Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.9, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # GIS Cloud Real-time data visualisation, collection, analysis, management and sharing. Collaborate online, offline and on-premises. ## Posts ### [Solar Farm Inspections at Scale: How Bulk Status Updates Save Hours per Site](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/solar-farm-inspections-at-scale-how-bulk-status-updates-save-hours-per-site/) **Published:** July 31, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud Bulk Edit for solar farm inspections – updating multiple map features at once in Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Blog-post-Bulk-edit-hero.png) After every construction phase, inspectors needed to mark dozens of solar panel racks as “Completed”, one feature at a time. Each update triggered automations that calculated progress and filled dates, but only in single-edit mode. Also, updating each feature isn’t just slow; it’s a bottleneck that delays the entire inspection cycle. [**Bulk Edit**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/edit-thousands-of-features-at-once-bulk-edit-is-here-2/) changed that: select all features in the zone, set one status, and let the system handle the rest, per feature, automatically. ### This is the story of how one renewable energy company went from afternoon-long editing sessions to two-minute bulk updates, with every form rule and per-feature calculation intact. ### **One at a Time, Hundreds to Go** As a leading renewable energy company operating across Asia-Pacific, our customer builds and operates utility-scale solar farms, sites with thousands of individually mapped components. Each solar farm goes through multiple construction phases: ramming (driving support posts into the ground), rack installation, panel mounting, and electrical cabling. Every component on every site needs to be tracked through each phase. In GIS Cloud, each component is a map feature with a detailed inspection form attached. The form tracks the construction phase, inspection status, completion dates, and progress metrics. Dependencies between fields ensure data consistency — when a status changes to “Completed,” automations calculate completion percentages and fill date fields automatically. The problem was scale. After completing a construction phase on a section of the site, inspectors needed to update every feature in that zone. With hundreds of components per section and thousands per site, this meant one of three things: - **Clicking into each feature one at a time.** For 200 features, this could take an entire afternoon — and that’s just one status update on one section of one site. - **Exporting to QGIS for batch changes.** Faster for the raw update, but you lose all form logic. Automations don’t fire, dependencies don’t evaluate, and the data needs to be re-imported afterward. The round-trip breaks the real-time workflow. - **CSV export-import cycles.** Same problem as QGIS — you’re working outside the system, recalculating values manually, and hoping nothing goes wrong on re-import. None of these options were acceptable for a company managing dozens of active solar farm sites simultaneously. ### **What the Workflow Actually Required** The requirements that came out of the discovery process were specific: 1. **Select features by location.** Inspectors know their site. They can point to a section on the map and say: “Everything here is done.” The tool needs to support lasso or area selection on the map – not just checkboxes in a table.![Selecting solar panel features with the lasso tool and clicking Edit features in GIS Cloud Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Map-Editor-solar-panels-click-on-Edit-features.png) 2. **Full form logic in bulk.** When the status field changes to “Completed,” the form automations must fire – filling completion dates, calculating progress percentages, and revealing dependent fields. This has to work during bulk editing, not after. 3. **Per-feature calculation.** This was the critical requirement. Each rack has its own quantification value: area, capacity, and inspection count. When you set 200 racks to “Completed,” the progress percentage for each rack must be calculated from that rack’s own data. A blanket “set everything to 100%” doesn’t work because the racks have different specifications. 4. **No feature limit.** Some quality-check operations involve selecting thousands of features at once. The tool can’t cap at 50 or 500. 5. **Review before saving.** When you’re about to overwrite data on hundreds of features, you need to see exactly what’s changing before it happens. One wrong field update across 200 features creates 200 records that need manual correction. 6. **Mobile capability, eventually.** Field inspectors work on-site with tablets and phones. The bulk update workflow needs to come to mobile, too, but the web version was the priority. ### **Select, Bulk Edit, Confirm: All in the Browser** GIS Cloud built Bulk Edit directly into Map Editor; the same environment the team already uses for map management and data review. **How it works for a typical inspection update:** The inspector or site manager opens the solar farm map in GIS Cloud Map Editor. Using the lasso tool, they draw a selection around the section they’ve just inspected, selecting all features in that zone in a single gesture. The toolbar shows “Selected objects: 128.” They click “Edit features.” A familiar form panel opens on the right side of the screen, showing the same form they use for single-feature editing. The info line reads: “Editing 128 features. Changes apply to all selected items.” ![Inspection form panel opens in GIS Cloud Map Editor with multiple solar panel features selected](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Map-Editor-solar-panels-form-opens.png) Fields with different values across the selected features are clearly marked as “Mixed values,” so the inspector immediately sees which fields have consistent data and which vary. The inspector **changes the status** field from its current value to “Completed.” Instantly: - The form automation fires. Completion date fields auto-fill with today’s date. - Progress percentage fields calculate, and here’s the key: **each feature gets its own calculation** based on its own quantification data from another form field. Feature #1042 with 12 panels gets 100%. Feature #1043 with 8 panels gets 100%. The percentages match each rack’s actual specifications, not a blanket value. - Dependent fields that are revealed by the “Completed” status appear in the form. ![Bulk editing form showing status changed to Completed with auto-filled dates and per-feature progress calculations](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Map-Editor-solar-panels-form-edited.png) The inspector reviews the auto-filled values, makes any additional changes needed, and clicks Save. A confirmation modal appears, listing every change: “Status: Mixed values → Completed. Completion date: No value → 2026-07-15. Progress: Mixed values → \[calculated per feature\].” The inspector reviews the summary and clicks Confirm. 128 features updated in under two minutes. All form rules respected. All automations fired per feature. All data immediately visible to the rest of the team. ![Bulk status update applied to solar panel features, changes instantly visible on the map and in the data table](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Map-Editor-solar-panels-changes-saved-and-visible-in-map-and-data.png) ### **From an Afternoon to Two Minutes** **Before Bulk Edit****After Bulk Edit****Time to update 200 features**2–4 hours (one at a time) or 30–60 min (QGIS round-trip)Under 2 minutes**Form automations**Only in single-edit; lost in QGIS/CSV workflowsFire during bulk edit, per feature**Per-feature calculations**Manual recalculation after QGIS importAutomatic, per feature**Data accuracy**Risk of manual errors, stale data during export/importReal-time, validated, reviewed before save**Workflow disruption**Context switching between toolsEverything stays in GIS Cloud**Team visibility**Delayed — data not visible until re-importedInstant — updates visible to everyone immediately### **Why Other Tools Couldn’t Do This** Three things about GIS Cloud’s Bulk Edit made it a fit for this workflow: 1. **Per-feature automation resolution.** This is the capability that none of the other tools offer. ArcGIS Online added bulk editing in 2025, but it doesn’t resolve automations per feature during bulk operations. QGIS doesn’t have form automation at all. For solar farm inspections where every component has different specifications, per-feature calculation isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a requirement. 2. **Full form logic, no exceptions.** The team’s forms are complex — multi-level dependencies, conditional automations, required fields, read-only protections. All of this works during bulk editing exactly as it does in single-feature editing. There’s no “simplified bulk mode” that skips rules. 3. **Confirmation before save.** When you’re updating hundreds of records, seeing exactly what’s changing — and what’s being auto-calculated — before committing is the difference between confidence and anxiety. The confirmation modal lists every field change with old and new values. ### **20 Panels or 10,000 – Same Workflow** Most daily bulk operations involve 20–100 features, a typical section update after completing a construction phase. Larger operations happen during quality reviews, where a site manager may select 500–2,000 features to verify status consistency across an entire site zone. End-of-project audits occasionally involve selecting all features on a site, potentially 10,000+ to confirm everything is properly completed and documented. GIS Cloud Bulk Edit handles all of these without degradation. There’s no enforced feature limit. The same form, the same rules, the same confirmation flow, whether you’ve selected 20 features or 20,000. ### **Coming Next: Bulk Editing on Mobile** The web version of Bulk Edit is live now. The next phase brings this capability to GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection app, so field inspectors can make bulk updates directly from their tablets and phones on-site. For solar farm inspections, this means the person who just completed the physical inspection can immediately select the relevant features on their mobile map and mark them as done, without returning to the office, without handing off to someone at a desk, without any delay between the work being completed and the data reflecting it. The mobile version will support the same form logic, the same automations, and the same per-feature calculations. The primary selection method will be touch-based lasso on the map, matching how field workers already think about their sites (spatially, not by feature IDs). Mobile Bulk Edit is currently in planning. [Sign up for early access/notification when available.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) ### **Try it** Bulk Edit is available now in [GIS Cloud Map Editor](/apps/map-editor/), enabled through a user option. It works on any layer, with or without a configured form. For a step-by-step guide, see our [Learning Center tutorial](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-bulk-edit-feature-attributes/). For a comparison of how GIS Cloud Bulk Edit stacks up against ArcGIS Online, Fulcrum, and QGIS, see our [detailed comparison](/blog/bulk-editing-feature-attributes-gis-cloud-vs-arcgis-online-fulcrum-and-qgis/). *The leading renewable energy company operating across Asia-Pacific* *is a GIS Cloud customer. This case study describes how they use the Bulk Edit feature for solar farm inspection workflows. Details are based on requirements gathered during the product design process and reflect real-world usage patterns.* Related content: Edit Thousands of Features at Once – Bulk Edit Is Here! Bulk Editing Feature Attributes: GIS Cloud vs ArcGIS Online, Fulcrum, and QGIS From Site to Skyline: A Conversation with Andrew Loveless on Real-Time Insight Transform CCTV Inspections with the Mobile Data Collection How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON **Categories:** Blog, Case study, Construction, Electric Utilities --- ### [GIS Cloud AI: The Complete Guide](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-ai-the-complete-guide/) **Published:** July 16, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![All you need to know about GIS Cloud generative AI](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GC-AI-Complete-guide-blog-hero-s.png) ## **What is GIS Cloud AI?** GIS Cloud AI is a set of artificial-intelligence capabilities built into the GIS Cloud platform that let you collect, query, and act on spatial data in plain language – without GIS expertise. It spans four features: a conversational assistant/copilot (**Ask AI**), automatic form-filling from photos and voice (**AI Form Fill**), app generation from a description (**AI App Builder**), and a secure connection to GIS Cloud for external AI clients (**MCP Integration**). It is available to all GIS Cloud users and runs on an ISO 27001-certified platform. The guiding principle across all four is simple: **the AI proposes, and you decide.** Nothing is changed or saved without your review. ![Four pillars of What is GIS Cloud AI](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/intext-01-overview-1.png) ## **Why it matters** Most organisations collect far more spatial data than they ever manage to use. The bottleneck has rarely been collection; it has been turning that data into an answer, which traditionally meant knowing specialist GIS software: the menus, the SQL, the data model. That left maps and field data in the hands of a few trained specialists, while the people who needed answers (operations managers, field crews, council staff) waited. **GIS Cloud AI removes that translation layer.** A public-works manager can ask *“show me last month’s failed valve inspections”* and get a result. A field engineer can fill an inspection form by taking a photo or describing what he sees. An operations lead can build a reporting dashboard by describing it. The expertise is still valuable – but it is no longer a gate. One week after launch, we can already see where this lands first. GIS experts, fluent in their own workflows, adopt gradually, starting with the tedious tasks. The fastest adoption is happening *around* them: **non-GIS colleagues querying data without booking the GIS team’s time**, and field collectors who filled one form from a photo and won’t go back to typing. ## **Ask AI: Talk to your data** [**Ask AI**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/ask-ai-the-in-app-assistant/) **is a conversational assistant inside GIS Cloud that answers questions and performs actions on your maps and data in natural language.** You open a chat panel, type what you want (no SQL, no code, no clicking through dialogues), and the assistant answers, **runs the work, or builds things on your behalf.** It detects your language automatically and works in Map Editor, Map Viewer, Contributor, the Mobile Data Collection Portal (MDCP), and Manager, adapting its focus to the app you’re in. ![Ask AI conversational assistant panel in GIS Cloud Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Map-Editor-AI-ss.png) ### **Ask questions about your data** Ask anything about a layer and get an answer in plain language. The assistant understands numerical columns (count, sum, average, min, max), text and categorical columns (group, filter, list), joins between layers, and – because this is GIS – **spatial relationships**: distance, area, perimeter, intersection, containment, buffers, and nearest neighbour. It knows each layer’s **coordinate system and converts units correctly,** whether you think in square metres or hectares. > **Use case: the question that used to be an afternoon, or required related tables.** > > “Which district has the most uninspected hydrants?” used to mean filtering the datagrid, running a spatial join against district boundaries, and often exporting to a spreadsheet to aggregate. With Ask AI, it is **one sentence and a few seconds.** > > One of our long-time users, James England of GIS Solutions, put a number on a similar task: *“For one selection, manually it would have taken an hour – AI did it in less than a minute.”* ### **Select and classify, with a confirmation step** Ask for features matching your criteria and the assistant proposes a selection; ask for a layer to be classified by an attribute and it picks suitable colours, labels, and updates the legend – on point, line, and polygon layers. Classification works best on categorical columns with 2–15 distinct values; if there are more, the assistant says so and suggests a narrower categorisation. ![GIS Cloud AI chat conversation suggestions and layer classification](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AI-docker-2-s.png) Crucially, nothing is applied when the answer appears. Proposed changes arrive with a clearly labelled **action button** – *Select on map*, *Classify layer*, *Create form* – and until you click it, nothing changes on the map or in the database. Because classification replaces the current styling and cannot be undone, the assistant tells you that before you confirm, not after. ![GIS Cloud AI suggests actions, you decide to act on it](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/intext-02-propose-decide-1.png) ### **Create and chain actions together** This is where “conversational” becomes “generative”: you can describe a whole piece of work, and the assistant executes the steps in order. A single request like: *“Create a map, add a layer from my uploaded data, classify the features by status, then create an inspection form and link it to the layer.”* …runs as a chain: map → layer → classification → form → binding. In the MDC Portal, you can go one step further and generate a **complete data-collection project** – map, table, layer, and connected form – from one description. ![Give GIS Cloud AI a number of tasks in one sentence](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/intext-04-chained-actions-1.png) > **Use case: the project that used to take a day.** > > Setting up a field data-collection project by hand means creating the map, defining the layer and its schema, building the form field by field (text, dropdowns, dependencies, required flags), styling the layer, and wiring it all together. Realistically, a half-day to a day of configuration for a non-trivial inspection form. And our sales calls confirm it was the step where new users most often stalled. Described in a sentence, the same project is proposed in minutes; you review the pieces in the form designer, adjust, and confirm. > > As our Head of Sales summarised the pattern from early demo calls: *“things that used to mean a ticket and a wait – done in minutes.”* ![Create a complete data collection project with connected map and form](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AI_chat_create_data_collection_project.png) Forms deserve a special mention because they’re the unglamorous time sink of field GIS: the assistant creates forms bound to layers or standalone, using standard field types, and edits existing ones: add, remove, rename, reorder, or retype a field, change required/default/visibility properties, and add or preserve **multilingual labels** on the fly. ### **Conversations that follow you** Conversations are remembered and continue as you move between apps and maps. The assistant keeps track of every map a conversation has touched, so *“now do the same for the second layer”* just works. Each conversation is private to you; a thread idle for 24 hours goes inactive until you type again. And when the assistant can’t do something itself, it points you to the relevant help article instead of improvising. ## **AI Form Fill: photos and voice instead of typing** **AI Form Fill completes form fields from a photograph or a spoken description, with a confidence level on every suggested value.** It works in the [MDC mobile app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) in the field and in the [Map Editor on the web](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), including [bulk updates](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/edit-thousands-of-features-at-once-bulk-edit-is-here-2/) across many records, and it never saves anything on its own. ![Mobile data collection form filled by AI from photo or voice](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MDC-Form-Manhole-AI-ss.png) The field workflow: open a feature’s form, tap **Take a photo** (or **Describe**, and say what you see: *“broken manhole cover, crack at the entrance, no leakage”*). The AI fills the fields it can, each carrying an **AI Confidence** label: green for high, yellow for medium, grey for low. You see at a glance which values to trust and which to double-check. The moment you manually edit a value, its confidence label disappears, keeping it always clear which values came from the AI and which are yours. If your form has a photo field, the photo you took is attached automatically, so you never need to photograph the same asset twice. ![AI form fill in Mobile data collection - suggesting field values with confidence levels, from a photo of voice](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/intext-03-confidence-1.png) It also works **incrementally**: each additional photo or voice clip is a fresh pass that **sharpens the suggestions.** Values you typed are weighted heavily but not frozen – if the AI is confident an entered value is wrong, it suggests a correction, which, like everything else, you accept or revert. Opening an existing record works the same way in edit mode. The whole thing is built on the same review-and-revert model as GIS Cloud’s Multi-Edit, so every suggested change can be traced and undone before it is committed. > **Use case: the glove problem.** > > A utility pole or manhole inspection form can run to 15–20 fields. Typing them on a phone, often in gloves, rain, or sun glare, takes several minutes per asset and is where transcription errors are born. Photo plus a sentence of voice takes well under a minute, with the confidence colours directing attention only where it’s needed. Across a crew logging dozens of assets a day, that’s hours returned to actual inspection. This is why, in the first week, field collectors have been the fastest adopters of the whole release. Two honest limits: it needs a network connection (the AI service doesn’t run offline), and it takes photos and voice, not video. ## **AI App Builder: describe an app, get an app** **AI App Builder generates a working GIS application from a plain-language description, then lets you refine it through conversation.** It runs as a standalone app opened from Manager: create a Blank App, open it, and describe what you need in the chat panel beside it. The assistant knows the GIS Cloud API and wires the app to your real maps, layers, forms, and data sources, so the first version already works with your live data. What people build: analytics dashboards with charts and tables, city portals with maps and filters, fieldwork reporting apps, quality monitoring apps, or a duplicate of an existing app as a starting point. Refining is conversational and cumulative: *“add a status filter at the top”*, *“make the chart blue”*, *“show the total count above the chart”*; each request updates the running app in place, live in the panel next to the chat. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AI-App-Builder-empty-bigger2.png) ![AI App Builder generating a GIS dashboard from a text description](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AI-App-Builder-App-AI-Docker-s.png) There is **no separate publish step**: once generated, the app is live for everyone you’ve given access to. The app is owned by whoever created it (only they can edit it through chat), and because it’s wired to live data, it stays current as your maps and layers change. > **Use case: the dashboard that skipped the queue.** > > A monitoring dashboard (trees by species, inspections by status, assets by conditio) is exactly the kind of internal tool that lands in an IT backlog for weeks, or never gets requested at all because everyone knows it will. Described in a prompt and refined over a coffee’s worth of conversation, it exists the same afternoon, built on your own layers. > > Our early users’ verdict on this way of working, in Tim Andruss’s words (Victoria County Groundwater Conservation District): *“This is a completely new way of developing and configuring systems.”* ## MCP Integration: bring your own AI **MCP Integration lets external AI clients such as Claude or ChatGPT connect securely to your GIS Cloud data using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for connecting AI assistants to tools and data.** Ask AI is a panel inside GIS Cloud; MCP is the reverse, it brings GIS Cloud into the AI assistant you already use, including IDE coding agents. ![GIS Cloud connected to various AI chats via MCP](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MCP-Flow-Transparent-s-1.png) Once connected and authorised, your assistant gains a set of 55 GIS Cloud tools covering the whole platform: maps (list, create, update, render a thumbnail so the assistant can literally *see* the map), layers and their columns, features (including bulk updates and selections), tables and rows, forms and form-to-layer binding, guarded read/write queries, attribute statistics, CSV/XLS import, files, bookmarks, basemaps, and data sources. Unlike the in-app chat, **it works across your whole account, not just one open map**; *“list all my maps”* is a valid request. This is also how **reporting** works at its most flexible: a **connected client reads your live layers** and generates the report, the in-app assistant doesn’t produce reports on its own. Your maps come with you, too: an MCP-connected client can **render any of your live GIS Cloud maps** as an interactive viewer right inside the conversation, so the answers about your data appear alongside the map they refer to. Connecting takes about two minutes: **My Account → GIS Cloud MCP**, copy your personal server URL, add it in your AI client, sign in (password, Google, or Apple SSO,the assistant never sees your password), and choose on the consent screen what the client may do: read-only or read-and-write, and which resources. ![Connect Claude to GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MCP-0-s.png) The safety model mirrors the rest of the platform, with one addition worth spelling out: **destructive actions need a two-step confirmation.