DeLorme Professional Weblog

Those of you who follow the DeLorme Professional Newsletter will hopefully be familiar with the functional capabilities XMap Forms. In recent editions, we have described the procedure of creating a form, for establishing constraints within a layer, for deploying a form and any accompanying data to multiple XMap users utilizing XMap’s synchronization process, and for sending data to and from the PN-Series GPS receivers. Upon reflection it would appear that we neglected to cover what is perhaps the most important aspect of XMap Forms functionality: How is it used?

At the risk of jumping in at the deep end, this article will bypass the XMap Forms setup process and discuss the use of this technology in real world situations. If you would like to read more of the background information, refer to this article from the November 2009 newsletter or visit the XMap Forms page on xmap.com.

The following are some examples of XMap Forms at work in a variety of fields.

Oil and Gas Pipeline Inspection and Maintenance

One of the challenges in the energy sector is that a lot of work is done in remote and often inhospitable environments. DeLorme has addressed some of the specific concerns of the oil and gas industry by developing GIS tools that are ideally suited for field technicians and that provide a mechanism for collecting and submitting data to a central GIS. XMap’s synchronization tool, which offers an efficient means to transfer updated, location-specific data to work crews at the jobsite, becomes even more powerful when those same technicians can remotely collect information about their field assets and automatically integrate this data in to an Enterprise database at the corporate office.

In this context, XMap forms functionality transforms the Professional version of XMap from a field data viewer into a powerful data collector. These field-based personnel do not need to have an intimate knowledge of the workings of a GIS; instead, they simply fill out the required information about a pipeline at each location using preconfigured dropdown lists and simple text entry. XMap Forms, as an add-on feature of the synchronization process, empowers field technicians to become direct participants in the process of building and maintaining the company’s GIS infrastructure.

Natural Resource Management and Habitat Monitoring

When considering the protection of areas of environmental concern, two key questions must be addressed: Where is it? and What is it? Thankfully, the form-based data collection on the PN-Series GPS receivers can help answer both questions. GPS has long been an important component of the field biologist’s toolkit. When collecting data on such things as nesting sites, it is critical to note specifically where each nest is located as well as any additional site-specific information. Most GPS receivers offer limited data collection functionality and usually allow only a label and a brief comment to be assigned to each collected waypoint. Any additional information must be hand-written and manually assigned to each point back at the office or lab. Needless to say, this process is highly susceptible to human error and to the creation of incorrect data that may impact any derived scientific study.

The PN-Series GPS receivers are comparable to many handheld GPS devices on the market today in terms of price and ease of use. The distinction lies in the fact the entire process of field data collection, including the collection of a complete set of attributes for each point, can be performed in the field. The structure of the data collection form ensures that each attribute is consistent and it allows the resulting data to be directly integrated into a GIS, eliminating the need for any manual transfer of additional detail from handwritten notes.

Crime Mapping and Evidence Collection

In recent years, GIS has found a firm foothold in the field of criminal investigation and forensic analysis. It is often the spatial nature of the collected evidence that provides the essential clues for solving the crime. To ensure this process works effectively, evidence must be accurately cataloged, preferably onsite, so a robust location-based data collection device is essential. The PN-Series GPS receiver works well in this situation because it is rugged, waterproof, and compact. Furthermore, using XMap Forms offers the means to create a complete database of information about the crime.

Criminal investigators are usually called into action at a moment’s notice, so having a preconfigured form is strategically important. Because forms reside on the external SD card inserted into the PN-Series device, a library of different forms can be created and the appropriate form activated for a given situation.

Highway Maintenance and Repair

Anyone who lives in the northern tier states of the U.S. or any similar cold climate zone will attest to the fact that the roads take a beating in the winter months. Come spring, work crews are quickly deployed to patch the potholes and, if necessary, resurface the pavement. Before this work is undertaken, a thorough inspection process must be performed to ascertain which areas are of most concern and to document the level of damage, often with accompanying photographs.

XMap Forms deployed on a laptop computer in the inspection vehicle is ideally suited for this task. Each damage location can be quickly assigned as a GIS point and, using a series of preconfigured attribute fields and drop-down lists, the relevant information can be attached to each location. Photographic evidence can also be associated with each collected point after uploading images from a digital camera. The form interface offers a simple upload button which copies the photograph or any other file into the GIS database.

After the inspection work is complete, XMap’s synchronization function automatically transfers the points and the accompanying photographs to the department’s GIS administrator. With immediate access to this information, maintenance managers can allocate resources quickly and effectively.

Utility Pole Data Collection

To the layperson, all utility poles seem to be the same, but to a utility technician, each has its own characteristics and hardware configuration. Cataloging this information is essential for maintenance planning, service upgrading, and emergency preparedness. Collecting data on utility poles can be a laborious and time-consuming process, but using XMap Forms on either a laptop computer or on a PN-Series device, the process is not only faster but much more accurate.

Many of the attributes associated with a utility pole inventory will be consistent for each pole. For instance, most of the poles might be owned by one specific utility agency or company, so it is inefficient to manually add this attribute for each point. XMap Forms offers a simple solution for this. If necessary, each field can be assigned an initial or default value in XMap, which means the form can be pre-populated with the most common values and edited only if needed.

While most poles are likely to be adjacent to a road, allowing the collection of data by vehicle, there are occasions when the technician is required to venture off-road to gather the necessary information. In such situations, XMap Forms on both the in-vehicle laptop and on the handheld PN-Series GPS receiver can be used to populate a single GIS layer with pole data. At the end of the day, the technician simply merges the data from the PN and the computer and a complete GIS dataset is created.

These scenarios describe some typical uses for XMap Forms technology; however, there is virtually no limit to the ways in which this innovative data collection tool can be put to work. As always, we want to hear from you. If you are interested in sharing an account of how you use XMap Forms, please email prosales@delorme.com with the details.