targets - Field Maps Protocol Targets to {node}.
Click the three dots on the right side of the Fields list panel and then choose Delete.
Click the Save and open (folder with blue dot) button in the left sidebar and save your changes.

Note
Unlike Notes and Samples, Targets is a read-only layer used just for reference, so there is no data collection form associated with it.

Configure the Web Map for Field Maps
Configure the Web Map for Field Maps
Click the waffle (grid of dots) menu in the upper right, and select Field Maps.
Select the current project from the My maps list.
Click on the Notes layer, then switch to the Templates panel.
Click on New Feature, and set its Display name to Note ملاحظة.
Click the Save (floppy disk) button for the template.
Click on the Samples layer, and switch to the Templates panel if it’s not already selected.
Click on New Feature, set its Display name to Positive أيجابي, and set its description to Artifacts were collected at this location.
Mouse over the Positive أيجابي template item, and click the Duplicate (overlapping boxes) button.
Click on Positive أيجابي_copy, set its Display name to Negative سلبي, and set its description to No artifacts were collected at this location.
Set the Default Value for Status to Negative.
Mouse over the Negative سلبي template item, and click the Duplicate (overlapping boxes) button.
Click on Negative سلبي_copy, set its Display name to Write-Off خارج الاعتبار, and set its description to Collections could not be attempted at this location.
Set the Default Value for Status to Write-Off.
Click the Save (floppy disk) button for the template.
Click App settings in the left hand side of the web page.
Expand Collection, and turn off Snapping and Streaming.
Expand Feature actions, and turn off Collect here.
Expand Map tools, and turn off Edit multiple.
Click the Save changes (floppy disk) button in the upper right.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Set the ArcGIS Online sharing permissions on the files created to something that’s appropriate for the project, and make sure that the Web Map can be accessed in ArcGIS Field Maps on the mobile devices that you will be using.