I’m curious if anyone else has experience with tools for editing and collecting data in the field.

I’m vaguely aware of QField for QGIS. I believe ESRI has their own tools for that context, but I don’t know what they are.

I’m also familiar with some tools for a specific industry: namely inspection and data collection for utilities. Some of the ones I know are probably best described as “long in the tooth.”

What are the options these days? Where do you go for users that need to collect data in the field, whether it’s inspection data, correcting existing GIS data, or collecting new data?

  • @aidan_kf
    1•1 year ago

    My company uses pretty much exclusively Esri products (unfortunately) as we’re a partner organization. Here’s a basic run-down off the top of my head:

    ArcGIS Field Maps

    • Allows feature collection (Points, Lines, Polygons)
    • Smart Forms allow for calculated values, i.e. calculating volume of a trench based on standard measurements
    • Works with GPS recievers and collects GPS metadata (we recently began using the TDC-650 by Trimble, and get sub-inch accuracy in good conditions.)
    • Includes markup layers by default
    • Uploads directly to a feature service in ArcGIS Online
    • Offline collection supported
    • Editing and deleting supported My use cases: Inlet location, survey point location collection

    ArcGIS QuickCapture

    • Designed for rapid location data collection
    • Typical usage is click button, take picture, upload, repeat
    • Meant for point collection
    • Less focus on accuracy and attributes My use cases: Quickly capturing potholes on roads while riding passenger in a vehicle, accuracy is typically 1-2’.

    ArcGIS Survey123

    • Incredibly powerful XLSS form based platform
    • Extendable via JavaScript functions (
    • Allows Point and Polygon collection
    • Highly customizable
    • Supports regex for input validation, conditional visibility, conditional required fields
    • Desktop browser compatible My use cases: long-form inspections, desktop permit entry, data validation via JavaScript extensions.

    I’m unfamiliar with open source alternatives - I’d prefer to use FOSS options but not up to me unfortunately.

    I’m sure there’s more I’m missing though. First Lemmy post so apologies if formatting is awful.

    • @rtbravoOPM
      2•1 year ago

      Late to reply here, but I greatly appreciate this summary of the ESRI options. As with many things ESRI, it’s often very difficult to sort out the array of options.

      • @aidan_kf
        2•1 year ago

        Even later reply - yeah, luckily they seem to be consolidating things into single apps. Explorer, Navigator, Workforce and Collector all got combined into ArcGIS Field Maps, so hopefully things get simpler moving forward. Also worth noting that to use any of Esri’s mobile apps you need a Field Editor license or above - Editor won’t cut it unfortunately.