ArcGIS Online, Portal, and the New Web AppBuilder: Web Maps for All at Utilities

July 12, 2015 — Chris Sanders

Years ago, ArcIMS, followed by ArcGIS Server, brought Esri GIS maps to web browsers at utility organizations.

This was an important step forward in GIS technology because it meant that utility IT departments could now provide an interactive facility map to more people in the organization without having to burden the GIS department with dozens (or even hundreds) of requests for printed maps or having to install (and pay for) and manage ArcView on additional desktops in the organization.

However, even though developer templates made it easier to develop web maps, the deployment of web mapping applications at utilities was still a long and fairly costly undertaking.

First, the utility had to decide if they were going to develop their own or purchase a third party (usually expensive with limited ‘extra’ capabilities) web mapping application. Either choice was still an expensive endeavor.

If electing to develop their own, sure, there were rich APIs available, but if done right, a project meant identifying requirements from departments who had very different needs (e.g. customer service requiring customer installation and premise information vs. regulatory compliance requiring detailed asset or inspection information) followed by fairly long development and heavy testing cycles.

If purchasing a third party web mapping application, the implementation still involved several tasks: an installation tied to a specific ArcGIS version, the configuration of the web application, and testing and coordination of support issues.

Always, the end result was a generic web mapping application, not targeted for actual use cases identified by a single department but instead an application that was spread too thin because it was intended for all possible users at a utility. And really the key for frequent, valuable use of any app is simplicity. It’s the ole saying, ‘just give me what I need (JGMWIN), and nothing of what I don’t need.’

Well, it’s clear that Esri has taken this to heart from the inception of ArcGIS Online (and the on premise version called Portal for ArcGIS). With the release of Portal and ArcGIS Online, Esri has allowed IT departments and GIS administrators to create simple web maps and apps (through the use of Templates) targeted at specific user groups in a utility.

And recently, Esri has released the next step (and it’s really a giant leap) forward in providing valuable maps and map tools to specific departments or cross functional groups at utilities through *configuration:* the Esri Web AppBuilder!

In December 2014, the Web AppBuilder was made available to all AGOL portals. As most utilities know well by now, they don’t have to share any of the organization’s sensitive data outside of the company network firewall to begin using many of the benefits of AGOL.

An earlier EA article and an article from this month’s EA, both describe how this is accomplished technically; however, the Web AppBuilder is also available in the latest version of the Portal for ArcGIS extension for ArcGIS Server (now free with ArcGIS Server).

The Web AppBuilder gives utility organizations the ability to create targeted apps (web apps for desktop browsers as well as apps for all of the most common mobile devices) through (at the sake of sounding sickeningly cliché’) the touch of a button. In fact, describing it as ‘creating apps through configuration’ doesn’t even do it justice because of the painful memories of past GIS configuration experiences.

In one of my previous articles, I discuss the many way I envision targeted map apps being used by all parts of a utility organization. So now, let’s take a look at an example of using the Web AppBuilder to create a web map app for a utility construction group….

As you’ve probably already noticed on your AGOL portal, in the My Content space, you can now create a new web app using a Web AppBuilder by clicking Create > App > Using the Web AppBuilder. Note that there are a few other (possibly more efficient ways) of loading the Web AppBuilder.

Web AppBuilder Link

After filling in the information for your new app (don’t forget the Tags to make it easier to find if sharing with the larger organization!), you are provided access to the Web AppBuilder.

When Web AppBuilder is loaded, it allows you to design your app in four basic steps, accessed as tabs/panels in the left-hand side of the screen:  selecting an app Theme, selecting a Map from your organization’s available AGOL maps (and secured ArcGIS Server services), selecting the Tools (Widgets) the app will need, and a tool for branding your map. All of this allowing you to review the edits you’re making to the site as you make them (WYSIWYG in all its glory!).

The Themes Panel of the Web AppBuilder allows you select the Theme, Style, and UI Layout of your app. A neat aspect of allowing Esri to host your GIS functionality in AGOL is that new capabilities pop-up all the time, and as I was writing this, several new Themes became available. Pictured Here:

Web App Themes

One of the coolest features is located along the bottom of the design panel is a link called ‘Preview,’ which shows you how your app will look in each of the leading mobile devices on the market today. Simply select the device, click preview and now Web AppBuilder will instantly show you how your users will view the app on their device in the field. This is an especially important feature with many organizations now adopting BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies.

Web App Preview

Even though setting up a new app is incredibly simple, take some time at each step, and make sure you’re building something the group wants to use, especially when selecting a map (have a requirements meeting before-hand!). By now, I’m sure, you already have several different types of maps available to different parts of your organization through AGOL or Portal.

For example, you should have: Customer Service Maps, Construction Maps for each division, Inspection Maps, Federal Compliance Maps, Executive Maps, Outage Maps, etc. all published and available in their corresponding space within your site. In my example, I am creating a construction app for a division within my organization to use. So I simply select Maps, locate the Construction Map and add it to my app. Note the construction map only has layers construction crews and organizations need!

AddMapstoWebApp

In the spirit of JGMWIN, Web AppBuilder gives you the ability to add in a number of tools, called ‘widgets’ which allow me to select the tools my engineers and construction crews will need.

There’s a lot of common widgets immediately available to add to your app. There is the Attribute Table, which allows my users to identify features from my operational layers. There are also widgets for retrieving coordinates, an overview map, a scalebar, and more. Furthermore, you can also configure a geoprocessing widget to use the geoprocessing tasks form ArcGIS Server and create configured queries for my department’s most common map searches on facility data.

An incredibly useful tool is the Search Widget where you can not only configure common searches but also configure a geocoding service from your company’s published geocoding services.

GeocodingWidgit

This capability is so valuable because you can avoid using up your company’s geocoding credits to perform address searching with Esri’s geocoding service and instead leverage your organization’s street map data investment!

One of the best widgets for collaboration is the ‘Draw’ widget, which provides the most robust set of tools for marking up the map and making field notes we’ve seen in a mobile GIS map today. As depicted in the following screenshot, there are tools for drawing common shapes using a mouse or touch screen and a variety of easy ways to choose colors.

DrawWidgit

Using this tool, you can mark up the map and save it to a PDF. Attach it to a Work Order in the work management system and you have a mobile as built tool ready to go! Here’s the Draw Tool pictured in the Preview of an iPad:iPadDrawPreview

Developing your own custom widgets for new company apps is really where the targeting power of the Web AppBuilder comes to life. I won’t get into all the possibilities in this article, but in my mind, this is where you can really add valuable functionality targeted to a single department’s needs. For example, this is a great place to develop integrations, like: creating a widget, which:

  • Checks the status of construction permits from the right of way system by clicking a work area polygon. Or…
  • Views customer history from the CIS by clicking a premise. Or…
  • Displays an asset’s inspection history directly from your asset management system.

When you’ve completed adding tools to your app, brand your company’s logo and name in the Attribute Panel to show your users all of the value your company has created, and save your site. Make sure to test it on the appropriate devices.

Once everything works as expected and looks great, share the app with the target group (already created I’m sure) in your organization, and they can begin using it immediately. Make sure you get feedback from them on other ways of improving the app because now it’s easier than ever to implement the changes!

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Chris Sanders

Principal Solutions Engineer

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