** When a connected assistant attempts something irreversible (deleting a layer, bulk-updating many features), the first call returns a plain-language summary of what is about to happen (*“About to delete layer ‘Sales Territories’ (1,234 features)”*), and nothing runs until you approve. Each confirmation is single-use, so the same destructive action can’t be silently repeated. An assistant connected over MCP inherits exactly your permissions, it can never do anything you couldn’t do yourself. > **Use case: the monthly report that writes itself.** > > A works supervisor connects Claude to their GIS Cloud account once. At month end: *“Read the June inspections layer, summarise completions and failures by district, and draft the monthly report.”* The assistant queries the live layers (not a stale export) and produces the draft for review. What used to be an export-to-spreadsheet-and-write afternoon becomes a request and a read-through. ## **Security, privacy, and staying in control** **GIS Cloud AI keeps a human in the loop on every action and runs on an ISO 27001-certified platform.** Where does your data go? Nowhere you don’t send it. - **You confirm everything.** Suggested values, classifications, selections, and edits are proposals until you accept them. Destructive actions (which have no undo) carry an explicit warning first. - **Your data is not used for AI training.** Data is sent to the AI provider only for the duration of a request. - **The AI cannot run arbitrary SQL.** Reads and writes go through validated, structured queries scoped to your own data. - **Conversations are private to you**. Colleagues in your organisation cannot read or list your threads. - **You control AI on shared data.** Whether people you’ve shared maps, layers, or datasources with can use AI on that data, built-in or external over MCP, is **off by default**. You enable it, and choose the level, in Account settings. - **ISO 27001 certified**, with on-premises deployment and EU data residency available for organisations with stricter requirements. For procurement or security reviews, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for documentation. → Read more: [Security and trust in GIS Cloud AI](https://www.giscloud.com/security/) ## **Who it’s for** - **Government & public sector** – spatial data usable across departments, not just the GIS team; ISO 27001, on-premises, and EU residency support procurement requirements. - **Utilities (water, electric, telecom)** – query networks in plain language, fill field inspections by photo or voice, build monitoring dashboards. - **Engineering & construction** – turn field measurement and inspection data into answers without a translation layer. - **Anyone with spatial data and no GIS specialist on hand** – the whole product is built for non-experts, with the experts kept firmly in charge of standards and sign-off. ![GIS Cloud AI - who should use it](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/intext-05-who-its-for-1.png) ## **Frequently asked questions** **Does GIS Cloud AI use my data to train AI models?** No. Data is sent to the AI provider only for the duration of the request and is not used for training. GIS Cloud is ISO 27001 certified, with on-premises and EU data-residency options. **Do I need GIS experience to use it?** No, that is the point. You work in plain language. GIS expertise remains valuable for standards and validation, but it is no longer required to get answers from your data. **Can it do several things in one request?** Yes. Ask AI chains actions: a single request can create a map, add a layer, classify the features, create a form, and link it; executed in order, with your confirmation on the changes. **Can it generate reports?** Reporting is most flexible through MCP: connect an AI client such as Claude or ChatGPT and it can read your live layers and produce reports. The built-in assistant focuses on analysis, creation, and field workflows. **Does AI Form Fill work offline?** No, it needs a network connection to reach the AI service. The rest of Mobile Data Collection retains its offline capability; AI suggestions resume when you’re back online. **Can the AI change my data without asking?** No. Every change is proposed behind an action button or a confirmation step, and destructive operations (which have no undo) carry an explicit warning. Over MCP, destructive actions additionally require a single-use, two-step confirmation. **Where does it work?** Ask AI runs in the Map Editor, Map Viewer, Contributor, MDCP, and Manager (apps on the GIS Cloud platform). AI Form Fill works in the MDC mobile app and the Map Editor on the web. AI App Builder opens from Manager. MCP works with any MCP-compatible AI client. **Which languages does it support?** Ask AI detects your language automatically and is multilingual, and it can add or preserve multilingual labels on forms while it builds them. **Is it available now?** Yes, GIS Cloud AI is available to all users, with AI usage costs covered during the launch period. ## **Get started** GIS Cloud AI is available to everyone. Open any map, look for **Ask AI**, and start with one of the suggestion chips or type the thing you’ve been putting off: *“Create a data collection project for…”* [**Start free**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) · [**Book a walkthrough**](https://www.giscloud.com/book-a-demo/) · [**Read the launch announcement**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/launching-gis-cloud-ai-ask-your-data-fill-forms-from-a-photo-build-apps-from-a-sentence/) *Used by governments, utilities, and engineering teams in 60+ countries.* Related content: GIS Cloud Track – Complete Feature Overview GIS Cloud Geocoder: Your Guide to Easy and Accurate Mapping The Ultimate GIS Guide: Things You’re Doing Wrong and How to Fix Them! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AI Form fill, App Builder, custom GIS app, generative GIS, GIS AI, GIS Cloud AI, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [Edit Thousands of Features at Once - Bulk Edit Is Here!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/edit-thousands-of-features-at-once-bulk-edit-is-here-2/) **Published:** May 4, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bulk-edit.png) Every GIS Cloud user has been there. You’ve spent the day in the field inspecting assets, collecting data, and verifying conditions. Now you’re back at your desk with 50, 200, maybe 1,000 features that all need the same status update. And you’re clicking into each one. One at a time. Or worse – you’re exporting to QGIS, making the changes there, and importing back. Or running a CSV export-import cycle just to update one column. **Those days are over.** ## **What Is Bulk Edit in GIS Cloud?** Bulk Edit lets you select multiple features – on the map or in the datagrid – and open a single form that applies your changes to all of them at once. Select features, click “Edit features,” change the fields you need, save. That’s it. The form looks exactly like the one you already know. Same fields, same layout, same validations. The only difference: it now shows you aggregated data across all selected features and lets you edit their attributes together. When selected features have different values, the form clearly indicates which fields are mixed – so you always know exactly what you’re changing before you hit save. ## **How to Bulk Edit Feature Attributes** 1. **Select features** using lasso, area select, Ctrl+click on the map, or checkboxes in the datagrid. 2. **Click “Edit features.”** A familiar form panel appears, showing “Editing N features.” 3. **See what’s different.** Fields with mixed values across features are clearly marked. 4. **Change what you need.** Only the fields you touch get updated. Everything else stays exactly as it was on each feature. 5. **Review and confirm.** A confirmation summary shows every change before it’s applied. No surprises. For a detailed walkthrough with screenshots, see our[ step-by-step tutorial in the Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-bulk-edit-feature-attributes/). ## **Form Rules Work in Bulk – Validations, Dependencies, Automations** This was important to us. Bulk editing doesn’t bypass your form configuration – it respects it completely: - **Dependencies** work as expected. Change a parent field and the dependent fields appear or disappear – just like in single-feature editing. - **Automations** fire immediately. Set a status to “Completed” and watch the progress fields auto-fill – for every selected feature individually. - **Validations and required fields** are enforced. Nothing gets saved that shouldn’t. - **Read-only fields** stay read-only. Even complex scenarios are handled correctly. For example, setting 200 features to “Completed” where each has a different value that needs to be preserved during auto-complete, triggered by the completed status. The system resolves automations per feature, not as a blanket overwrite. ## **No More QGIS Round-Trips or CSV Exports** Before Bulk Edit, updating attributes across multiple features meant one of three things: clicking into each feature one at a time, exporting to QGIS for batch changes, or running a CSV export-import cycle. Each approach is slow, error-prone, and breaks the real-time workflow. Now it’s: select → edit → save. Directly in GIS Cloud, in your browser, with your form rules intact. No external tools, no file juggling, no post-processing. ## **Built for Scale – From 10 Features to Thousands** Most bulk edit operations involve 10 to 100 features. But we’ve built it to handle thousands. Whether you’re updating a handful of assets after a routine inspection or processing an entire dataset, Bulk Edit scales to your work – instantly. There’s no enforced feature limit. The same form, the same validation logic, the same confirmation flow – whether you’ve selected 3 features or 300,000. ## **Available Now in Map Editor** Bulk editing feature attributes is available now in GIS Cloud Map Editor. It works on any layer – with or without a configured form – and scales from a handful of features to thousands. We’re already working on bringing bulk editing to mobile data collection, so your field teams can make bulk updates directly from their phones. More on that soon. **Ready to try it?**[ Open Map Editor](/sign-in/), select some features, and click “Edit features.” Your data workflow just got a lot faster. Related content: Bulk Editing Feature Attributes: GIS Cloud vs ArcGIS Online, Fulcrum, and QGIS How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app **Categories:** Blog, New Feature Release --- ### [GIS Cloud AI is live: ask your data, fill forms from a photo, build apps from a sentence](https://www.giscloud.com/new-feature-release/launching-gis-cloud-ai-ask-your-data-fill-forms-from-a-photo-build-apps-from-a-sentence/) **Published:** July 1, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![AI-native GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GIS-CLOUD-AI-hero-s.png) For years, AI in geospatial mostly meant computer vision: object detection, land-use classification, pulling insight out of satellite imagery. Useful, but narrow, and almost always the domain of specialists. We have been working on a different question. What if you could describe what you want in plain language, and the platform did the GIS work behind it? **Today we are releasing [GIS Cloud AI](/ai/) to everyone**. It is the biggest change to how people use GIS Cloud since we first put the map editor in the browser, and it runs across the whole platform, from capturing data in the field to building the maps, analysis, apps, and reports you make decisions with. It is not a single chatbot bolted onto the side of the app. It is a set of capabilities, each aimed at a different part of the everyday work, and all built on the same rule: the **AI proposes, and you confirm**. Nothing is saved until you say so. ## **Ask AI: work with your data in plain language** Open the assistant where you already work, in the [Map Editor](/apps/map-editor/), Viewer, Contributor, the [Mobile Data Collection](/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, or Manager, and ask in your own words. Count features, filter by attribute, compare across layers, select features on the map, classify by a value, create a map, build a layer. **You can ask across several layers and maps in one conversation, and a single request can chain steps**: create a map, add a layer, classify by status, then build a form and link it. Type or speak, in any language, and it answers in the one you used. It proposes the action and shows you what it will do. You confirm before anything is saved. ## **AI Form Builder: describe what you need to capture** Tell the AI what a project needs to collect, for mobile or office, and it builds the form: the fields, the types, the structure. It suggests fields you might have missed, and it can improve forms you already have. The form you would have spent an afternoon configuring takes a sentence. ## **AI Form Fill: from a photo or your voice to a filled form** Stop typing what you can already see. Point your camera at an asset, and AI Form Fill understands what it is looking at, the asset itself and the situation around it, and drafts the whole form against the fields and structure you have defined. **It can identify the object and its type, read a condition or state, write a descriptive note, and pull out the specific details your form asks for, mapping each one to the right field.** Every value comes with a confidence level, so you know at a glance what to trust and what to check. Prefer to talk? Describe what you are looking at and it does the same from your words. Every extra photo or sentence sharpens the result. You review, edit, or revert before saving. Nothing is stored automatically. It works in the Mobile Data Collection app for field crews and in the web Map Editor for the office, including bulk updates across many records. ## **AI App Builder: describe an app, get an app** Describe the app you need, a reporting app, a monitoring dashboard, a city portal, and AI App Builder generates it, then lets you refine it through conversation: change a chart to a map, add a date filter, adjust the layout. Generated apps can include a branded PDF report export. No code, and no separate publishing step. ## **MCP Integration: bring your own AI** Already work inside an AI assistant? GIS Cloud supports the Model Context Protocol, the open standard that lets AI clients connect to external tools and data. **Connect a client such as Claude or ChatGPT to your GIS Cloud data through 55 tools**, and work with maps, layers, features, queries, forms, and files directly from the assistant. You control exactly what each client can access, and writes are previewed and confirmed before they run. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/MCP-Flow-Transparent-s.png) ## **Built to be trusted** **Every value and action above is a proposal you review before it is saved**. That human-in-the-loop model is a deliberate design choice, not an afterthought, and it matters most in GIS, where a wrong edit can ripple straight into a live operational system. AI also raises a fair question, especially for larger organizations: where does my data go? **GIS Cloud AI is powered by Anthropic’s Claude, used under strict data-protection terms, and your data is never used to train anyone’s models**. For organizations with stricter requirements, other models are available on demand, including self-hosted ones inside your own environment, alongside EU data residency and on-premises options. [GIS Cloud is ISO 27001 certified](/blog/gis-cloud-earns-iso-27001-stronger-security-for-your-gis-data/) (November 2025). You decide whether to use GIS Cloud AI, and you control whether the third-party users you share data with can use it on your data. That access is off by default. We wrote separately about why we designed it this way, including what the certification means for you. Read more on our [security and trust](/security/) page. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Editor-MDC-AI-s.png) ## **It does not replace expertise, it removes the bottleneck** For a long time, too much depended on a handful of specialists. Every map, every query, every report routed through the same few people. GIS Cloud AI changes that without changing who is in charge. GIS expertise still matters, and the people who have it still set the standards and have the final say. What changes is that the routine work stops queuing behind them. Experienced users go faster because they are not buried in everyday requests, and more of the team can do the simpler things themselves, in plain language. The expert reviews and confirms; the AI does the legwork. ## **Available today** GIS Cloud AI is available now to everyone, included in your subscription with fair use applied. Open any map, look for Ask AI, and start a conversation. If you would like a walkthrough for your team, get in touch. We are happy to show you how it fits your workflow, and we would genuinely like to hear what works and what does not, so we can make it better with you. [Try GIS Cloud AI free →](/sign-up/) Related content: Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) **Categories:** Blog, New Feature Release **Tags:** AI, App Builder, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Cloud AI, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS --- ### [Organic Certification of Smallholder Farmers](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/organic-certification-of-smallholder-farmers/) **Published:** January 23, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Uganda Farmers EU Organic Certification](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Organic-Certification-ADDA-GIS.png) **ADDA**, [Agricultural Development Denmark Asia](https://adda.dk/en/front-2/), and partners have enabled 300 smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda to obtain an EU Organic Certification through digitization with GIS Cloud. Soybeans have gone from being an alternative crop to a global market mover. This shift in agriculture has given small Ugandan farmers a stage on the world market with a high-demand product. Working with ADDA and using GIS Cloud, these small farmers have made their products more valuable, improving their livelihoods and communities. We will walk you through the steps to get certified and how GIS Cloud’s tools support the entire process. ![Soybean Smallholder Farmers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ugandan-Farmers-holding-EU-Organic-Certificate.png) *A group of Ugandan small-scale farmers received their EU Organic Certificate.* ## The Importance of Certified Organic Soybeans During the past few decades, global production of soybeans has increased dramatically from approximately 220 million tons in 2008 to 333 million tons in 2018. During the same period, soybeans became one of the leading agricultural commodities traded globally. According to industry experts, soybeans have an 184 billion dollar global market. It is expected to reach $250 billion by the decade’s end. Earning an EU Organic Certification makes the soybeans produced in Northern Uganda competitive on the global market and promotes the sustainability of the farmers. Soybeans are used in food, fuel, and feed products. They have grown in popularity as a product and crop since the nitrogen-fixing soybeans return nitrogen from the air to the soil. This makes them an ideal rotation crop with corn. Common soybean food products include tofu, soy milk, and soybean oil. Soybeans have a high concentration of protein while being low in fat and cholesterol. Soybeans are used to produce biodiesel as a fuel. As a drop-in fuel, soybean-based biodiesel can be used in machinery without swapping parts or converting fuel systems. Because of their high protein content, soybeans have become a staple in the diets of farm-raised fish, poultry, pigs, and cows. About 85% of all soybeans produced are used for animal feed. But as worldwide populations shift to more plant-based diets, the demand for soybeans for producing plant-based meat, milk, tofu, and cheese is growing globally. This increase in demand is putting pressure on producers to grow organic and use sustainable methods in their farming. Data on import volumes of organic products of the European Union (EU) show a consistent increase in imports of organic soybeans from overseas countries in many of which smallholder agricultural production is predominant: ![smallholder agricultural production](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Imports-to-the-EU-of-certified-organic-soybeans.png) While significant, the total annual imports to the EU of 191.9 thousand metric tons of ***certified organic soybeans*** in 2022 is a drop in the bucket compared to the total annual imports of conventional soybeans to the EU, an approximate 30 million metric tons. This clearly underscores that certified organic soybeans from smallholder farmers are still a tiny but significant and increasing fraction of the total soybean imports to the EU. Additionally, the price premium paid for sustainably grown organic soybeans over conventional soybeans makes organic soybeans an ideal crop for smallholder farmers across the Global South. ## EU Organic Certification Challenges Earning an EU Organic Certification is challenging enough. For a smallholder Ugandan farmer, it’s a monumental challenge. Before the involvement of ADDA and partners, obtaining an EU Organic Certification was beyond the reach of the Ugandan smallholder farmers. A prerequisite to obtaining an EU Organic Certification is that the local organization representing the farmers establishes an Internal Control System (ICS) to oversee and enforce the organic farming practices in the area. This ICS had to be established from scratch. ADDA’s partner, the [Danish Ugandan Friendship Association (DUFA)](https://dufa.dk/), worked closely with the local NGO, Global Health Network Uganda (GHNU), to establish a local Internal Control System (ICS). This ICS would document the organic food production process. This included training the smallholder farmers in organic farming practices and training the staff of GHNU in overseeing the implementation of these practices. The[ EU’s goals for organic farming](https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/organic-farming/organics-glance_en) include: - Maintaining the area’s biodiversity - Preserving ecological balance - Enhancing soil nutrients - Maintaining water quality. Quantifying and providing evidence of meeting these requirements using a paper-based solution would certainly be feasible with a very limited number of farmers. But as you scale up to hundreds of farmers, you need a fully digitalized system, which makes it possible to cross-verify the authenticity of the data with confidence and accuracy (Geo-tag and exact time of each monitoring visit). ## GIS Cloud’s Introduction to Uganda The introduction of GIS Cloud to the local partner GHNU in Uganda was very straightforward. At the outset of the project, a few online sessions were held with project staff to agree upon the questionnaires to be deployed to comply with the monitoring requirements of the ICS (Internal Control System) required by the EU Organic Regulations. The next step was to train the local staff using the GIS Cloud [**Mobile Data Collection App**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **(MDC)**. After a few hours, the team felt confident using the MDC application. The first data collection loop focused on collecting the polygons of the smallholder farmers’ fields and registering each farmer’s biometric data. The following data collection loops focused on monitoring the farmers’ organic farming practices and crop development in the field. In collaboration with the Danish Ugandan Friendship Association (DUFA) and the local NGO, Global Health Network Uganda (GHNU), ADDA leveraged the entire GIS Cloud toolbox from concept to certification. The team began the project in 2020 with the following goals: - Organize the 300 smallholder farmers in groups - Establish an Internal Control System (ICS) for documenting the organic farming methods with the local NGO, GNHU - Digitally document the organic farming practices of the farmers - Getting the farmers an Organic Certification from the EU ADDA has been using the GIS Cloud platform of tools since 2019. They had previously tested the different GIS Cloud products on[ farming projects in Tanzania](https://adda.dk/en/linking-small-scale-farmers-to-the-international-market-organic-sunflower/). ## Field data collection To obtain the EU Organic Certification, ADDA needed to capture data on organic farming practices and present it to the Accredited Certification Agency, Control Union. ADDA used locally available low-cost Android smartphones (TECNO) for field data collection. Equipped with these low-cost smartphones and the **Mobile Data Collection App (MDC)**, local farm advisors succeeded in mapping the 300 farms with precision and accuracy in a few weeks. The data collected (qualitative and quantitative data and photos) could be visualized and shared in real-time with project management in engaging [3D maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) in the GIS Cloud. All the farmers then received repeated follow-up visits by the farm advisors throughout the agricultural season, which were similarly registered in the [MDC App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). Each inspection record was timestamped and geo-tagged, providing auditors with data validation. The records also captured photos of the overall field, the planted rows, and close-ups of the soybean plants. This was invaluable as it was evidence of where, how, and when the organic farming practices were conducted. In real-time, the data was being reflected in GIS Cloud and presented on the desktop in a 3D environment on[ Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/). In[ Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), the team was able to