FAQ: Can a feature service reference data from multiple data sources?

Data published as a feature layer must reference a single source geodatabase or database. You cannot publish data from more than one database connection in a single map.

In ArcGIS Pro, if you were to publish the data in a map as a map image and feature layer and there are multiple data sources referenced in the map you will get an error: ‘00062: Map contains data that does not use the same connection to an enterprise geodatabase’.

Web feature layers associated with a map image layer require that all layers and stand-alone tables in the service reference an enterprise geodatabase or a standard enterprise database using a single connection.

Data published only as a map service can come from multiple data sources. While it is possible to enable feature access on a map service after publishing, only the layers from a single data source referenced by the feature service would be accessible.

The requirement is further reiterated in the ArcGIS help documentation referenced from: https://enterprise.arcgis.com/en/server/latest/publish-services/windows/prepare-data-for-feature-services.htm

Sam P.

New GDA2020 transformations for WebGIS

May 2021

Esri Australia has been working with Esri and ICSM to ensure that the ArcGIS system can support clients migration from the GDA94 static datum to GDA2020 static datum. The ArcGIS system now fully supports data transformations via 7-parameter similarity transformation, or NTv2.0 transformation Grids.

As a result we are now seeing many clients migrate their authoritative datasets to GDA2020 and requiring all delivered data is in this same static datum. State and national governments are now delivering foundational open datasets in GDA2020 as well

In parallel to this migration we are also seeing more clients taking up WebGIS and delivering data via web services instead of shipping datasets or producing PDF’s. This is enabling a greater uptake web and mobile GIS, providing better informed field operators and getting live data in the hands of people who need it as they need it.

These two waves of change have presented a significant challenge. While transformations existed between WGS84 & GDA94 and GDA94 & GDA2020, there existed no direct path from GDA2020 to WGS84. If you wanted to place GDA2020 data into WebGIS you had to transform you data back through GDA94 to WGS84. Effectively moving the data back to its old location prior to publishing. Many clients asked why????

It has been termed the WGS84 Projection dilemma. So what’s changing?

GDA2020, ArcGIS Online and the Web Mercator Dilemma

In ArcGIS Online Map Viewer, all layers in a web map inherit the coordinate system of the basemap. WGS 1984 Web Mercator (auxiliary sphere) is the spatial reference of basemap services in the default Esri basemap gallery, meaning this is the default web GIS coordinate system. Layers also have their own spatial reference and transformations defined at a service level. When you add layers to the Web Map Viewer, an on-the-fly reprojection is performed to align your data with the coordinate system of the basemap.

When publishing data to web GIS you need to consider what spatial reference will be used to store the data at a service level, how the publishing process may affect it, as well as what transformations (or lack of) will be applied when the layer is displayed in a web map with a datum.

It is also important to understand GDA2020 and its relationship with web GIS. The de facto WGS84 in web GIS brings some challenges not unique to Australia or ArcGIS. Failing to address these challenges may result in data misalignment.

Getting started with ArcGIS for Student Use

You’ve purchased an ArcGIS Student license; now, how do you to use it?

This is your one-stop-shop for getting up and running with your new ArcGIS for Student Use subscription. This blog will step you through each stage of the setup process, using the following FAQs as our guide:

1. What is included in my subscription?
2. What is My Esri, and why do I need it?
3. How do I configure my My Esri permissions?
4. How do I download and install the software?
5. What is ArcGIS Online, and why do I need it?
6. How do I activate my ArcGIS Online Organization?
7. How do I assign an ArcGIS Pro license?
8. How do I use my ArcGIS Pro license?
9. How do I authorize ArcMap?
10. Where do I go for training, support, and help?

FAQ: How do you determine the version of an enterprise geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro?

To determine the enterprise geodatabase version you are using:

• Right-click the database connection in the Catalog pane and click Properties.

Obtaining various logs for your Enterprise GIS

Whenever a user runs into some sort of problem with the GIS system, one of the first things to look at would be the relevant logs. These give a more detailed insight into what is happening and where potential problems were encountered. This post will explain exactly how to obtain every type of log in the ArcGIS Enterprise stack.

Check and repair the geometry for features in an Enterprise geodatabase.

ArcGIS applications are built with the assumption that the feature’s geometry follows certain specifications. When the processing algorithms encounter data that does not follow the specifications, the software can perform poorly, generate errors, crash, or the operation may succeed without an apparent problem but generate incorrect results.

Repair Geometry Geoprocessing tool

The Repair Geometry tool inspects each feature in a feature class for problems with its geometry. Upon discovery of a problem, a fix will be applied, and a one-line description will identify the feature, as well as the geometry problem that was fixed.

GNSS support in ArcGIS Pro 2.7

A new feature introduced in ArcGIS Pro 2.7, is GNSS (GPS) location support. You can now connect a GNSS device to ArcGIS Pro to assist with feature creation and navigation within a map or scene. In this article, I’ll provide an overview of this new feature, then discuss some hardware considerations for working with GNSS.

How do I add Bing Maps to the Basemap collection in ArcGIS Pro?

Would you like to add Bing Maps as basemaps in ArcGIS Pro?  Here are the steps that will get you up and running!

To add Bing Maps as a basemap in ArcGIS Pro, you will need to do two things:

1 – Configure ArcGIS Online to access Bing Maps.
2 – Create the Bing Maps Basemaps and share with a group that is configured as the organisations default basemap group

Once these configurations are complete, users will be able to access the Bing Maps from the Basemap gallery in ArcGIS Pro.

Things to keep in mind, you will need to be logged in as an ArcGIS Online Organisation Admin to make the following changes on the Organisation settings page.

Steps to add Bing Maps to the Basemap collection in ArcGIS Pro

Imagery Best Practices

Supporting Imagery and Lidar in the ArcGIS platform has been around for a long time. In the ArcGIS Server Space, Image Server became available at 9.3.1. Since then it has evolved to Mosaic Datasets, Image Services, Raster Functions and now raster analytics. Now imagery is really an integral part of the ArcGIS platform. However, it is only as performant when the imagery is managed and configured optimally.

I often get asked,

• what format should I store my imagery in?,
• How many images can be in a Mosaic Dataset?
• How should I structure my imagery? and
• what is the maximum number of images per folder?

When answering these questions I have drawn on past experience and advice from Esri. Now though Esri have compiled all this information into an Excellent Centralised resource Imagery Workflows – Best Practices https://doc.arcgis.com/en/imagery/workflows/best-practices/what-are-best-practices.htm

In the Imagery formats and Performance section it details topics such as:

• File format suitability
• Recommended imagery formats
• Reformatting imagery
• Pyramids
• Statistics
• Working with large mosaics
• Storage system performance

If you’re going to be managing imagery and lidar I recommend you reads these documents. They are comprehensive and invaluable. I must admit I have been doing this for 12 years now and there is information on Lidar management that I did not know about.

This is just one component of the ArcGIS Imagery Workflows documentation Esri has just produced.

Gordon