Mobile GIS is the expansion of a geographic information system (GIS) from the office into the field. A mobile GIS enables field based personnel to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display geographic information. Mobile GIS integrates one or more of the following technologies: Mobile devices, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Wireless communications for Internet GIS access.
Traditionally, the processes of field data collection and editing have been time consuming and error prone. Geographic data has traveled into the field in the form of paper maps. Field edits were performed using sketches and notes on paper maps and forms. Once back in the office, these field edits were deciphered and manually entered into the GIS database. The result has been that GIS data has often not been as up-to-date or accurate as it could have been.
Taking GIS into the field opens up new opportunities for more up-to-date and accurate GIS data. The developments in mobile GIS have enabled GIS to be taken into the field as digital maps on compact, mobile computers, providing field access to enterprise geographic information. This enables organizations to add real-time information to their database and applications, speeding up analysis, display, and decision making by using up-to-date, more accurate spatial data.
Firefighters, police officers, engineering crews, surveyors, utility workers, soldiers, census workers, field biologists, and more use mobile GIS to complete the following tasks :
Field Mapping—Create, edit, and utilize GIS maps while in the field
Asset Inventories—Create and maintain an inventory of asset locations and attribute information
Asset Maintenance—Update asset location, condition, and schedule maintenance
Inspections—Maintain digital records and locations of field assets for legal code compliance and ticketing
Incident Reporting—Document the location and circumstances of incidents and events for further action or reporting
GIS Analysis and Decision Making—Perform measuring, buffering, geoprocessing, and other GIS analysis while in the field.
Images shown are Mobile GIS application areas and ArcPad customization for environmental applications.
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