filter and analyze the data. They were able to inspect the records by farm, data, region, and plant age. This analysis was then exported as[ custom reports](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/). ![Map Editor Custom Reports](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Photo-report-generated-by-GIS-Cloud.png) With the data available for download from GIS Cloud as a CSV, the ADDA team used a direct integration into[ Microsoft Power BI dashboards](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/). The dashboards presented interactive tables, graphs, and maps to project partners. ![Integration GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Dashboard-developed-in-Microsoft-Power-BI.png) The interactive GIS Cloud [3D maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) and field monitoring data constituted the backbone of the Internal Control System (ICS) during the Accredited Certification Agency, Control Union’s annual control visit in July 2021. In September 2021, the EU Organic Certificate was issued by the Control Union. ![field data collection dashboards integration](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ADDA-Smallholder-Data-Ecosystem.png) ## Future Implications and Scalability ADDA plans to continue using its GIS Cloud workflow for Uganda’s farming efforts. This documented and proven method of achieving and maintaining organic certification will continue to empower the local Ugandan farmers. ADDA is a global organization, as is GIS Cloud. The two organizations plan to support future projects throughout Africa and Asia. GIS Cloud’s success in functioning well on low-cost smartphones will prove to be a critical feature. Prior projects completed by the ADDA connected 4,000 Tanzanian farmers to international markets for organic produce. Using the same workflow, they can adjust the scale of their project scopes using GIS Cloud. ## Conclusion GIS Cloud proved to be the perfect solution for ADDA and Ugandan farmers. Maintaining their EU Organic Certification will be routine, keeping them competitive in the global soybean market. ADDA was successful in the implementation of GIS Cloud and its digital process. Next, they are deploying GIS Cloud to document compliance under the newly approved [EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR)](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en). This is a new mandatory requirement that all EU-based companies trading in 7 major commodities (soy, cattle, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, and rubber) have to comply with. This regulation aims to reduce deforestation caused by commodities delivered to the EU. Operators and traders will have to prove that the products are both deforestation-free (produced on land that was not subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020) and legal (compliant with all relevant applicable laws in force in the country of production). Companies will also be required to collect precise geographical information on the farmland where the commodities they source have been grown to be checked for compliance. If you want to digitize your farming operation, sign up for**[ our 14 day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)** and test out all our premium products risk-free. Our Solution Consultants would happily provide their expertise if you have any questions. Feel free to contact ADDA directly to learn more about their digital journey and successful deployment of GIS Cloud to the benefit of smallholder farmers across Africa and Asia: Mikael Jonsson Vice-Chairman, ADDA Agricultural Development Denmark Asia Mobile +45 2835 4235 [www.adda.dk](http://www.adda.dk) ![Agricultural Development Denmark Asia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ADDA-logo-300x95.png) Related content: GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! Improving Crop Inventory And Crop Scouting With GIS Cloud Apps (Use Case) How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture WeForest – Improving the Forest Restoration Process in Zambia with GIS Cloud Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management --- ### [GIS Cloud Earns ISO 27001 — Stronger Security for Your GIS Data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-earns-iso-27001-stronger-security-for-your-gis-data/) **Published:** May 19, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Blog_hero_1536x864-1-s.png "GIS Cloud ISO 27001") GIS Cloud has been awarded ISO/IEC 27001 certification — the most widely recognized international standard for information security management. For our customers, this is a practical change with concrete benefits: faster procurement, simpler vendor reviews, and audited proof that the location data you trust us with is protected to the highest international standard. Here’s what it means for you, and what we did to get here. ## **What ISO 27001 Is — and Why It Matters for Geospatial Data** ISO/IEC 27001 is the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), published jointly by ISO and IEC. It defines how an organization must identify and assess information security risks, implement controls to mitigate them, and continuously monitor, audit, and improve the way it handles data. Certification is awarded only after a comprehensive independent audit by an accredited certification body. To maintain it, we go through annual third-party reviews and a full recertification audit every three years. It’s not a one-time achievement — it’s a sustained operating model. The reason ISO 27001 matters specifically for a geospatial platform is that location data is unusually sensitive. A utility’s [asset map](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) shows where every valve, transformer, or buried cable sits. A municipality’s parcel layer reflects ownership and zoning decisions. A [field inspection record](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) can include the exact GPS coordinates of damaged infrastructure, hazardous sites, or protected ecological areas. This is the kind of information that needs protection at a different level than ordinary business data — and ISO 27001 gives our customers an internationally audited guarantee that it gets it. ## **What Changes for You — Concretely** 1. **Procurement gets faster.** Security questionnaires and vendor risk assessments are routinely the slowest part of a buying cycle. Instead of your procurement and IT teams spending weeks answering custom questionnaires about us, they can rely on our ISO 27001 certificate as authoritative proof of our security posture. We’re hearing from new customers that this single change can compress evaluation cycles from months into weeks. 2. **Compliance alignment is stronger.** ISO 27001 provides a strong security foundation that overlaps substantially with the requirements of GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and major cybersecurity frameworks like NIST — which makes your own compliance work easier when you operate under any of these. If your organization operates under any of these — and most of our European, UK, and government customers do — working with an ISO 27001-certified vendor materially strengthens your own compliance position. 3. **Security is continuously audited, not just documented.** Many vendors claim “enterprise-grade security.” ISO 27001 means a third party verifies it every year, against a standardized framework, with public consequences if it falls short. That’s a categorically different kind of assurance. 4. **Nothing changes about how you use the platform.** There’s no price increase tied to certification. There’s no migration to do. No new logins. No changes to your existing data, maps, or integrations. The platform you use today is the same one — now with audited proof of how it’s built and operated. ## **For Government and Public-Sector Buyers** Most municipal and government RFPs in the UK, EU, and increasingly in North America and Australia now require ISO 27001 or an equivalent (SOC 2, NIST). Without one, vendors get eliminated at shortlist — often without ever speaking to the buyer’s team. This has historically been a barrier for smaller GIS vendors and a reason many [public-sector organizations](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/government/) defaulted to a small set of legacy providers regardless of fit. Earlier this year, a UK Combined Authority awarded us a multi-year framework contract with ISO 27001 as a defined requirement. We moved through procurement on the same timeline as the largest incumbents — something that simply wasn’t possible a year ago. ## **For Utilities, Engineering Firms, and Industrial Operators** For water, electric, telecom, [vegetation management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-management-for-electric-utilities/), and industrial operations, the concerns differ: asset data is competitively sensitive, field workers sync data from sometimes thousands of points, and internal audit functions scrutinize where data lives and who can touch it. ISO 27001 covers all of this end-to-end — access controls and audit trails, encryption in transit and at rest as field data syncs from mobile devices, supplier security across infrastructure providers, and documented incident response. If you’ve ever filled in a vendor security review for a field tool, this certification answers most of those questions before they’re asked. ## **What We Strengthened Along the Way** For our customers, the practical meaning is straightforward: the systems handling your maps, datasets, and field data are now governed by the same internationally recognized security framework trusted by banks, hospitals, and government agencies worldwide. Whether it’s parcel data, infrastructure maps, or field survey records, it’s protected by audited controls across every layer that touches it. Most of the work to achieve certification was deliberately invisible to end users — by design. The platform you log into looks the same. Behind it, the areas we hardened and documented include: - **Access management** — tighter control over who can access what, with regular access reviews - **Encryption** — robust encryption in transit and at rest for all customer data - **Incident response** — documented playbooks and tested procedures for any security event - **Supplier security** — every third-party vendor we rely on is assessed for security risk - **Business continuity** — regular testing of backups, recovery and disaster recovery procedures - **Secure development** — security checks integrated into every step of how we ship code - **Infrastructure security** — hardened controls across all hosting and operational environments - **People and training** — every member of the team trained on security policies, incident handling, and customer data discipline This was a company-wide effort spanning DevOps, Engineering, QA, Customer Success, and leadership. The certification we received reflects something that is now part of how every team works day-to-day — not a layer bolted on for audit. ## **Get Your Copy of the Certificate & Security Info** If you’d like a copy of our ISO 27001 certificate, a summary of the controls in our scope, or to discuss security in the context of a specific project or RFP, reach out to [your account manager](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or contact us at support@giscloud.com. We can also support your internal security review with walk-throughs, documentation, or a sit-down with our engineering team — the certificate is meant to make these reviews easier, not replace them. If you’re in the middle of a procurement process and need supporting documentation quickly, tell us that — we have a packaged set of materials ready to send. ## **A Milestone, Not a Finish Line** ISO 27001 closes a long-running gap and opens doors that have been closed to us in some markets. Earning the certificate was the baseline — and the certification itself is the guarantee that we keep improving. The standard requires continuous improvement: if we haven’t advanced from where we were at the previous audit, we don’t pass. As threats evolve and our platform grows, our security program is required to evolve with it — and is independently audited against that requirement every year. We will continue to be transparent about how we work, what we change, and how we protect your data. Thank you for trusting GIS Cloud with your geospatial data. This certification is for you. ## **About GIS Cloud** GIS Cloud is a cloud-based platform for collecting, managing, sharing, and analyzing geospatial data. Trusted by organizations in over 60 countries — across government, utilities, engineering, environmental, and field operations — GIS Cloud helps teams turn location data into faster, smarter decisions. **[Talk to our team](/contact/) about security and compliance** Related content: Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” How Secure Is Your Data In The Cloud And Other Safety Tips Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Bulk Editing Feature Attributes: GIS Cloud vs ArcGIS Online, Fulcrum, and QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/bulk-editing-feature-attributes-gis-cloud-vs-arcgis-online-fulcrum-and-qgis/) **Published:** May 7, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Bulk Edit Comparison](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Blog-Comparison-hero.png) If you manage spatial data at any scale, you’ve needed to update multiple features at once. Change a status field across 200 inspected assets. Set a date on everything in a construction zone. Mark a batch of records as verified. Every major GIS tool handles this differently — and the differences matter more than you’d think. We just launched[ bulk editing in GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/bulk-edit-feature-attributes-gis-cloud/), so we thought it was a good time to do an honest comparison: how does bulk editing actually work across the tools teams use most? ### **The tools we’re comparing** - **GIS Cloud** — online GIS platform (Map Editor, browser-based) - **ArcGIS Online** — Esri’s cloud platform (Map Viewer and Web Editor, browser-based) - **Fulcrum** — field data collection platform (browser-based) - **QGIS** — open-source desktop GIS ## **1. Can you edit all attributes in bulk?** **GIS Cloud:** Yes. Any field in your form — text, numbers, dropdowns, dates, checkboxes, radio buttons, file attachments — can be edited across all selected features at once. **ArcGIS Online:** Yes. Since February 2025, ArcGIS Online supports batch attribute updates in the Web Editor, expanded to Map Viewer in June 2025. Supports editing attributes across selected features with form layout visible. **Fulcrum:** Limited. Bulk actions cover only three fields: Status, Assignment, and Project. For full attribute editing across records, Fulcrum recommends CSV export and re-import. **QGIS:** Not form-based. QGIS offers the Field Calculator for bulk attribute updates, but this is a formula-based approach applied to the attribute table — not a form with field rules. Useful for calculated columns, less so for structured data entry workflows. ## **2. Is there a feature limit?** This is where the differences get serious. **GIS Cloud:** No enforced limit. We’ve tested with millions of features. Select as many as you need — the form opens, the logic runs, the save completes. In the browser. **ArcGIS Online:** Maximum 500 features per bulk edit operation. If your layer uses certain ArcGIS Arcade expressions, the limit drops to 50 features. For larger datasets, you’d need to batch your edits or use other tools. **Fulcrum:** Up to 10,000 records per batch action — but only for the three supported system fields (Status, Assignment, Project). Custom form fields can’t be bulk edited. **QGIS:** Limited by your machine’s RAM and processing power. Works well for moderate datasets on a capable machine, but it’s desktop-bound — no browser access, no real-time collaboration. ## **3. Do form rules work during bulk editing?** This is the capability that surprised us most when we looked at the competition. Form rules — dependencies between fields, required field validations, read-only protections — are critical for data integrity. When you’re editing 200 features at once, you need those rules more than ever, not less. **GIS Cloud:** Full support. Dependencies, automations, required fields, read-only fields, and validations all work during bulk editing — exactly as they do in single-feature editing. No exceptions. If a parent field change reveals dependent child fields, those fields appear. If an automation condition is met, the target field auto-fills. Required fields block save if empty. This all happens live in the form, before you click Save. **ArcGIS Online:** Partial. Esri states that when a form is configured on a layer, the bulk edit interface shows the form layout “with a few exceptions.” The documentation doesn’t specify which rules are excluded, but layers using Arcade-based form logic face the 50-feature limit noted above. **Fulcrum:** No form logic in bulk. The three supported bulk fields (Status, Assignment, Project) don’t involve form rules. **QGIS:** No form logic in bulk. The Field Calculator operates on raw attribute values, not through the form interface. ## **4. Do automations resolve per feature?** Here’s a scenario that happens daily in field operations: you select 200 solar panel racks and set their status to “Completed.” Each rack has a different quantification value — area, capacity, inspection count. An automation should calculate a progress percentage based on that rack’s own data. The question is: does each feature get its own calculated result, or does the system apply one blanket value to all 200? **GIS Cloud:** Per-feature resolution. Each feature’s automations are evaluated individually with that feature’s own data. Set 200 features to “Completed” and each one gets its own progress calculation, its own date stamps, its own derived values. This was a hard requirement from our client Vena Energy for solar farm inspection workflows — and it’s how we built it. **ArcGIS Online:** Not documented. The bulk edit documentation doesn’t mention per-feature automation resolution. Standard ArcGIS Arcade calculations in forms may apply, but per-feature conditional auto-fill during bulk operations is not a described capability. **Fulcrum:** Not applicable (bulk edit doesn’t cover calculated or automated fields). **QGIS:** The Field Calculator can apply formulas per-row, but this is a manual formula step — not an automatic trigger from a status change within a form. ## **5. Can you review changes before saving?** When you’re about to overwrite data on hundreds of features, you want to see exactly what’s changing before it happens. **GIS Cloud:** Yes — a confirmation modal appears before save. It lists every field being changed, what the old value was (or “Mixed values” if features had different data), and what the new value will be. You review, then confirm. If dependent fields will lose data because a parent changed, the modal warns you explicitly. **ArcGIS Online:** No confirmation step described in the documentation. Changes are applied when the user clicks the update button. **Fulcrum:** No confirmation step. **QGIS:** No confirmation step for Field Calculator operations. ## **6. Are updates visible in real time?** **GIS Cloud:** Yes. Changes are saved to the cloud and visible immediately to anyone viewing the same map — colleagues, stakeholders, field teams. No publish step, no sync, no export. **ArcGIS Online:** Yes. As a cloud platform, saved changes are visible to other users of the same feature layer. **Fulcrum:** Yes. Cloud-based, changes sync to other users. **QGIS:** No. QGIS is a desktop application. To share changes, you need to export data or publish to a server. No real-time collaboration on the same dataset. ## **7. Where does it run?** **GIS Cloud:** Browser. No install, no desktop license. Open a tab and start editing. **ArcGIS Online:** Browser. Requires an ArcGIS Online organizational account. **Fulcrum:** Browser (and mobile app for field collection). Requires a Fulcrum subscription. **QGIS:** Desktop only. Free and open source, but requires installation and runs locally. ## **Summary** ![Bulk Edit Comparison](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GC-Comparison.png) ## **What this means for your workflow** If your team’s bulk editing needs are simple — update a status on a few dozen features, no form rules involved — most of these tools will get the job done. But if you need bulk editing that actually respects your form configuration, handles automations per feature, and scales beyond 500 records without workarounds — that combination currently exists only in GIS Cloud. The difference isn’t theoretical. It’s the difference between: - Updating 2,000 inspected assets in one operation vs. batching them 500 at a time - Having automations calculate per-feature values vs. manually fixing blanket overwrites - Reviewing a change summary before saving vs. hoping you didn’t overwrite the wrong field ## **Try it** Bulk editing is available now in[ GIS Cloud Map Editor](/sign-in/). It works on any layer — with or without a configured form. For a step-by-step guide, see our[ Learning Center tutorial](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-bulk-edit-feature-attributes/). *This comparison is based on publicly available documentation as of May 2026. ArcGIS Online bulk edit capabilities were introduced in February 2025 and expanded in June 2025. If any information here is outdated, we’re happy to update it — reach out at info@giscloud.com.* Related content: QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Edit Thousands of Features at Once – Bulk Edit Is Here! How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Field-to-Report on One Live Map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/field-to-report/) **Published:** November 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![One Live Map, Faster Reports](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Field-to-Report-on-One-Live-Map-Cover-1024x536.png) Many projects still run on PDFs, spreadsheets, emails, and chat photos. Maps arrive as exports, not as a living source of truth. This slows approvals and drives rework. **GIS Cloud** fixes the gap with a **real-time live map**, **zero install**, and **predictable pricing** so anyone on the team can collect, see, and report from one place. ## **Why this gap matters now** **Rework costs real money.** Peer-reviewed research links rework to a large share of cost growth and **schedule overruns** [**up to 22%**](https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/4/606). Even a small reduction protects budget and time. Clean, time-stamped field evidence is the fastest way to catch issues early. **Public programs face high scrutiny.** A Northern Ireland Audit Office sample reported [**£1.94 billion** in overruns](https://sibni.org/app/uploads/2024/10/The-Root-Causes-of-Delay-and-Cost-Overruns-in-Major-Capital-Projects.pdf) across **11 capital projects**, with an **average delay of six years**. When budgets and timelines are under pressure, one trusted system that ties photos, forms, and status to location reduces audit queries. **Teams want quick, practical wins.** [Industry surveys](https://kpmg.com/xx/en/our-insights/operations/2023-global-construction-survey.html) show owners and E&C firms adopting digital tools that boost productivity and go live fast. Cloud, no-install systems fit this need and scale across portfolios. ![engineering construction infrastructure budget gaps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Missed-budget-schedule-targets-weak-fielt-to-report-1024x576.png) ## **What a modern field-to-report loop looks like with GIS Cloud** **Capture on site, once.** Field crews use guided mobile forms and photos. Every entry is geotagged, time-stamped, and linked to the right asset or location. Barcode and QR scanning speed up asset lookup. Data quality improves because information is captured where work happens. **See everything on one real-time live map.** Managers view status by site, unit, contractor, and date. Comments sit on the map feature, not in email threads. Quantity surveyors, inspectors, and PMs read the same current picture, which removes version chaos and shortens decisions. **Prove milestones, not just progress.** Photos and forms create an audit-ready trail. Exports for funders and authorities include dates, users, and coordinates. Clear before-and-after history reduces disputes, repeat visits, and claim friction. **Keep delivery moving across many sites.** Tasks roll up automatically. Portfolio [dashboards](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-custom-dashboard-using-the-gis-cloud-api/) show blockers early and highlight overdue checks or missing photos. Teams can drill from programme view to an individual asset in a click, so action is fast and aligned. **Fit your stack with zero install.** Users log in and start. No desktop installs. Open APIs connect GIS Cloud to planning, ERP, and document systems. Single sign-on and role-based access keep control simple for IT and project leads. **Scale with predictable pricing.** Start with one workflow, then add teams and sites. Program-wide plans remove per-site uncertainty and make budgeting clear for the year. You know the cost before rollout, which helps approvals and adoption. ## **See the savings story** ![Infographic showing “10% lost to rework” and how GIS Cloud protects budget with one live map, fewer return visits, single source of truth, and faster claims; example 6M € protected on a 100M € program.](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/10-Lost-To-Rework-1-724x1024.png) ## **Learn more and get started** Keep desktop GIS for deep analysis. Use **GIS Cloud** to run the daily field-to-report loop. One **real-time live map**, clean evidence, faster approvals, and less rework. With **zero install**, open APIs, and [**predictable pricing**](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/), adoption is fast and scaling is simple. If you have a project you want to test on **GIS Cloud**, our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) would be happy to talk and help you set it up. Related content: Field to Office: Real-Time GIS for AEC Projects Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Mapping Your Workflow – GIS for Roadworks Live Demo Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Construction, Roadworks, Utilities --- ### [Transform Water Operations Asset Management & Field Services](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/transform-water-operations-asset-management-field-services/) **Published:** March 28, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Field Services Digital](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Water-Operations-GIS-Asset-Management.png) In a time when water utilities are grappling with the dual challenges of climate change and growing demands for water services, the urgency for effective asset management is at an all-time high. Water utility operators, consultants, and managers face a wide range of problems, from **old infrastructure** to **increasing water losses** that don’t bring in revenue. So, why should water utilities **digitalize** their assets and operations? As discussed in our recent webinar, digital transformation is essential for addressing these issues head-on, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring a reliable water supply for communities. During our webinar, we looked into the specific problems water utilities face when trying to digitize and maintain critical infrastructure. By moving away from manual processes and [legacy systems](https://geoawesomeness.com/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/), organizations can enhance productivity, streamline service delivery, and **optimize costs**—all while ensuring the sustainable use of resources. However, we acknowledged that the road to digitization is not without obstacles, including **budget constraints**, **resistance to change**, and the complexity of integrating new technologies into existing systems. Our webinar covered these challenges in detail, providing insights into how water utilities can overcome them. We highlighted the importance of taking a step-by-step approach, addressing specific pain points, and leveraging the right tools to ensure a smooth transition. ## How GIS Cloud Can Help Water Utilities At the core of the discussion was GIS Cloud’s comprehensive solution tailored to the unique needs of water utilities. Here’s how GIS Cloud stood out during the webinar: nbsp; - **High Adoption Rates:** With its user-friendly interface and fast map engine, GIS Cloud ensures high adoption rates among field and office staff. - **Seamless Integration:** The platform supports easy integration with existing databases and systems, reducing the complexity of moving to digital processes. - **Customizable Modules:** Whether managing infrastructure, detecting leaks, or coordinating emergency responses, GIS Cloud offers flexible modules that meet the specific needs of water utilities. - **Scalable Deployment:** Whether you prefer cloud-based or on-premise deployment, GIS Cloud’s scalable options help organizations comply with regulations while keeping their data secure. We also explored how location intelligence can be a game changer, allowing utilities to optimize resource usage, respond quickly to challenges, and pave the way for a more sustainable future in water management. ## Watch the Webinar Recording If you missed the live session or would like to revisit the key takeaways, we invite you to watch the recording embedded in this post. Discover how your organization can tackle current challenges and start the journey towards digital transformation with GIS Cloud. Feel free to reach out to us at if you have any questions or need further assistance with your setup. Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Optimize GIS Water Asset Management with Document Linking Beyond Maps: How GIS is Redefining Utility Field Operations Collecting Field Data For A Water Distribution System In California **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [GIS Cloud for Local Authorities: Smarter Public Services](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-for-local-authorities/) **Published:** December 11, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![One live map for everyday operations](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GIS-for-Local-Authorities.png) ### *A practical guide for Local Authorities, agencies, and partners who need better visibility of their assets and programmes.* ## **Why the status quo is under pressure** Local services are pulled in two directions at once. Demand climbs while resources stay flat. About 55% of the world’s population already lives in urban areas, and this is [projected to rise](https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/2018-revision-of-world-urbanization-prospects.html) to around **68%** by 2050. That is more people depending on local roads, drains, housing, parks, and utilities that were never designed for this level of use. Across OECD countries, subnational [governments are responsible for](https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/public-investment-and-infrastructure.html) close to **60%** of total public investment, much of it in **infrastructure**. Regions, cities, and Local Authorities carry the real delivery risk, but they do so with tight budgets, recruitment problems, and a long list of national and local targets. If you work in highways, drainage, housing, parks, or corporate GIS, the pattern is familiar. There are more assets to manage, more intense rainfall, more scrutiny from regulators and auditors, and louder expectations from residents and councillors. When a pothole claim, a flood, or a housing safety incident hits the headlines, people expect clear answers in days, not months. Trying to manage that world with scattered spreadsheets, an ageing web GIS, manual inspections, and a pile of PDFs is not just awkward. It makes it hard to prove that you are doing the right jobs in the right places. GIS Cloud exists for this gap: **one live, online map** where assets, inspections, risks, and works come together in a way that Local Authorities and their partners can actually use. ## **The current problem – scattered data and reactive decisions** Most councils and agencies do not lack data. The problem is where it lives and how hard it is to join up. Highways may hold condition layers in a corporate GIS. Drainage teams keep gullies and manholes on a shared drive. Parks rely on a contractor system for trees. Housing has repairs data locked in a housing management platform. Spatial information sits in different systems, with different IDs and standards. Nobody owns the full picture. Publishing public-facing maps adds another layer of frustration. A simple consultation map or works viewer can mean tickets to IT or a specialist GIS admin. Viewers are hard to keep accessible and mobile-friendly. Many teams fall back to static PDFs which go out of date quickly and trigger complaints when residents spot errors. IT departments see the pressure but are wary of building and hosting yet another custom GIS stack. They want a secure SaaS that sits cleanly alongside existing cloud investments, rather than a bespoke application that will need constant patching. ![sits cleanly alongside existing cloud investments](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Map-Viewer-secure-SaaS.png) Licensing is messy. Tools sold per named user make it expensive to give proper access to internal colleagues, consultants, and contractors. A small group of “power users” get full access, while everyone else works from screenshots, exports, and email attachments. In the field, mobile capability is weak or missing. Inspectors still use paper, generic survey apps, or improvised camera workflows that are not tied to the asset base. Photos and notes live on phones or shared drives rather than in a structured database. Field work remains clunky, and office staff retype and clean data instead of analysing it. When a councillor asks why a specific road, estate, or park is still a problem after repeated complaints, the honest answer is often: “We need to pull a few systems together and check.” In a world of growing backlogs, that answer does not feel good enough. ### **A highways and drainage example** Take a county in the north of England dealing with repeat surface water flooding on a busy B-road. Residents send pictures of cars wading through water. The local paper runs the story. Scrutiny members ask for a clear explanation and plan. Highways and drainage teams pull gully locations from an old survey, cleaning routes from a contractor spreadsheet, flood complaints from the CRM, and CCTV findings from PDF reports. A GIS officer exports layers from QGIS that do not quite match the latest asset register. Everyone works hard, yet it still takes days to answer basic questions like “Which gullies in this catchment have not been cleaned in the last year?” and “Where do poor-condition assets line up with repeat complaints?” This is happening against a national backdrop where the [maintenance backlog](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6853c606df3015b374b73656/UK_Infrastructure_A_10_Year_Strategy_TEXT_PRINT.pdf) on local roads in England has been estimated at about **£15.6 billion** in 2023–24 and is still growing. When you are carrying a slice of that backlog, every misdirected visit and blind spot hurts. ### **A water and leakage example** Water services face the same visibility gap. In 2023–24, water companies in England and Wales [leaked an average](https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/supply-and-standards/leakage/) of **48.8 litres** of water per person per day. Regulators and the public expect firm plans to cut that loss. ![Source: Ofwat, using data from Ofwat, Scottish Water APRs, Northern Ireland Water APRs and ONS population data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/UK-leakage-chart-scaled-1.png) *Source: Ofwat, using data from Ofwat, Scottish Water APRs, Northern Ireland Water APRs and ONS population data.* Local Authorities, internal drainage boards, and utilities often lack a joined-up spatial view of where assets sit, how they perform, and where repeat incidents happen. Asset data, incident logs, and planned works live in different places. Teams respond to each event but struggle to show that they are consistently targeting the worst hotspots. In both examples, decisions rely on partial information, long-term memory, and whoever shouts loudest in a meeting. That is reactive working, not planned, risk-based asset management. ## **The GIS angle – what changes when everything is on one map** The key question is simple: what happens when you can see assets, inspections, risks, and works on one live map instead of across ten tools and twenty folders? Once that map exists, patterns emerge that you could not see before. Housing blocks with repeated damp complaints stand out near known drainage constraints. Serious road defects cluster on a bus corridor that also has frequent utility works. Tree-lined streets with old inspection dates sit next to busy play areas. GIS is the engine behind that map. For Local Authorities and agencies, the value is practical: - faster, more confident decisions - fewer wasted visits - stronger evidence for funding bids and safety cases - and public and partner maps that stay closer to reality ![faster, more confident decisions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Share-forms-Utility-power-poles-.png) GIS Cloud is built to provide that shared map without another heavy on-premise stack. It runs as a SaaS platform and can integrate with your existing cloud environment, often based on Azure or similar, using open APIs and secure connections. Its core products each have a clear role. [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) lets field staff capture inspections, defects, and photos with GPS and structured forms, including offline. [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) gives GIS and data teams control over layers, schemas, styling, and permissions in the browser. [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) lets internal users explore live maps, turn layers on and off, and query data without needing full GIS training. [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) provides public-facing or partner-facing maps from the same source while keeping sensitive information restricted. Many councils and agencies already pair GIS Cloud with **QGIS**. Analysts continue to use QGIS for heavy editing and analysis. They publish layers into GIS Cloud, where **Map Editor**, **Map Viewer**, and **Map Portal** handle web publishing and daily access. **Mobile Data Collection** feeds fresh data back into those layers. This [hybrid model](https://geoawesome.com/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) respects existing skills and licences while fixing two common weaknesses: mobile work and easy web access for non-specialists. ## **How GIS Cloud supports real workflows** ### **Highways and streets – from potholes to planned resurfacing** On highways, the pressure is not just fixing complaints. It is explaining why one road gets resurfaced while another waits, using evidence rather than instinct. With GIS Cloud, inspectors use **Mobile Data Collection** on phones or tablets along their routes. [They record](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) potholes, edge failure, rutting, and other defects with severity and photos, tied to the correct road segment. If there is **no signal, data syncs later**. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-forms.png) In the office, inspections appear on shared maps in **Map Editor** and **Map Viewer**. Highways managers filter for [severe defects on strategic routes](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/) and check trends by ward. Clusters of serious issues become obvious and can be grouped into works packages instead of scattered jobs. GIS staff use **Map Editor** to adjust schemas, add risk scores, and set up views for different programmes, such as safety repairs or capital resurfacing, **without leaning on IT**. When members ask for a map of the worst roads in their division, **Map Viewer** and **Map Portal** can provide a controlled view from the same data. ![controlled view from the same data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Map-Viewer-and-Map-Portal.jpg) ### **Drainage and water – targeting the real hotspots** Drainage and water management depend on knowing where assets, incidents, and planned works intersect. Teams start by [consolidating records](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-paper-to-digital-water-valves-exercise-logs/) of gullies, manholes, culverts, and other assets into GIS Cloud via **Map Editor**. Some data comes from QGIS, some from spreadsheets, some from CAD. Once loaded and given consistent IDs, it becomes a usable base map. Field staff use **Mobile Data Collection** for inspections. Each visit records silt level, condition, access issues, and whether cleaning was done. Flooding incidents and “ponding” reports are logged on the map. Over time, **Map Viewer** reveals where [poor-condition assets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-mobile-applications-for-leak-detection/) and repeat incidents overlap, especially near hospitals, schools, or key junctions. Engineers plan [CCTV surveys](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/transform-cctv-inspections-with-the-mobile-data-collection/) and jetting based on risk rather than fixed routes. Works plans appear as layers in **Map Editor** and can be shared through **Map Portal** with water companies or neighbouring authorities. ### **Parks, trees, and street scene – safer and cleaner public spaces** Parks, trees, and street scene services live under constant public and political attention. A serious tree failure, an unsafe play area, or persistent litter can escalate fast. Tree officers maintain an inventory in **Map Editor** or QGIS and carry out inspections with **Mobile Data Collection**. They log structural defects, disease signs, and recommended works on site. Parks and playground staff use similar forms for equipment checks and damaged furniture. Street scene teams record overflowing bins and graffiti. ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) All this flows into [one map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/). Supervisors open **Map Viewer** and see which trees have high-risk scores and overdue inspections, which playgrounds need follow-up, and which streets show repeated problems. They plan rounds that mix tree works, play inspections, and cleansing in the same area. ![custom design](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Asset-Inspection-Report.png) Through **Map Portal**, councils can publish selected layers, such as play areas, parks, and live improvement projects, from the same source. Public maps stay closer to reality because they draw from the same live data that field staff update. ## **Practical steps – starting small with GIS Cloud** The most successful Local Authorities do not begin with a grand multi-year plan. They start with a focused pilot. 1. **Pick one high-impact use case. Choose something concrete and visible: gullies on a flood-prone corridor, potholes in a town centre, or tree inspections around schools. 2. **Bring existing data into one project. Export what you have from QGIS and other systems. Use [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) 3. **Create a simple field form. Build a [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) form that matches how crews speak. Keep mandatory fields to essentials so it feels faster than paper. 4. **Pilot with a small group. Involve a handful of inspectors, supervisors, or contractor staff. Training should focus on how the new workflow reduces double entry and protects them when there are queries. 5. **Run the pilot for a set area. Use one route, ward, or cluster of estates for a few weeks. Check data quality in [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), refine the form, and start using a simple manager view in real meetings. **Capture stories and numbers. At the end, collect evidence such as fewer missed assets, quicker reports, and clearer responses to councillors. Use that evidence to justify expanding the scope or connecting to other systems. ![quicker reports, and clearer responses to councillors](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Map-Export-2-p-800.png) ## **Common hurdles and how to handle them** Certain worries come up in almost every organisation. *“****Our data is too messy.****”* Waiting for perfect data keeps you stuck. Use GIS Cloud as the place where data improves. Import what you have and let **Mobile Data Collection** add structure and better locations over time. *“****Staff will not adopt another system.****”* Adoption improves when people see less paperwork and clearer protection. If inspectors know that entering data once on a device means no retyping and fewer disputes later, they are more likely to engage. Start with a small group, listen to feedback, and adjust forms quickly. *“****We already have corporate GIS and asset systems.****”* That is normal. Think of GIS Cloud as the layer that makes those systems usable for more people. Keep QGIS and existing asset databases where they make sense, and use GIS Cloud for mobile work, browser-based editing via **Map Editor**, and sharing through **Map Viewer** and **Map Portal**. *“****IT only wants SaaS that fits our cloud strategy.****”* GIS Cloud is delivered as a managed service. There are no new servers to build and patch, and it can sit alongside your existing tools. Connections use **API**s rather than custom installations. *“****Licensing is already a nightmare.****”* A platform like GIS Cloud makes it easier to distinguish between editors, internal viewers, and public access. Consultants and contractors can be brought in without handing out full desktop licences, and public access is handled through **Map Portal** instead of ad-hoc workarounds. ## **Conclusion and next step** Local Authorities, government agencies, utilities, and civil engineering partners carry major responsibilities for roads, drains, housing, and public spaces. They also carry the political and financial risk when things go wrong. Urbanisation, climate pressure, and ageing infrastructure are not going away. **You cannot manage what you cannot see.** When spatial data sits in silos, public maps are hard to publish, mobile capability is weak, and every small change needs a ticket, it becomes almost impossible to run a planned, risk-based service. **GIS Cloud for local authorities** offers a different pattern: - [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) raises the quality of field data. - [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) lets GIS and data teams shape and control layers without leaning on IT. - [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) puts a clear interface in front of officers and managers who just need answers. - [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) makes it realistic to share selected maps with residents and partners from the same live source. Used on its own or in a [hybrid model](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) with QGIS and your **existing cloud stack**, GIS Cloud gives you what many teams have been asking for: **a modern, cloud-based platform** that fits governance and security requirements and makes it realistic to move away from scattered spreadsheets and siloed systems. You do not need a big-bang “smart city” programme. One asset group, one corridor, or one estate is enough to show that working from a single live map reduces surprises and strengthens your evidence base. If this sounds familiar in your highways, drainage, housing, parks, or utilities team, the next step is straightforward: [**talk to us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) about piloting GIS Cloud for one asset group so your teams, contractors, and management can finally work from the **same live map**. Related content: GIS Built for Local Authorities Geospatial Technology for Building Smarter Cities Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS MetaSUB Use Case: Building Healthier and Smarter Cities with the Help of GIS GIS Cloud Services **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Government, Roadworks --- ### [Field to Office: Real-Time GIS for AEC Projects](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-time-gis-for-aec-projects/) **Published:** October 27, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS for AEC Projects One Live Map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Field-to-Office-Real-Time-GIS-for-AEC-Projects.png) You do not need another platform. You need one live map that everyone trusts. When field updates appear instantly for the office, and office decisions reach crews in minutes, projects move faster, site visits drop, and reviews stay on schedule. ## **The pains AEC teams face today** Most AEC teams still juggle point tools. Field data lives in a mobile app. As-builts sit in folders. BIM and sensors live elsewhere. The result is slow reviews, duplicate surveys, and rework. Leaders also face budget risk: usage-based pricing, add-on connectors, and long deployments that stall momentum. ## **Why now: real-time GIS goes mainstream** Cloud-first GIS has matured. With real-time collaboration, teams report up to **40% faster job completion** and **50% higher operational efficiency** when everyone works from a single live map. True offline capture keeps work moving in basements, tunnels, and rural zones. Open APIs connect BIM, IoT, and digital twins without lock-in. Time-to-value is measured in days, not quarters. ![GIS Cloud Common objections answered](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Real-time-GIS-Cloud-goes-mainstream-1024x576.png) ## **How GIS Cloud solves it** **Zero-install, cloud-first.** Start in a browser and on mobile. No desktop installs. **True offline, instant sync.** Capture once, sync when online, see it everywhere. **Fast visualization on large datasets.** Render big layers and frequent updates without delays. **Open by design.** Use [APIs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) to connect BIM, sensors, and enterprise data you already own. **Predictable pricing.** Avoid surprises from usage or connector fees; plan with confidence. **Start small, scale fast.** Pilot a site or corridor, then expand across programs. ## **Mini scenes from the field** **1) Utilities, exercise logs that actually drive decisions. A water utility moves valve [exercise logs from paper to a simple mobile form](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-paper-to-digital-water-valves-exercise-logs/). Crews record position, torque, turns, and pass/fail in offline mode. Data syncs to a live map that supervisors open during morning stand-ups. Failed assets trigger follow-up tasks in minutes, not weeks. **2) Contractors, as-builts without repeat visits. A GC captures trenches, duct banks, and changes as they happen. Photos and geometry sync from phones to the site map in real time. Reviewers mark items resolved without another site trip. The team reports fewer revisits and faster close-outs because decisions happen on the same day. **3) Local roads, one map for permits and works. A [city team](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-built-for-local-authorities/) coordinates resurfacing, signage, and utility openings on a shared map. Inspectors update status in the field; office staff see conflicts early. The result is [smoother traffic management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) and fewer resident complaints. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-forms-1024x878.png) ## **Common objections, answered** **“We can’t rip and replace.”** You do not have to. GIS Cloud fits existing workflows and sits beside your current systems via open APIs. Start with one use case, inspections, redlines, or permits, then expand. **“Our data is large and changes often.”** That is where we excel. The platform [renders large datasets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-large-raster-maps-and-drone-imagery-with-gis-cloud/) quickly and handles frequent updates from crews and sensors. **“Offline will break our flow.”** [Offline capture](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/) on iOS and Android is proven across thousands of projects. Crews sync when back online; the office sees updates within minutes. **“Budget is uncertain.”** [Pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) is transparent and predictable. There are no surprise usage or connector fees, so you can forecast with confidence. ![Real-time GIS Cloud goes mainstream](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GIS-Cloud-Common-objections-answered-1024x576.png) ## **Next steps** Want to preview our approach? Read: - [*Real-Time Maps for Construction & Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-time-maps-for-construction-utilities/) - [*From Site to Skyline: A Conversation with Andrew Loveless on Real-Time Insight](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-site-to-skyline-a-conversation-with-andrew-loveless-on-real-time-insight/) Come ready to compare. We will show you how one live map can deliver speed, control, simplicity, and cost predictability, **now, not next quarter.** Related content: From Site to Skyline: A Conversation with Andrew Loveless on Real-Time Insight Field-to-Report on One Live Map Real-Time Maps for Construction & Utilities Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Construction, Roadworks, Utilities, Utilities - Other --- ### [Real-Time Maps for Construction & Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-time-maps-for-construction-utilities/) **Published:** October 23, 2025 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** Adopt real-time maps for construction and utilities to align field and office on one live source of truth. Start small, scale fast, and see ROI with GIS Cloud. **Content:** ![Real-time GIS for construction & utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Map-Once.-Align-Everyone..png) If you build, maintain, or modernize critical infrastructure, you need real-time maps for construction and utilities that everyone can trust. When field crews, office teams, and stakeholders work from the same live map, decisions speed up, risks drop, and documentation finally keeps pace with reality. With GIS Cloud, you can **start small, scale fast, and realize immediate ROI**, often in weeks, not months. ## **What “real-time” looks like on the ground** ### Construction & Civil Engineering Capture once, use everywhere. Field teams collect photos, GPS points, materials, and inspections on mobile. Office teams validate in minutes. Stakeholders see live status, evidence, and notes on a single map, **so close-outs are faster** and **rework shrinks**. ### Utilities & Network Operators For valves, hydrants, poles, meters, and stations, stale data is expensive. Inspectors update assets on-site, conditions, photos, even CCTV links, so [dashboards](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-custom-dashboard-using-the-gis-cloud-api/) and compliance [reports](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/) reflect reality without the end-of-quarter scramble. Supervisors can reassign crews from a live view. ### Local Government & Agencies Modernize without heavy IT. Stand up cloud maps for planning, permitting, asset management, and [public portals](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/). Share specific views with contractors and citizens to increase transparency and shorten turnaround times. ### Developers & Owners Place constraints and design intent in context. Share interactive maps with partners or investors via a simple link, keeping everyone aligned as conditions change from zoning layers to on-site progress. ![gis cloud view and access maps and data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Viewer-2023-Blue-crop.png) ## **Why teams are moving now** Cloud-first geospatial has become the backbone of faster, more connected delivery. GIS Cloud’s open, interoperable platform plugs into the tools you already use, BIM, work management, even IoT, so your data flows from **capture → review → decision** without friction. As a result, organizations see measurable gains in project speed, operational efficiency, and compliance quality. ## **The playbook: start small, scale fast** Choose one high-friction workflow. Prove value quickly. Then expand with confidence. 1. **Digital site inspections** Replace paper with mobile forms and geotagged media. Auto-generate supervisor and funding reports from the same source of truth. 2. **As-built asset capture** Record precise locations and attributes once. Navigate back in the field from any device and keep a living record for operations. 3. **Network maintenance & compliance** Standardize inspections (poles, meters, hydrants, manholes), attach evidence, and prioritize work from a live map so reporting becomes a byproduct, not a separate project. 4. **Partner & public portals** Publish curated views to contractors and citizens to reduce email threads, cut FOIA churn, and build trust, without exposing internal layers. ![asset management water](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg) ## **How GIS Cloud fits your stack** - **Collect once:** [Mobile apps](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) capture asset data, photos, and locations with timestamps and user attribution. - **Validate fast:** Office review and approvals tighten handoffs and keep projects moving. - **Share securely:** Role-based permissions surface the right view to field users, PMs, executives, partners, or the public. - **Integrate openly:** APIs and data interoperability connect GIS Cloud with BIM, asset systems, your existing stack, and emerging digital-twin pipelines. The outcome is simple: **one live source of truth** that reduces rework, supports sustainability, and keeps everyone aligned from first survey to final sign-off. ![Power BI GIS PowerApps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Integration-Automation-1024x384.png) ## **Ready to see your own workflow on a live map?** - Start a [14-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) to explore GIS Cloud with your data. - Or request a [**DEMO**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) with our **Solution Consultant** for a tailored walkthrough and a practical rollout plan you can run this quarter. **Start on one site. Prove the value. Then scale it across your network.** That’s how real-time mapping becomes the easiest part of your build. Related content: From Site to Skyline: A Conversation with Andrew Loveless on Real-Time Insight Grounded Innovation: Reflections on GEO Business & Digital Construction Week 2025 How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys GIS for Electric Utilities Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Construction, Government, Utilities --- ### [From Site to Skyline: A Conversation with Andrew Loveless on Real-Time Insight](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-site-to-skyline-a-conversation-with-andrew-loveless-on-real-time-insight/) **Published:** October 16, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Real Time Insight Chicago Build Loveless](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/From-Site-to-Skyline-Conversation-Chicago-Andrew.png) *Ahead of Chicago Build 2025, we sat down with GIS Cloud CRO* ***Andrew Loveless*** *to discuss how real-time insight turns field data into actionable decisions, linking inspections, as-builts, IoT, and stakeholders on a single live map. If you’re weighing schedule, cost, and quality this quarter, his workshop* ***“From Site to Skyline: Real-Time Insight for Real-World Construction”****, is built for you.* ### **Q1) The title of your workshop is “From Site to Skyline.” What’s the idea behind that?** **Andrew:** It’s the full journey, **from what a crew captures on site** to the way that information shapes **project decisions across the skyline**. Real-time insight is the bridge. When forms, photos, locations, and tasks land on a single live map, decisions stop lagging a day behind the work. ### **Q2) Your synopsis talks about turning field data into “actionable insight.” What does that look like on a normal day?** **Andrew:** Actionable means **someone can act now**, approve, reassign, hold, or close. A [field inspection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-maps-how-gis-is-redefining-utility-field-operations/) with required photos and geovalidation hits the office in seconds; a PM sees the status on the map and moves the schedule forward. No hunting for attachments, no “who has the latest spreadsheet?” Many of our clients cite that having “Real-time visibility of site operations is a game changer” ![Map Editor - web app for map editing, analyzing and sharing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MacBook-Editor-s.png) ### **Q3) You mention gains like up to 40% faster job completion and 50% higher operational efficiency. What typically drives those results?** **Andrew:** Small frictions compound, lost updates, duplicate entries, site revisits. We remove those. **One live map** for crews, PMs, and clients; **no-code forms** with rules that prevent bad data; and [**offline**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/)**-first** so work never stops. The compound effect is fewer calls, fewer returns to site, and faster closeouts.Boiling that down it means the right person with the right equipment to the right place at the right time. ### **Q4) “Open integration” appears throughout the synopsis, IoT, and digital twins. Why is that essential?offline** **Andrew:** Construction data already lives in **Revit/IFC, SQL, Excel, sensors**, and that’s fine. Our job is to **connect** it so people see the same truth. APIs and data interoperability mean you keep the tools you like and **lose the swivel-chair**. That’s how you scale without a big-bang overhaul. I hear time and time again that data fragmentation and lack of [**integration**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) is among the top issues in the sector ![Power BI GIS PowerApps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Integration-Automation.png) ### **Q5) Many teams worry about adoption and complexity. What does no-code change for them?** **Andrew:** The people who understand the work can **configure the workflow**, not wait on a GIS expert or project manager. Drag-and-drop forms, required evidence, pass/fail checks, simple automations. If a superintendent can sketch it on a whiteboard, they can build it in GIS Cloud and publish to phones and tablets **immediately**. Technology adopting in the construction sector is a challenge, solved by GIS Cloud clear and consistent apps, just like any phone app requires no training, just supports the job at hand. ### **Q6) The synopsis calls out sustainability, compliance, and stakeholder trust. How does real-time collaboration affect those?** **Andrew:** **Evidence wins arguments.** Time-stamped photos, location, and approvals create an audit trail. That reduces disputes, accelerates approvals, and supports sustainability targets because you optimize visits and avoid rework. Trust goes up when everyone can **see** what’s happening, live from a single version of the truth. ### **Q7) You emphasize predictable TCO, no usage-based pricing or hidden connector costs. Why does that matter at deployment time?** **Andrew:** Predictability drives usage. If teams worry about **credits** or **metered APIs**, they hesitate. With **seat-based [pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/)** and open integration, people use the system freely,adoption rises, and that’s where ROI comes from. It’s simple, but it changes behavior. ![subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/transparent-price.png) ## **See it at Chicago Build** - **Workshop:** **From Site to Skyline: Real-Time Insight for Real-World Construction **Oct 29, 4:00 PM, McCormick Place**, [**SAVE THE DATE & REGISTER**](https://www.chicagobuildexpo.com/conference-agenda) - **Booth:** **\#625**, ***Real-Time Insight for Real-World Construction*** **Ask us about:** inspections & as-builts, IoT feeds, **offline-first**, roles/permissions, and how to **start small, scale fast**. **Live, in 5 minutes:** field form → photo → instant map → stakeholder view. ![usage-based pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CB25-Festival-Logo.png) ## **About GIS Cloud** A world-class **no-code, mobile-first** geospatial platform delivering rapid time-to-value and powerful **field↔office** connectivity, **without** usage-based pricing or hidden connector costs. Trusted by 300+ organizations in 60+ countries across [civil engineering](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-civil-engineering/), [utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-water-utilities/), [local authorities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-built-for-local-authorities/), government, and environmental services. Related content: We Welcome Andrew Loveless as Our Chief Revenue Officer From Data to Insight, Exploring the Datagrid – Webinar Recording COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Construction, Electric Utilities, Roadworks, Utilities, Water Utilities --- ### [Geospatial Technology for Building Smarter Cities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geospatial-technology-for-building-smarter-cities/) **Published:** May 8, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![smarter cities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Smart-Cities-3.png) Smart cities aren’t built in one big project. They’re delivered day by day: a repaired pipe, a safer junction, a clearer public notice, a faster emergency response. Local authorities and their delivery partners need a GIS that helps work happen, without new complexity or surprise costs. That’s what **GIS Cloud** is designed to do. With **zero-install, cloud-first** tools that are grations/”>**open integration** with the stack you already use, GIS Cloud helps you turn plans into outcomes. Field crews work [**offline**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/). Office teams see updates in minutes. Citizens get the right information at the right time. ## **Why this matters now** Budgets are tight. Service expectations rise. Compliance windows shrink. The smartest move is often the simplest: **get everyone working from the same live map**. When engineers, inspectors, contractors, call-centre staff, and comms teams share a single source of truth, handoffs are faster and errors fall away. That is the foundation of a smart city. GIS Cloud gives you that foundation, without ripping and replacing what already works. Use our tools where they fit best, connect to what you have, and scale when you’re ready. ## **One live map that lifts public services and utilities** Most delays come from silos: copies of data in different places, different versions of the truth. With GIS Cloud, **crews collect data once, and everyone sees it, allowing decisions to** move faster. Inspectors capture assets, defects, photos, and forms **offline** with [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). When they sync, the office sees changes in [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) within minutes. Editors can clean and style layers in [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) so every team and contractor works from a clear, consistent view. The result is a quieter email inbox, fewer revisits, and shorter time-to-close. Authorities and contractors tell us they reduce rework and speed up approvals simply by sharing the same map, with the right permissions, all the time. **Mini example:** If each inspection saves 10–12 minutes and you run 1,000 inspections a month, that’s roughly 167–200 hours saved. At €45/hour, you’re saving €7,500–€9,000 monthly before counting fewer truck rolls and faster approvals. ![GIS Editor layers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map.png) ## **Public maps that inform and build trust** A smart city communicates well. Works schedules, road closures, detours, and outage areas are daily realities for residents and businesses. Publishing them clearly reduces inbound calls and raises trust. With [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), you can publish selected layers to the public while keeping sensitive information internal. Show the status of planned works, highlight diversion routes, share parks maintenance schedules, or gather feedback on consultations. Publish once, and everyone sees the latest version. Teams like this because it’s simple. Citizens value it because it’s transparent. Leadership appreciates governance that is clear, with defined sources and clear ownership, resulting in less room for confusion. ## **Geospatial that helps emergency response save lives** Emergencies demand a live operational picture, not yesterday’s spreadsheet. On a shared map, responders see incident locations, risk zones, nearby hydrants and valves, vulnerable assets, and safe routes updated as crews report from the field. Field teams use [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to capture hazards and status [**offline**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/). Control rooms and partner services view a trimmed, simple map in [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) with just the layers they need. Because GIS Cloud supports open standards (WMS/WFS/GeoJSON) and **open APIs/webhooks**, you can feed or consume information from other systems, reducing blind spots when seconds matter. This is where collaboration turns into safety. When utilities, highways, and emergency services see the same truth, they coordinate faster, and outcomes improve. ![Smart city solution](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-solution.png) ## **Better commutes and smarter transport decisions** Transport is where residents feel “smart city” every day: bus reliability, safe crossings, cycleways, resurfacing, and roadworks. GIS Cloud helps you **see the network as it is today** and plan what it needs next. Survey bus stops, pavements, signs, and crossings with [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (walking or vehicle-based). Maintain networks and attributes in [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)>, then share live routes and closures with contractors through [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/). Publish planned disruptions and detours via the [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) so travellers can plan with confidence. Because everything sits on one live map, you cut clashes between projects, reduce duplicate site visits, and shorten approvals. That means fewer surprises for commuters—and fewer complaints to manage. *See also:* [*Road Work Inspections and Maintenance*](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/) ## ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Crash-Data-s.png) ## **Cloud collaboration that moves projects forward** Watershed cleanup events. Landfill remediation. Parks restoration. Multi-party projects succeed when everyone sees the same plan and the same progress. Use [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to structure forms, capture photos and geometry, scan barcodes, and work **offline**. Use [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for QA/QC and versioned updates. Share read/edit access in [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) with clear roles for partners, NGOs, and contractors. When transparency is part of the mandate, publish progress to the public via the [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). Managers get a reliable status view. Funders get the evidence they need. Regulators get clean reports. And teams lose less time in handoffs because the map is the meeting point. ## **Open by design and predictable by contract** Smart cities don’t happen in a vacuum. They rely on systems you already run. GIS Cloud is built to fit in: - [**Open integration**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/)**:** Connect with ArcGIS/QGIS and Postgres/PostGIS. Use open standards (WMS, WFS, GeoJSON). Automate flows with REST APIs and webhooks to work order, CRM, or BI tools (Power BI/Tableau). - [**Transparent pricing**](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/)**:** Subscriptions you can defend. **No usage-based surprises** and **no hidden connector/API fees**. - **Zero-install rollout:** Cloud-first means you’re operational in days, not months. Start small and scale team-by-team, reducing risk while building value. - [**Offline**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/) **for the field:** Reliable capture, even when the signal drops. [![transparent cost model](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/gis-cloud-pricing.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) If you need help mapping data, building integrations, or designing dashboards, our team can support you through **Services/Customisation** (or **/custom-development/**). ## **A simple path to value** **Start with one workflow.** Streetlight inspections, pothole surveys, and hydrant checks are processes with clear wins. Configure your forms and layers, import a small dataset, set KPIs, and train a small crew (often in an hour or two). You’ll see value quickly. **Roll out by department.** Add roles and permissions, migrate layers, and connect to existing systems with APIs or webhooks. Put KPIs in front of managers. Create exportable reports for auditors and regulators. **Adopt authority-wide.** Expand to additional services (utilities, drainage, parks, transport). Publish selected information to the public where it helps. Formalise governance: ownership, naming conventions, retention, audit trails. This steady approach reduces risk, protects budgets, and builds internal confidence one live workflow at a time. ## **Why authorities standardise on GIS Cloud** Because it works and keeps working. Authorities and contractors need fewer surprises, faster outcomes, and tools their teams actually use. GIS Cloud provides a single, shared map that removes friction between field and office, improves public communication, and supports decisions that save time, money, and at times lives. - [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) - [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) - [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) - [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) - [**Services/Customization**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/) Discuss your use case with a [**Solutions Consultant**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). If you’d rather test, spin up a [**14-day test environment**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: MetaSUB Use Case: Building Healthier and Smarter Cities with the Help of GIS GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks, Utilities - Other **Tags:** emergency response, fire hazards, geospatial solutions, GIS, GIS Cloud, interactive web map, mapping, maps, public health, Smart Cities, Smart City, sustainable cities, Telecommunications, tourism, Transportation, water infrastructure --- ### [GIS Built for Local Authorities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-built-for-local-authorities/) **Published:** September 18, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Cloud-First GIS Zero-Install mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Local-Authorities-Plan-with-Certainty.png) Local authorities plan across the years. Budgets lock early. Procurement needs clarity. The real risk isn’t maps – it’s uncertainty: variable connector charges, hidden add-ons, and systems that don’t talk. GIS Cloud offers a route you can stand behind in committee: transparent pricing, zero-install rollout, and open integration so you keep what works and add only what’s needed. ## Why predictability matters Multi-year contracts demand stable costs and simple governance. Surprise “per-connector” fees, usage penalties, or locked ecosystems undermine forward plans. With a single, clear subscription and open APIs, you can forecast spend, defend it, and move faster when priorities shift. ## Make operations visible Operations are the heartbeat of council services. Crews capture data offline, sync automatically, and update one live map. Supervisors assign work, track progress, and publish reports without spreadsheet hunts. Photos, timestamps, GPS, and forms create an audit trail that supports internal review, FOI requests, and regulatory reporting. See the workflow end-to-end in our [**guide to Field Operations & Utilities**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-maps-how-gis-is-redefining-utility-field-operations). ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) ## Keep your stack and connect it Most councils rely on a mixed estate. Keep QGIS for editing. Keep Power BI for dashboards. Keep external databases for authority records. GIS Cloud connects them through standards (WMS/WFS, GeoJSON) and APIs, reducing duplication and manual re-entry. Explore the patterns in [**GIS Cloud Integrations**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) (Open by Design). ## Start small, prove value, scale Risk is lower when you begin with a narrow workflow, services, parks, highways, or housing. Instrument it. Measure adoption and cycle times. In comparable deployments, authorities cut project data-sharing times dramatically and reduced repeat visits, freeing budget for frontline work. Use [**Create a GIS Project in 3 Easy Steps**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-gis-project-in-3-easy-steps/) to stand up a pilot in minutes. ![gis cloud view and access maps and data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Viewer-2023-Blue-crop.png) ## Bring maps into Microsoft 365 If your organisation is standardised on M365, put maps where staff already work. Embedding GIS Cloud in PowerApps reduces hand-offs and training time while keeping identity, permissions, and records management under one roof. That means fewer context switches and more completed tasks. See [**PowerApps Integration**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/powerapps-gis-cloud-new-integration-release/) for examples. ![GIS Enterprise Asset Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/integration-automation.png) ## Integration without rip-and-replace Modernisation should not break live processes. GIS Cloud links desktop GIS, databases, and reporting tools without forcing migrations. No rip-and-replace. No surprise “per-connector” charges. Just predictable spend and cleaner flows across teams, contractors, and partners. ## Reporting, scalability, and customization Leadership needs clear, comparable numbers, work orders closed, SLAs met, costs avoided. Use built-in reports or push data to your BI stack. Scale from one service to many by reusing schemas, forms, and permissions. When you need more, our team can deliver custom dashboards, branded portals, automation, and line-of-business integrations. See [**GIS Cloud Services**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/) for typical engagements and delivery guardrails. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Services-NL.png) ## What good looks like - Data captured once, used everywhere - Live maps for supervisors, planners, and finance - Faster inspections and fewer revisits - Cleaner evidence for audits and committee papers - Predictable costs you can defend over the term If a focused walkthrough would help, request a [**DEMO**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact) or speak with our [Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact). Related content: Importance of Open Data for Local Governments Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog, Government **Tags:** Authorities, cloud, GIS, Local, Plan --- ### [PowerApps & GIS Cloud - New Integration Release!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/powerapps-gis-cloud-new-integration-release/) **Published:** April 27, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** *Written by: Dr. Jonathan Stanger – PhD (Mech. Eng.), BSc (Phys., Chem.), Spatial Partners* ![SaaS Technology to Integrate](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Powerapps-GIS-Cloud-Integration.png) It is a general rule of life that you cannot perfectly satisfy everyone at the same time; this being particularly true for software products. The popularity and sizable subscription base for the PowerApps platform show that Microsoft products have struck a good balance, but some of us just need one extra feature to make it work for our business. This is why Spatial Partners began work on integration between GIS Cloud and Microsoft PowerPlatform to finally introduce that spatial component in Power Apps environments. The PowerPlatform has steadily grown from a collection of products associated with Office 365 into a complete platform that aims to fill the gap between out-of-the-box solutions (i.e., Dynamics 365 or Teams) and fully bespoke software. Any business currently using an Office 365 tenancy has access to the basics of the PowerPlatform offerings, which includes PowerBI for dashboards, PowerApps for low-code multi-platform application design, PowerAutomate for process automation, and Dataverse to store application data. Each of these includes the ability to extend with 3rd party code to add functionality that Microsoft doesn’t offer. One key lacking area we identified was GIS functionality. The flexibility of the GIS Cloud platform made it a perfect candidate to integrate and bring GIS into Microsoft and custom code into GIS Cloud. *Check out this webinar recording on what you can create with GIS Cloud PowerPlus components and see what exact functionality you can now get in your PowerApp application.* Spatial Partners has developed a series of custom components using Microsoft’s official framework to natively embed a GIS Cloud map within a PowerApps Canvas app to provide a drop in form using the MDC form and to provide a Custom Connector to perform GIS Cloud REST API actions in Canvas apps or PowerAutomate without writing code or dealing with cloud hosting. This has been packaged together as the GIS Cloud PowerPlus solution. Those familiar with PowerApps would be aware that there are existing map components. But these are statically rendered single tiles, whereas with GIS Cloud PowerPlus, the world-leading map rendering technology of GIS Cloud maps is embedded, providing users with a smooth zoom and pan experience, the ability to render 70,000+ features on an iPad, selectable features, togglable layers styled in GIS Cloud, snap to GPS location or selected feature and capturing of point, line or polygon geometry for new features. The GIS Cloud map component allows any low-code PowerApps app to become a feature-rich GIS-enabled application. Some ways the GIS Cloud PowerPlus components can be used is to create: - a dashboard derived from the current features in GIS Cloud - nightly automation that updates a field GIS Cloud based on a calculation (i.e., days since the last inspection) - on-demand automation that exports a report from features in GIS Cloud to a SharePoint folder - a mobile app that enforces filling out one MDC form once per day before filling out other MDC forms (i.e., a daily health and safety report before starting inspections) - a mobile app with form fields that auto-populate based on a formula (i.e., a total risk formula based on other form answers) - a mixed mobile and desktop app that allows a single form to submit files to SharePoint and attributes with a captured geometry to GIS Cloud - an app that uses soft foreign keys to capture form results that include child records all stored in GIS Cloud - a simple map application embedded in Teams Our solution has been successfully trialed in 3 use cases so far: 1. a tree inspection application that captures two different kinds of form with one having 1:N identified risk evaluations 2. a site management application that captures completed land surveys in GIS Cloud and uploads file artifacts to SharePoint 3. and lastly, a much simpler case where features are published to GIS Cloud on-demand from an existing workforce management application in PowerPlatform. In the first case, the nature of the forms required for the tree inspections could not be managed using the MDC application as regulations required individually capturing an unknown number of risk evaluations which in turn required three different risk parameters to be collected that derives a total risk-based on two lookup tables. In the second case, an existing document management process lacked a spatial element to help with back office to field communication and needed the ability to submit proprietary format files as part of the data collection process. The last case had an existing bespoke workforce management application within Office 365 that retrieved work orders from a remote API and managed their lifecycle, which needed a field application to collect work progress. In all cases, leveraging the GIS Cloud PowerPlus solution made it possible to meet client needs without any additional infrastructure to manage with user and license management being done within the Office 365 and GIS Cloud SaaS interfaces. This makes it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that cannot afford larger investments or additional ongoing IT overhead to manage additional infrastructure. Related content: PSD Citywide & GIS Cloud New Integration Partnership Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! Custom Popup Style and Grafana Integration Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Integrations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) **Published:** November 15, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Power BI GIS PowerApps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Integration-Automation.png) The GIS Cloud team is proud to be a part of the group of platforms that offer a better user experience with **diverse integrations** and a user-friendly interface. GIS Cloud is a fully scalable, pay-for-what-you-use online platform with no desktop installation required. With our platform, there is no limit to showing relations on a map and bringing spatial data into a perception that is accessible and visible in **real-time**! GIS Cloud is equipped with desktop integration, data integrations, and external database integrations, making it a unique **alternative** for ESRI’s whole platform. In the last decade, **cloud-based GIS platforms** have proven to be an essential tool in improving the workflows of many companies. They provide efficient solutions for two major challenges related to GIS systems: quality field data acquisition and real-time collaboration and data sharing. ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) Because of the numerous advantages of cloud-based GIS platforms, organizations worldwide are moving their geospatial features to the cloud. Moreover, in cases where GIS platforms are underperforming, a simple solution is integrating either other software or datasets into the GIS. These **integrated web-based GIS platforms** can: - improve management and decision-making within an organization, - make real-time updates on data, - supply on-demand service of geospatial data and online maps from external databases. **GIS Cloud integrations:** - [QGIS Publisher](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) - [Power BI Integrations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/) - [PowerApps Integrations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-powerplus-technical-overview-components/) - [External database integrations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) - PostGIS database - Oracle database ## **GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS** We found through our customer’s feedback that many companies work on desktop GIS software but cannot share data privately or publicly, which is often needed. [**GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) allows you to work on a desktop GIS software from which you can easily transfer and publish entire maps while preserving your symbology. With **QGIS Publisher**, you can turn a QGIS map into a **data collection project** by uploading the collected data via [**Mobile Data Collection** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)from the field, in real-time, onto a QGIS map. Usually, the challenge is combining the two key elements and maintaining the data’s integrity on both desktop and cloud. GIS Cloud enables you to work both ways by sending data back to QGIS using a Web Feature Service (**WFS**). WFS provides you access to your data from different platforms, real-time information and acts as a single data source. Using WFS as a server, you can see your QGIS data transferred to GIS Cloud and ready to use. ## **Power BI and GIS Cloud Integrations** **Microsoft Power BI** uses exported data, like CSV, Excel, and databases, from the GIS Cloud [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and makes it instantly visible on a map. This powerful web app instantly uploads all of the data collected by the field workers. The data from the GIS Cloud CSV export goes into Power BI, which, together with additional formulas in Excel, can produce a **live-calculation tool**. **Power BI Integration** is a great tool that can be used for filtering, calculating, and visualization of feature attributes data from any map designed in Map Editor. With [**Mobile Data Collection App**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), you can add field data collection to the project. Find out how [InfraTrace](https://www.infratrace.ch/), a Swiss innovation roadworks maintenance and consulting company, integrated [Power BI with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/) to empower team collaboration and create a live calculation tool focusing on the accurate data model! ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/21-map-biochar-Eng.jpg) ## **GIS Cloud and PowerApps Integrations** The **GIS Cloud** and **Microsoft PowerPlatform** collaboration introduced the spatial component to the **PowerApps** environment. [Spatial Partners](https://www.spatialpartners.com.au/) designed the PowerApps integration and propelled it from a collection of Office 365 products into a comprehensive platform created to fill the gap between entirely bespoke software and out-of-the-box solutions. Using Microsoft’s official framework, Spatial Partners embedded a GIS Cloud map within a PowerApps Canvas app. Via the Mobile Data Collection form, they enabled **REST API** to perform in Canvas apps or PowerAutomate, without writing a code! This has been packaged together as the [**GIS Cloud PowerPlus solution**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/powerapps-gis-cloud-new-integration-release/). ## **GIS Cloud and External Database Integrations** Unlike other platforms, **GIS Cloud’s** eagerness to offer integrations with **REST API**, **JavaScript library**, and **external databases** makes it unique. Every [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) license includes a cloud-hosted database, thus making your data secure. But, access to the database server is restricted and can be bypassed by configuring GIS Cloud to retrieve data directly from a server you host, such as AWS RDS for PostGIS. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases.png) If you want to see the possible benefits or learn a few hints about making the process easier, check out the [blog](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) written by one of our colleagues from **Spatial Partners**. Also, if you’re interested in connecting to an external database like **PostGIS** or **Oracle,** you can check out our [user manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-connect-to-an-external-database/). If you wish to try one of our integrations or apps, you can [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try them for free during the trial period. Also, if you have any questions or feedback about our products, don’t hesitate to contact us at . Related content: GIS Cloud PowerPlus – Technical Overview & Components GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2022 Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration GIS Cloud Benefits: Super-fast High Definition Maps GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Grounded Innovation: Reflections on GEO Business & Digital Construction Week 2025](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/grounded-innovation-reflections-on-geo-business-digital-construction-week-2025/) **Published:** June 19, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GEO Business and Construction Week](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GIS-Blog-1-9-1600.png) **By Andrew Loveless, CRO, GIS Cloud** It’s been an energising week for the geospatial and construction tech community. With parallel at **GEO Business** and **Digital Construction Week**, one thing became crystal clear: **location intelligence is now a core pillar of how we build, maintain, and manage our world**. It was great to see a robot sitting in on Ed Parsons presentation. At GIS Cloud, we’ve always believed that empowering people on the ground, those surveying, inspecting, building, and maintaining infrastructure is the fastest route to delivering smarter, faster, and more resilient public services. These two shows validated that belief, loudly. It would have been interesting to mix up both DCW and GEO as one produces the input for the other! Some sort of conference spin dryer may be needed. Stepping back a little and looking at the overall UK geospatial market grew to **5.2bn in 2024** and continues to climb, driven by demand for: - **Cloud-first, mobile-enabled platforms** - **Faster, field-to-office data capture** - **API integration with planning, BIM, and design tools** - **Support for Net Zero, resilience and NUAR** This is driven by the ever-increasing demands of clients, partners and public sector leaders such as the powerful National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) presentation by Richard Duffield and Neil Brammell. There were some common themes and strong market resonance from our conversations - **Workforce Productivity** Live data capture. No delays. Less admin. Smarter decisions. *“User adoption is our challenge; they revert to using their own phones”* - **Asset Management** Easy-to-use inspection tools for field crews and contractors**.** **“***This is the spark my workforce need”* - **API Flexibility** Connect to existing systems, don’t replace them**.** *“GIS Cloud integrated easily with our existing systems—no rebuild, just results.”* Programme Director Civil Engineering Firm - **Rapid Deployment** No-code configuration, intuitive design, scalable from pilot to programme. “*We went from pilot to full rollout fast—no coding, no delays*.” *Civil Engineering Lead* We’re not just talking about it. GIS Cloud is actively working with over **300 organisations in 60+ countries**, including WSP, Transgrid, AECOMM, PipeView, and over 20 public sector bodies local worldwide. Digital transformation in civils, utilities, and infrastructure is no longer aspirational. It’s here. And as one attendee put it, *“We’re exploring tools like GIS Cloud because we know we need solutions our teams will actually use on site, support offline and real time.”* That’s where we come in. Our mission is to keep it practical, grounded, and immediate. We left both GEO and DCW with: - New partner conversations - Strong Interest in field trials from UK and global consultancies - A full notebook of user needs we’re already baking into product roadmap If you’re thinking about how to get more from your mobile workforce, improve asset lifecycle oversight, or win more contracts with better data delivery, we’d love to talk. *“GIS Cloud helps civil and utility teams work smarter in the field — with cloud-first tools designed for people, not just scientists*.” If you read this far, thank you and lets start a pilot, request a demo or learn more about your challenges. Related content: How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation From Paper to Digital: Water Valves Exercise Logs Real-Time Maps for Construction & Utilities Online Solution for Digital Mapping Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Solutions: Optimizing Fire Hydrant Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-solutions-optimizing-fire-hydrant-inspections/) **Published:** April 11, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![optimizing gis solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fire-Hydrant-Inspections.png) Being a cloud based GIS solution doesn’t stop with a mobile application. GIS Cloud has other tools that can be used to improve your team’s fire hydrant inspection routine. We will show you how GIS Cloud’s online solutions can solve your fire hydrant inspection frustrations. Many of these solutions will solve these headaches with one action. >You can address these challenges right away by simply signing up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). ## What are the Challenges of Fire Hydrant Inspections? Data collection in the field can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to be. In our 10 years as an online GIS solutions company, we have addressed many of these concerns. Our tools have been designed and refined to alleviate these challenges and make GIS a tool for everyone to use. These are the common concerns and roadblocks we frequently hear. We are going to demonstrate how these can be overcome with our solutions. 1. **Digitized GIS Data**: Don’t our paper maps need to be digitized to get started 2. **Affordability**: GIS is expensive 3. **Data storage:** We don’t have the storage space on our network 4. **Thorough Inspection Forms**: Our paper forms can’t be replicated to a mobile application 5. **Planning for the future:** Our asset management system isn’t forward looking 6. **Public Outreach:** We can’t afford to give the public access ## Digitizing your Water Assets for GIS By digitizing your assets into a GIS environment, you are unlocking the many tools of GIS Cloud. The process of digitizing your assets and utility network from as-built plans and old paper maps is time consuming. The steps required to digitize from these old maps are ridiculous. You will need to: - Locate the physical record - Scan the map - Organize it on your network - Name it properly - Upload it into a GIS solution - Georeference is as best as possible - And finally, map the assets We have a different option for you. Using one of our many industry focused templates, you can begin mapping using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC) app immediately, or you can collect the field data through the inspection process. Here is an example of an inspected fire hydrant and now collected data point: ![field data inspection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Industry-focused-templates-MDC.png) Just create the inspection form you would typically use in the field and perform the inspection using the MDC app. The application will collect all the information you need for the inspection as well as the coordinates of the fire hydrant. If you come across a water valve, you can change maps on the app and capture the water valve in seconds. Back in the office, you can confirm details like water line sizes and inverted elevations. Let’s bring intelligence to your hard working assets! ## Is GIS expensive for collecting field data? We believe GIS should be an affordable option for everyone. Try all of our GIS tools during our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). If you are still hesitant, we understand. Many companies bury their pricing structures in hundred page documents. You can find our’s here: [GIS Cloud Pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) We allow you to choose the tools you need. Only pay for the options your team uses. ## Where can I store my GIS data? GIS is built on data. That data comes in many different types and sizes. You might have a layer of points taking up a few megabytes all the way to 1000s of acres of raster imagery. If you try storing that locally on your PC, you create a silo. The other option is storing your data on the network. Let’s see how long it takes before you need to ask IT for some storage. GIS Cloud has [affordable options](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) for all your GIS storage needs. With GIS Cloud, your data will be stored in the cloud. You and your team can access it from anywhere, anytime. Our global partners and clients are proof of that, from [Adelaide, Australia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) to [Switzerland](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/) and beyond to [Uganda](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/organic-certification-of-smallholder-farmers/). ## Create Versatile Forms in the MDC Portal One challenge of a fire hydrant inspection is having a comprehensive form. Replicating a spreadsheet inspection form can be challenging. There is a lot of freedom in how you use the space and specific boxes may need to be filled under different occasions. Our flexible forms can do all that. In the [MDC Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/), you can create a smart form. This form can mimic your printed inspection form and be available on the go through the MDC application. ![field mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MDC-portal-inspection-form-.png) The example above shows how a comment field can become available if the question, “Is the hydrant available and accessible?” is answered “No”. This allows your crew to add comments tied to the specific observation from the field. Here is the list of form items you can collect in a Mobile Data Collection app: - Text - Number - Date and Time - Select List - Check boxes - Radio buttons - Signature - Hidden Field - Photos, Videos and Audio Recordings - QR and Barcode - Username - Device ID - Device model - Device version - Device platform - Latitude and Longitude - Altitude - Speed - GPS Heading - Compass Heading - Accuracy - Altitude Accuracy - Time Some of these fields are collected in the background and won’t clog up your inspection form. Other options include rules that you can set for your fields. You can make fields required or dependent on other data entries, like in the example above, or even repeat the previous entry. Default values and unique values can be set with a click of a single check box. In minutes, you can recreate your field inspection form and save your inspectors a lot of hassle during the data collection process. If you have any questions about these items, our [Knowledge Library](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/) explains what each one is capable of and covers everything there is to know about the MDC form capabilities. ## Being Prepared for the Future and Emergencies Your update to date GIS will have all the answers to your questions. It can be the sole source for anything you or the decision makers may want to know. An online GIS record keeping solution will make your maintenance and inspection dates readily available. The last inspection dates can be shared internally in a dashboard or Map Portal. By capturing all the information available on an asset, you can plan for the future. Asset replacements can be forecasted years in advance. Budgets can be adjusted to meet the upcoming costs required. In the case of emergencies, staff will know how the system is connected and have a clear understanding of what residents or businesses will be impacted during shut offs. An analysis can even tell you which specific addresses will be impacted during a water shutoff and the number of customers who need to be informed. If you need to analyze data further, the GIS data can be exported as a CSV from GIS Cloud. ![powerful data analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CSV-data-export.png) Data is powerful, and data in an online GIS solution shares that ability throughout your organization, enabling everyone to make smart decisions in critical times. ## Educate the Public about Your Inspection Efforts Your customized Map Portal can be a great information tool for the public. This Map Portal can be customized with your logo and organizational style temples. ![customized tree information tool](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Map-Portal-public-hydrant-inspections.png) This demo [Map Portal](https://mapportal.giscloud.com/) shows a Tree Inspections and Work Order map portal. You can see what trees have been inspected and the Arborist Zones, along with their contact information. Being an open book gives the public peace of mind to the efforts addressing their concerns. During a Fire Inspection, should a shut off need to take place that impacts nearby residents, they can be involved in multiple ways. You can also analyze your new GIS data to see which residents will be impacted. ## Conclusion Asset inspections like on fire hydrants may need to be performed semi-annually. Let our GIS Cloud solutions speed up the process, save you time and time, and ease the workload on your field crews. Our affordable pricing and flexible inspection forms can be customized to fit your organization. If you want to create your asset inspection form or build your map portal, sign up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). All of our tools will be readily available to you. Our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) can help you and your organization as you continue your GIS journey. Related content: How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Transform CCTV Inspections with the Mobile Data Collection Optimizing Operations with Online GIS in Sustainable Forestry (case study) Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Utilities, Water Utilities --- ### [Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-management-for-electric-utilities/) **Published:** December 10, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Vegetation Management for Power Line Companies](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Manag.-Electric-cover00-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Manag.-Electric-cover00-s.png) Managing vegetation is **crucial for the utility industries**, especially for the power and electricity sector. Negligence to maintain vegetation results in destructive wildfires, and dangers of tree falling hazards on utility infrastructure. This brings considerable expenses to the budget and economic loss for both power companies and end customers, not to mention **liability issues** and facing substantial penalties for noncompliance with vegetation management government regulations. Optimizing vegetation management is one of the **biggest challenges** for utility companies because it ensures **public and environmental safety**. In our previous article[ GIS for Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/), we looked at all the benefits that **online GIS** can offer as the go-to solution in managing your assets and empowering communication and decision making in your organization. This time, we touch upon a more **delicate issue** of **maintaining** **vegetation** over vast distances of **power lines and power grid infrastructure**. Improper handling of tree and vegetation incidents is one of the major contributors to massive power blackouts. It can also spark wildfires, even if the vegetation is not in direct contact with the powerlines. ### Table of Contents: - [Challenges Of The Traditional Approach To Vegetation Management](#challenges) - [Digital Transformation: Optimization, Visualization And Risk Prevention](#digital) - [Vegetation Management Program That Will Reinforce Long-Term Sustainability](#reinforce) 1. 1. [Field Data Collection](#field) 2. [Visualisation and Perception](#visualisation) 3. [Risk-Informed Planning and Prioritization](#risk) 4. [Performance Management and Reporting](#performance) ## **Challenges Of The Traditional Approach To Vegetation Management** Utility companies need to manage their assets in a variety of terrains that often expand many miles throughout deserts, forests and urban areas. That results in **high-cost and complex** field data collections and inspections, including necessary sustainable funding by the utility decision-makers, regulators and customers. Imagine how time-consuming it is to identify locations where trees and other vegetation need to be pruned and trimmed to avoid potential contact with numerous poles, wires, meters, and stations that are exposed to vegetation impacts. [![Right of Way Corridor for Power Lines](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Right-of-Way.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Right-of-Way.png) Vegetation management teams need to have **precise models** on planning, practice, and reporting of the assets. More traditional methods and procedures can present a problem in today’s modernized and digitized world. Unoptimized routines require vast amounts of time and a bigger budget. Adequate planning of individual workflow methods and field record collections is the key to future success. **Typical vegetation management program includes:** 1. 1. - Pruning and removal (tree detection, tree damage) - Vegetation controls around electric facilities (fire risks, proximity to powerlines) - Pre and post-work inspections (hight, species) - Tree planting Suppose your team is still running **unoptimized manual procedures** with **excessive planning and paper documentation,** which takes a lot of time and effort. In that case, it can cause mistakes between field data and database when transcribing from paper, and make it difficult to update and optimize the database. Also, poor map visualization of the vegetation assets can lead to **reactive** **field maintenance** by your crew instead of being carefully monitored and executed only when **planned and prioritized.** **Questions you need to ask are:** 1. 1. - **What technologies do you use to track your current workflow?** - **Where do you keep your assets records?** - **How do you communicate work assignments to field and office teams?** If an answer to these questions remains “**pen and paper**, **spreadsheets, printed maps and reactive maintenance”,** you are undoubtedly facing increased vegetation management costs with outdated and unreliable work procedures. ## **Digital Transformation: Optimization, Visualization And Risk Prevention** Meeting performance goals, rather than defining required tree and vegetation maintenance, can be a difficulty. Utility companies are under continual pressure to balance their **ever-changing work priorities.** It is impossible to predict which of the assets will require assistance or cleaning up by a routine fieldwork cycle. In short, the team needs to **evaluate** the area and the location of the vegetation, **anticipate** the growth rate and **perceive** the threat to the utility assets based on the surroundings. Let’s not forget that the pruning needs to be done on time and correctly, or else available resources to address the right issues go to waste. The biggest challenge is the optimization of the work process. There is a short window between identifying the imperative and completing it before it results in a potential risk hazard. **The solution to time-consuming manual vegetation management is:** 1. 1. - **Quick and efficient data collection and inspection** - **Data accuracy and quality** - **Effective team coordination and collaboration** Understanding the data and the state of your vegetation will optimize the operation planning based on the potential risk areas, and prioritize the required pruning and trimming cycles for your team. [![GIS Sloution for Vegetation Management - mobile and web app](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Laptop-Mobile.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Laptop-Mobile.png) With **online GIS**, you can transform your field and office operations using **all in one solution** that will help you increase work productivity. Mapping vegetation in advance will help you perform quality routine inspections and efficiently improve your field workflow. **Visualizing your work routine is half of the job done!** Replace your paper maps with a powerful [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and messy paper forms with the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app and digital forms. GIS Cloud apps and services will help you store spatial data and other information in thematic layers that are represented by the same symbology. Your vegetation data layers combined with the power grid and electrical lines symbology are all connected with the specific geo-locations (coordinates) which helps you see it spatially on a map. This corresponding data gives you valuable insight and helps you **identify and predict environmental hazards** such as wildfires, *grow-in* or *fall in* vegetation risks, and economic losses**.** You can **color-code** different area layers depending on priority. Connect and collaborate with your team in real-time, with all of your geospatial data centralized and available on any device. Instantly see the record of performed operations and improve the safety and reliability of your entire organization and assets. ## **Vegetation Management Program That Will Reinforce Long-Term Sustainability** The workflow is intuitive and straightforward. [![Vegetation Management Program](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Manag.-workflow-3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vegetation-Manag.-workflow-3.png) ### **Field Data Collection** With custom forms in the Mobile Data collection app, you can **prepare your team** for every field project needs. Collecting quality data is an essential part of your vegetation management process. Get rid of the outdated paper surveys and start your data collection with our flagship app! **You can customize each form according to your project needs:** 1. 1. - Work type - Checklists - Dependency and conditional form fields - Photo and audio requirements - Dropdown menus - Autofill - Barcode & QR Code, etc. To ensure **additional data accuracy**, increase speed, and **eliminate errors** when filling in digital forms, make your form fields required, dependent (conditional) or persistent. [![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) In the MDC app, there is an **online and offline work mode** in case you struggle with poor internet connection in remote areas. If your GPS signal is weak, you can use the **pinpoint and drawing tools** to precisely define the location you need, as well as **point, line or polygon features!** ### **Data Visualisation and Perception Analysis** Managers and coordinators require a good overview of the data to define project workflows and assign tasks based on the collected information on the field. There is no better way to do it than through an **interactive map.** With the [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) app, your day to day tasks, like editing field data, analysis, sharing maps and reports are **all completed in one place**. Field data recorded with mobile devices is instantly visible on a map and accessible across the GIS Cloud platform, in Map Editor, as well as in the Map Viewer app, and ready for further operations in the office. No more flash drives, DVDs, Dropbox links, all of your data is centralized and uploaded to the cloud, **visible on the map in real time!** You get a full view of what’s going on, including the crew’s location, task list, and completed jobs, allowing you to make crucial project decisions immediately! When the project is ready, share it with your coworkers and stakeholders, privately or publicly, using [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) applications. Shared data can be **customized** for GIS experts or optimized for non-professionals with **different access and permission levels** on any device at any time. ### **Risk-Informed Planning and Task Prioritization** With all of your data visualized, and regularly updated by your field crew, you will be able to **identify and analyze** various geospatial information and predict potential risk areas in advance. Different **assets** can be **marked and filtered** with distinctive symbology and colors that will help you highlight the zones of ***grow-in*** or ***fall-in*** vegetation and trees, areas affected by **fires, windstorms,** or **infected tree areas.** [![Managing Vegetation Using GIS - Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Editor-Map-Vegetation-2-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Editor-Map-Vegetation-2-s.png) You can identify the location of the latest assignment and set new assignment priorities depending on the status of the team. With **attached photos and notes**, field workers can literally see the pictures of fallen trees and other hazards connected to their geolocation. Once the job has been successfully done, they simply set the assignment status to complete, which shows automatically on the map for the office crew. **Photos and other records** of performed jobs, including date and location information, also **serve as proof of completed maintenance obligations** and can be crucial in **mitigating company liability** in case of accidents, power outages or fires. This will help you create custom reports to address complex vegetation growth rates, track field productivity and be up to date with treatments of risk affected areas. With optimized vegetation maintenance plans, cost-effective trimming and pruning actions, you will **save time and money**. Identify, prioritize, and mitigate risks to reduce vegetation and tree damage. ### **Performance Management and Reporting** Now when you have your workflow system in check, and the feedback-loop on performed tasks is on schedule, supervising and measuring the performance of the project is easy. As we mentioned before, quality vegetation management programs should use analytical methods to inspect, collect and analyze risk assessments. In the Map Editor, you can **supervise, edit and maintain** all of the field data with the understanding of how to evaluate and improve your day to day strategies and plans. On an interactive map, you will be able to increase the effectiveness of **team communication**, facilitate an understanding of all work conditions and actions that need improvement. There’s no need to import or download the data onto your computer, with GIS Cloud, it’s all **accessible at request, online, in real-time!** With the help of predictive analytics, your vegetation management operations will be effective and **decrease any future costs**. Rightly scheduled field and office activities will optimize your expenses and improve customer satisfaction. Using GIS Cloud as the **go-to solution** will improve managing your assets in a variety of terrains and empower field communication and decision making. GIS Cloud is fully scalable, pay for what you use online platform with no desktop installation required. However, if you need additional data control and abide by internal security policies, the GIS Cloud system can be **installed on your servers** behind a firewall, as an **on-premises** private cloud solution. You can easily scale your app subscriptions at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for vegetation management projects, **[Sign up for the free 14-day trial.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)** You can also contact our **[Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)** to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Using GIS for Vegetation Management in Electric Utility Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management GIS For Vegetation Management Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Electric Utilities, Utilities, Utilities - Other **Tags:** cloud based GIS, electricity sector, field data collection, forestry, geospatial, geospatial solutions, GIS, managing vegetation risks, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS, power companies, power grid, power lines, power sector, Tree Inventory, utility, utility companies, utility industries, vegetation, vegetation managment, vegetation planning, vegetation risks, vegetation utility --- ### [We Welcome Andrew Loveless as Our Chief Revenue Officer](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/we-welcome-andrew-loveless-as-our-chief-revenue-officer/) **Published:** May 14, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Dino Andrew Loveless Igor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dino-Andrew-Igor-1200x628-1.jpg) **Driving Strategic Growth and Expanding Industry Impact** With over 300 clients in 60+ countries, we’re entering a new phase of growth at GIS Cloud, and we’re excited to share that **Andrew Loveless** has joined us as our **Chief Revenue Officer**. Andrew brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the geospatial and SaaS space. He’ll lead our global revenue strategy, enterprise sales, channel partnerships, and marketing as we grow our impact across **infrastructure**, **utilities**, **government**, and **environmental** sectors. ### **Why This Role Matters Now** We’re seeing a clear increase in demand for scalable, intuitive GIS solutions, especially for organizations managing field operations, complex assets, and regulatory demands. We knew we needed someone who truly understands these challenges and can help us grow in a meaningful and focused way. Andrew’s background, mindset, and values are a great match. His arrival strengthens our ability to meet that need, helping organizations move from outdated systems to cloud-first, real-time collaboration built around field operations. ### **Who Is Andrew Loveless?** Andrew has held senior commercial roles at GE Capital, Ordnance Survey, and Accenture, where he led global sales, channel development, and customer success programs. His background combines enterprise strategy with a deep understanding of geospatial challenges and opportunities across industries. > “I was drawn to GIS Cloud because of its real-world impact and strong base of satisfied customers,” Andrew told us. “In my experience, great technology, proven results, and a mission-driven culture like this are rare. I’m excited to help scale that impact further.” ### **A Word From Our CEO** > “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Andrew to the executive team,” said [**Dino Ravnić**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinoravnic/), CEO and co-founder of GIS Cloud. “His expertise in building high-growth teams in complex environments aligns perfectly with our vision. Andrew will play a key role in expanding our enterprise presence and strengthening strategic partnerships.” ### **What This Means for Our Clients and Partners** Whether you’re coordinating infrastructure projects, maintaining utility networks, or managing field teams, GIS Cloud empowers you with tools for: - **Real-time collaboration** - **Custom data collection and reporting** - **Seamless field-to-office communication** Andrew’s leadership will help us serve you better with new initiatives that support scalability, integration, and measurable ROI for public and private sector organizations. ### **Looking Ahead** We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built, and we’re excited to take the next step with Andrew on board. With a growing ecosystem of clients and partners, we’re more ready than ever to help organizations unlock the power of **location intelligence** in scalable, collaborative, and accessible ways. Want to connect? Reach out to our [**Solutions Team**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://hr.linkedin.com/company/gis-cloud) for updates from [**Andrew**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewloveless/) and the rest of our leadership. Related content: Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria PSD Citywide & GIS Cloud New Integration Partnership How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps? Malaria Risk Map: Using GIS to Combat Malaria Disease in Nigeria **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Take Your GIS Expertise to New Heights with Our Advanced Courses!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/take-your-gis-expertise-to-new-heights-with-our-advanced-courses/) **Published:** November 21, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GIS-Blog-universal-webinar-1200x675-1.png) Ready to take your GIS skills to the next level and stand out as a leader in the industry? The wait is over—GIS Cloud’s **Advanced Courses** are back! 🚀 This course is your chance to dive deep into GIS Cloud tools, master advanced workflows, and become a Certified GIS Cloud expert. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just looking to sharpen your skills, our advanced courses provide practical knowledge, hands-on experience, and tools you can use immediately in your projects. ### **Why Choose GIS Cloud Advanced Courses?** Our advanced courses are designed for GIS pros who want to: - **Master Advanced Tools:** Go beyond the basics and learn the secrets of maximizing GIS Cloud. - **Get Certified:** Earn your **Certified GIS Cloud Professional** badge—a powerful addition to your resume. - **Solve Real-World Challenges:** Learn how to tackle complex projects with confidence. ### **Course Highlights** 💡 **Hands-On Learning** Learn directly from GIS Cloud professionals who will guide you through advanced features and techniques. No boring lectures—just actionable knowledge and skills you can apply immediately. 📜 **Certification That Stands Out** Gain official recognition (and bragging rights) by becoming a **Certified GIS Cloud Professional**. 🔧 **Real Tools, Real Projects** Dive into real-world examples that make learning relevant and impactful. ### **When and How?** #### 📅 **Dates:** #### The next session runs from **May 27-28**, 2025 #### 3 – 7 PM (CEST) // 9 AM – 1 PM (EDT) // 7 – 11 AM (MDT). 🕒 **Duration:** The course runs for **2 days** (4h each day), featuring live online training, interactive Q&As, and practical assignments. 💰 **Pricing:** Take advantage of our early bird rates—register before **May 20th** to lock in the best price! ### **Early Bird:** $250 #### **Regular:** $350 ### **Who Is This For?** Whether you’re a seasoned GIS professional or a team leader, this course is perfect if you want to: - Streamline your workflows and improve efficiency. - Learn advanced techniques to manage and visualise data. - Collaborate more effectively with your team. ### **Ready to Join?** Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! **Reach out** today by sending an email to **education@giscloud.com** and take the next step in your GIS journey. With GIS Cloud Advanced Courses, you’ll gain the skills, confidence, and credentials to tackle any GIS challenge. Elevate your career, boost your projects, and join a growing network of certified professionals shaping the future of GIS. What are you waiting for? Let’s do this! 🙌 Related content: Becoming a GIS Cloud Pro: December Advanced Courses GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [The Ultimate GIS Guide: Things You're Doing Wrong and How to Fix Them!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/the-ultimate-gis-guide/) **Published:** December 7, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Geographic Information Systems](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GIS-Guide.png) Have you ever felt like you’re navigating a maze when dealing with [Geographic Information Systems](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/geographic-information-system-gis/) (GIS)? Well, you’re not alone. GIS is a fascinating world, full of potential, but it can also be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re starting out. But fear not! This guide shines a light on those common GIS pitfalls and shows you how to turn them around. GIS isn’t just about maps and data; it’s a powerful tool that shapes decision-making in urban planning, environmental conservation, and even in our daily commutes. However, as with any complex tool, it’s easy to stumble, especially if you’re new to this game. From misunderstanding basic concepts to fumbling with the wrong software, these mistakes can be more than minor setbacks. But here’s the good news: every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. In this guide, we’ll explore the ‘oops’ moments you might encounter in your GIS journey and, more importantly, how to fix them. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just a curious mind, you’ll find tips and tricks to make your GIS experience smoother and more productive. So, let’s dive in and turn those GIS blunders into your stepping stones to mastery! ## **Understanding the Basics of GIS** First things first, let’s break down what GIS is. At its core, GIS is all about visualizing and interpreting data to grasp spatial relationships and patterns. It’s not just about maps but the data behind them, from bus stop locations to wildlife migration routes. Key concepts include: - **Spatial Data**: The backbone of GIS, encompassing all geographically referenced information. - **Layers**: Different types of data stacked together for a comprehensive view. - **Projections**: Essential for accurately translating our round Earth onto flat maps. - **Analysis**: Using GIS for practical solutions, like finding the perfect spot for a telecommunication tower or utility line. Understanding these basics is crucial, so dive in, experiment, and embrace the learning process! ## **Data Collection and Management** Data is king in the vibrant world of GIS, and how you collect and manage it can make or break your project. This is where **Mobile Data Collection** and **Map Editor** step in as game-changers. [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) transforms how we gather data. Imagine equipping your field teams with smartphones or tablets, enabling them to capture real-time, accurate data directly from the source. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about enhancing data quality and speed of collection. Whether marking a new urban development on the map or tracking wildlife in remote areas, this tool ensures your data is as current and precise as possible. ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) Meanwhile, [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) is the unsung hero in the data management saga. It’s an intuitive platform that allows for seamless editing and updating of maps. You can add new layers, adjust features, or refine details, ensuring your maps are informative, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to interpret. ![Geographic Information System](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Editor-medium.png) Both tools empower you to handle data with greater efficiency and accuracy, turning the often-daunting task of data collection and management into a smoother, more enjoyable part of your GIS journey. With these tools in your arsenal, you’re not just collecting and managing data but crafting a dynamic, up-to-date narrative of the world. ## **Choosing the Right GIS Software** When diving into the world of GIS, picking the right software can feel like a maze. You’ve probably heard of heavyweight contenders like ArcGIS, but let’s not overlook the [**innovative hybrids**](https://geoawesomeness.com/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) like GIS Cloud. These nimble platforms are shaking things up by offering functionality similar to the big guys but at a fraction of the cost. Imagine the flexibility of open-source tools like QGIS, seamlessly integrated with cloud-based powerhouses for collaboration and server management. GIS Cloud shines here, blending in with your existing systems and enhancing them without overhauling them. ![arcgis qgis budget](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GIS-pricing-comparison.png) It’s a real game-changer, especially if you’re budget-conscious and seeking agility in your GIS journey. It’s not just about the tool but how well it fits into your world of maps and spatial analysis! ## **Map Design and Visualization** When it comes to map design, simplicity reigns supreme. A cluttered map is like a crowded room – overwhelming and confusing. Strive for clarity by focusing on essential elements and using contrasting colors judiciously. Your map should strike a balance, not resemble a rainbow. Symbols and scales are pivotal in map design. Opt for easily recognizable symbols and maintain a consistent scale. Remember, your map is a communication tool, not a canvas for abstract art. Additionally, a thoughtful layout ensures a smooth visual journey from one point to another. GIS Cloud’s [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) transforms this process. Its intuitive interface demystifies map-making, catering to both beginners and experts. With real-time visualization, you see the immediate impacts of your design decisions, an essential feature when handling complex spatial data. Map Viewer simplifies your workflow, allowing more time for creative expression. Its capabilities extend to supporting various data formats and offering diverse styling options. This adaptability enables the creation of informative and visually appealing maps. Integrating Map Viewer into your GIS toolkit elevates your map design, ensuring your data is communicated clearly, compellingly, and insightfully. Keep these principles in mind, and your maps will not only inform but also impress. ## **Spatial Analysis Techniques** Spatial analysis is where the real magic happens in GIS. It allows us to uncover patterns and relationships in our data that aren’t immediately apparent. Think of it like being a detective but for maps! First up, let’s talk about basic techniques like buffering and overlay. Buffering creates a zone around a map feature – which helps determine areas affected by a particular phenomenon. Overlay, on the other hand, lets you stack different layers of data, revealing how they interact. Imagine discovering where a rare bird’s habitat overlaps with planned construction sites – crucial for environmental planning! Here’s where many beginners trip up: choosing the wrong method for their data. Always ask, “What do I want to find out?” Your analysis technique should directly answer this question. And remember, simpler is often better. You don’t need complex algorithms to get meaningful insights. Sometimes, a basic query does the trick! ## **Integrating GIS with Other Technologies** Think of GIS as a friendly neighbor to your existing systems. It’s not about replacing what you have but making it shine brighter! Enter GIS Cloud, the star of this integration show. It’s like a nifty gadget that connects seamlessly with your current setup, giving it a superpower boost. GIS Cloud is your go-to whether you deal with huge datasets or need creative map styling. It’s all about working smarter, not harder. This integration isn’t just a fancy add-on; it’s a game-changer for data analysis and decision-making. Imagine having all your tech in harmony, singing the same tune. That’s the magic of [integrating](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) GIS Cloud. ![GIS Enterprise Asset Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/integration-automation.png) So, embrace this blend of technology and watch your GIS projects transform into something extraordinary! ## **Keeping Your Skills Updated** To stay ahead in the rapidly changing GIS field, continuously updating your skills is essential. GIS Cloud’s [Webinars](https://www.youtube.com/@giscloud6864) and Education courses are excellent for this purpose. Along with GIS Cloud’s [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/), they provide a range of materials suitable for everyone, from novices to seasoned professionals, ensuring access to a comprehensive and user-friendly learning environment. Their interactive webinars offer insights into the latest GIS features and applications, while in-depth courses cover fundamental GIS principles. Engaging with GIS Cloud’s educational offerings broadens your knowledge and connects you with a community of GIS enthusiasts and experts. Additionally, attending workshops and conferences is highly beneficial for learning new concepts and networking. Stay curious, keep learning, and you’ll be a GIS pro in no time! ## **Conclusion** Well, there you have it – your roadmap to mastering GIS! Remember, GIS is a journey, not a destination. Each step, whether choosing the right software like GIS Cloud or mastering map design, is a chance to grow and improve. Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and keep pushing forward. The beauty of GIS lies in its power to reveal the hidden stories in our data, helping us make smarter decisions and understand our world better. So keep experimenting, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the process. You’re not just dealing with maps and data; you’re shaping the future, one layer at a time. And hey, if you ever feel stuck, remember this guide. We’ve tackled the basics, the pitfalls, and the strategies to make your GIS journey rewarding. So go ahead, dive in, and let your GIS adventure unfold. The world of spatial analysis is waiting for you, and it’s more exciting than ever! If you’re keen to explore GIS Cloud and see how it can transform your GIS projects, reach out to our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Try GIS Cloud for [free with our 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and experience firsthand the power of smart, integrated GIS solutions! Related content: GIS Cloud Geocoder: Your Guide to Easy and Accurate Mapping Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide GIS Cloud – The Best Solution for Non-GIS Users Beyond Maps: How GIS is Redefining Utility Field Operations **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-wfs-and-wms-to-view-and-edit-gis-cloud-data-in-other-apps-new-release/) **Published:** July 23, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WFS-WMS-Release-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WFS-WMS-Release-cover.png) We are excited to announce a **new** feature release which allows you to consume your GIS Cloud data via **Web Feature Service (WFS) and Web Map Service (WMS)** in third-party apps! This will also significantly improve the workflow for anyone who wants to collect data in the field using [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), and view or edit collected data in other apps, in real time. [**Watch a demo of the WFS functionality in QGIS including a plugin for map publishing**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0ZBhtcaNc) presented at QGIS North America! Our dedicated development team has been working hard on implementing these new services to create a **perfect solution** for all of our users who wish to **collaborate** between different GIS platforms, and get the best of desktop and online solutions working together. We participated in the online [QGIS North America 2020](http://qgis.us/qgis-na-2020.html) conference where we gave [a demo of the QGIS-GIS Cloud workflow](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-north-america-conference-consume-field-collected-data-directly-in-qgis-using-a-plugin-for-map-publishing/) using WFS! ## **View and Edit Data in Other Apps Using WSF** Sharing your map as a **Web Feature Service (WFS)** is one of many sharing possibilities that you can use in GIS Cloud. WFS is a protocol for serving **georeferenced maps** over the internet with a possibility to **edit data** and maps in other apps Any of your maps and layers created in GIS Cloud can be **shared with another user** via a WFS URL and **edited in third-party GIS software**. To be able to add GIS Cloud data in other apps, you will need to authenticate the access to your GIS Cloud maps with a username and password for your GIS Cloud account. Once you add a WFS URL link to third-party GIS software, you can view, add or delete features from the map and edit their geometry or attributes. The changes you make in other apps will be instantly visible on your maps in GIS Cloud apps, as well. Probably the biggest novelty this feature brings is that now you can **collect data with Mobile Data Collection in real time, directly in third-party software!** You just need to add the GIS Cloud layer into which you are collecting data, to your maps in other GIS software like QGIS, using WFS. This will allow you to continue your data collection and view and edit data in real time, in the chosen GIS software as well as in GIS Cloud. Last Friday (July 24) we participated at the virtual [**QGIS North America 2020**](http://qgis.us/qgis-na-2020.html) conference and showed an **exclusive preview** of the **WFS** functionality! In our 20 minute talk, we presented what we consider a **perfect QGIS-GIS Cloud workflow**, using The GIS Cloud Publisher plugin for QGIS to publish maps online, and using WFS to collect data in real time directly into QGIS, edit data and more. [**Click here to watch the YouTube recording** from the conference with comments and Q&A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0ZBhtcaNc), including the **QGIS plugin** workflow and **WFS functionality** of consuming and collecting data into QGIS maps! We also embedded our own video from YouTube, however, in this version, there are no questions: Both **public and private maps** can be **shared as WFS** but under a few conditions: - - Public maps can be viewed by anyone in third-party apps, but only the owner of the map can also edit, add or remove data, or the GIS Cloud user with “Can Edit” permissions assigned for the specific GIS Cloud map. - Only GIS Cloud Premium users with a Map Editor subscription can use WFS to consume and share data in other apps. - If you want to consume a public map as WFS, when you open it in third-party GIS software, login is not necessary, however, editing is not possible until you login in with your GIS Cloud credentials. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WFS_WMS-map-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/WFS_WMS-map-s.png) ## **Use WMS to Consume GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps** Web Map Service (WMS) is a standard protocol for serving georeferenced map images over the Internet. In GIS Cloud, you can share both private and public maps as a WMS. The **new WMS** option provides **controlled access** to maps via WMS, compared to the old **Legacy WMS,** which generated a link that provided access to all GIS Cloud maps in your account. Now, the new WMS option will generate a link for each map separately which will further improve your data security. The WMS link is located inside the **Share and Publish** option, under the WMS tab. There are two options available – **WMS and Legacy WMS access**: - - - If you choose **WMS**, this option creates a unique WMS URL for a specific map. - **Legacy WMS** access refers to the fact that each GIS Cloud user has access to a unique WMS URL. Under this URL, all maps with enabled WMS and their layers are available **New users** and users who have **not yet enabled** any WMS links on their account will only see the ‘new’ WMS link to access only a specific map. Users who already **had a WMS enabled** will be shown the **‘old’ Legacy WMS** in addition to the new WMS link for map access. The functionality of Legacy WMS remains the same. **Note:** Sharing the map as WMS is only available for **Premium Map Editor users**. If you wish to become a Premium user and utilise this option, please [contact us here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or send us an email at [**sales@giscloud.com**](mailto:sales@giscloud.com)**.** Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, New realease, qgis, real-time, release, Web feature service, web map service, WFS, WMS --- ### [QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-north-america-conference-consume-field-collected-data-directly-in-qgis-using-a-plugin-for-map-publishing/) **Published:** July 15, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Real Time Data Collection in QGIS and Map Publishing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/QGIS-North-America-cover-New.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/QGIS-North-America-cover-New.jpg) Last year **GIS Cloud** was happy to participate in the [QGIS North America 2020 virtual conference ](http://qgis.us/qgis-na-2020.html)on **July 24th.** We presented the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/)**,** and its possibility to **publish QGIS maps online preserving symbology,** and how to use WFS to **consume and collect data directly into QGIS** via GIS Cloud, in real time! In our 20 minute talk, we presented a **perfect QGIS-GIS Cloud workflow**, from publishing QGIS maps online and updating published maps using the GIS Cloud Plugin, to using WFS to consume GIS Cloud data in QGIS for more extensive analysis, or even collect data in real time, edit data and more. [**Click here to watch the YouTube recording** from the conference with comments and Q&A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0ZBhtcaNc), including the **QGIS plugin** workflow and **WFS functionality** of consuming and collecting data into QGIS maps! We also embedded our own video from YouTube, however, in this version, there are no questions: Our own, Marta Klarić Ravnić (Product Designer for QGIS plugin), and Igor Farkaš (Head of Growth and GIS specialist) presented [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) in a talk titled: “**Consume your Field Collected Data Directly in QGIS Using a Plugin for Map Publishing**”. They showed how the QGIS plugin enables you to upload your maps to the GIS Cloud platform in a matter of minutes. This way you can bridge the gap between the desktop and online GIS solution and publish your maps **preserving your symbology.** The plugin also allows users to **update changes made to QGIS projects and sync them to the published online map**. Online maps in GIS Cloud can then be easily shared privately or publicly via an URL link, and it is also possible to grant different access to the map to different team members. This keeps everyone involved in sync about the progress of the project and facilitates collaboration. Attendees got an **exclusive preview** and were able to witness how we enabled **consuming the data from GIS Cloud in QGIS via WFS**, a feature we released a few months ago! We will be happy to hear your feedback and advice on how we can further improve the plugin. We also showed how you can use a [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app to collect any kind of information related to location into GIS Cloud by filling in a simple (custom made) form on mobile devices, consume collected data directly in QGIS, and continue working on your data and perform analysis. You can consume any kind of online data stored in GIS Cloud directly in QGIS. [QGIS US User Group](http://qgis.us/) & partners in North America offer this virtual get-together to all QGIS users as a way to share ideas and skills when so many in-person meetings cannot safely happen. Travel and registration costs are not an issue this time. Attending the conference was be free of charge, but there is a [donation channel ](https://donate.qgis.org/)available to support the volunteers that are tirelessly working on improving the QGIS software! Participants and guests from all over the globe are welcomed, but presentation times will focus on the North American audience. Regular presentation sessions will be streamed on YouTube (link is coming soon), with **no registration** needed, and **no limit** to the number of attendees. If you want to try out the plugin yourself, [create a GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS among QGIS plugins, and test it out, it’s free! Related content: Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, conference, data collection, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, maps, Mobile Data Collection, plugin for qgis --- ### [Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-land-usage-with-drones-to-build-a-hospital-extension-in-tanzania-case-study/) **Published:** May 10, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** One of the largest **hospitals in Tanzania** needed a land use map to help them build a new hospital extension. To improve medical care in this area and speed up the development of the community, an NGO provided engineers to plan the extension and the drone survey. Yet, their hands were tied on account of outdated hospital property data. We spoke with Rune Hetlelid from **[Engineers Without Borders](https://iug.no/)** (nonprofit organization), responsible for planning and organizing daily activities in the field. Read how they completed this land use mapping project with **drone surveys** and using GIS Cloud to **[visualize high-resolution drone imagery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufv2C_l_sBc)**, achieve real-time data editing and team collaboration. ![Planning a building complex infrastructure using drone imagery and GIS Cloud data visualization solution](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Engineers-Without-Borders-cover2-1024x632.jpg) Engineers Without Borders, Norway Division (IUG) is a nonprofit focused on promoting community development. They distribute engineering expertise to other aid organizations while supporting **[UN’s sustainable development goals](https://sdgs.un.org/)** in all their activities. Every year they carry out many assignments worldwide for Norwegian aid projects, where qualified engineers are their contribution. Hospitals are one of the most complex building types with many functional units. To **plan the extension,** it was essential to have an overview of the current configuration and implement the right land use mapping methodology. The main issue was having only a limited amount of existing technical documentation on hospital property. ## **Initials Roadblocks Engineers Faced When Planning the Mapping Project** > Even though we are a nonprofit organization working for charity, we still need access to professional systems. Thus, the price tag is always a question when it comes to implementing a high-grade technology. I would say that this level of accessibility, both in terms of costs and the ease of use, would not be possible without GIS Cloud. – Rune Hetlelid, Engineers Without Borders Norway Division #### ![Engineers Without Borders mapping with drones](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Engineers-Without-Borders-photos.jpg) While the technical staff was experienced and knew the situation in-depth, there were **no recent data updates on the property infrastructure**. The existing documents were incomplete since they dated back to the renovation in 1984. Much had changed in hospital configuration and land use since then, and engineers needed a recent data overview of the area. It was challenging to plan extension and land use without the area master plan. To be able to provide the best care for its patients and achieve maximum efficiency of the hospital staff, it is crucial for every hospital to have a functional design of its complex. The team **previously used QGIS desktop software** for creating maps and making analyses. The problem was that QGIS was a too complicated softwarethat required knowledge and experience from end users. The ideal solution needs to be easy to use, even for the **users without GIS experience**. At the same time, the solution should be cost-effective and offer a possibility to share maps and collaborate on projects in real-time**.** This can’t be done using a desktop solution. ## **Implementing A User-Friendly GIS Solution for Land Use Mapping** At this point, Engineers Without Borders took upon themselves to map the hospital area using drones (UAV mapping). The output were the orthographic photos of the property. They needed to create a **high-resolution map**, using a system which would smoothly handle rendering large files. For this purpose, the staff deployed the **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**, an app used for **drone data visualization** and map editing. The orthographic drone photos were stitched together to get the high-resolution images of the property. GIS vectors in separate shapefiles were quickly uploaded and added to the orthographic map. ![Drone imagery and data visualized in GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Map-Editor-Map-Haydom-Lutheran-Hospital.jpg) The app is user-friendly, so it didn’t require any specialized knowledge from the staff. Map Editor provided an optimal performance in handling large files, even with the slow internet connection. The map was shared with other stakeholders of the project, making data **accessible in real-time on any device**. To allow specific members private access to the data, they had used the **[Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)** app. The maps were accessible in real-time, so Engineers Without Borders staff could collaborate on a project and edit data at the same time. In the words of **Rune Hetlelid**: > GIS Cloud significantly speeded up the workflow. Additionally, there was no need to develop new systems. **Most useful GIS Cloud benefits for Engineers Without Borders:** - Data visualization process simplicity and speed - Collaborating on a project and accessing data from any device - Real-time online data editing Choosing the **[GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/)** was a very cost-effective decision because of the flexible pricing model. It **saved money on training the staff** and diminished the number of working hours needed to finish the land use mapping project. If you want to try this solution and test it out, **[sign up here to start your free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)**. Related content: Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study Land Administration And Parcel Management in the State of New York (Case Study) Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) Oil and Gas Case Study: Providing Client Mapping Data Online **Categories:** Blog, Construction, Non Profit, Use Cases **Tags:** data visualisation, Drone imagery, drone mapping, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Viewer, NGO, nonprofit, planning, rendering big data, Sharing large raster data --- ### [Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/maintenance-of-sugarcane-plantations-in-agriculture-with-copla-gis-mapping-solution-events-in-brazil/) **Published:** April 19, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [Coplacana](https://www.coplacana.com.br/), one of the largest cooperatives of **sugarcane and ethanol producers** in the world, and [99GEO](https://www.99geo.com.br/) (GIS Cloud representative in Brazil) started a **Copla-GIS** project at the 2018 [Copla Campo event](https://g1.globo.com/sp/piracicaba-regiao/noticia/2017/02/terceira-edicao-da-copla-campo-deve-gerar-r-35-milhoes-em-negocios.html) in the Piracicaba City of São Paulo. The result of their partnership is a specific GIS technology, a **solution** that aims to improve the productivity indexes of plantations, with **customized tools** for **precision agriculture**. 99GEO presented this technology at three separate events. ![compla gis sugarcane plantantions brasil maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/99-Geo-Coplacampo-cover2.jpg)In May of 2018, 99GEO presented the Copla-GIS solution at three separate events. Scroll down to read about **key features a**nd the benefits this technology offers for sugarcane producers. ## Copla-GIS Solution from Brazil **Copla Campo** is an agribusiness-focused event organized by **Coplacana**, where more than **50 exhibitors of sugarcane and ethanol fuel production** participate and get in touch with new techniques of planting and harvesting, equipment and products, to bring innovation to the sugar-energy sector. [99GEO](https://www.99geo.com.br/) was one of the exhibitors presenting GIS Cloud technology, which proved to be an excellent fit for [Coplacana](https://www.coplacana.com.br/), the biggest cooperative of sugar cane farms producers, with more than 3 000 associates. In partnership with Coplacana, **99GEO** has developed the **Copla-GIS solution**, which allows each associate of Coplacana to use GIS Cloud apps to **manage production, control pests, soil quality, plant heat,** and more. Associates benefit from the map visualization and field data collection resources used to **monitor and manage** sugarcane plantations. ![99GEO at the Compla Campo even](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/99GEO-Copla-Campo-1024x505.jpg)99GEO at the Compla Campo event, Piracicaba City of São Paulo, February 2018. **99GEO, as exhibitors** at three separate events in May 2018 presented the Copla-GIS solution: - [MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2018 (São Paulo, 15-17 May)](https://mundogeoconnect.com/2018/mundogeoconnect-latin-america-en/) - [Agrishow (Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, 30 April – 4 May)](https://www.agrishow.com.br/en/home.html) – one of the biggest events in the Agribusiness world - Coplacana technological innovations **Precision agriculture** is often associated with technologies such as GPS, GIS, drones, mobile data collection applications, remote sensing, and other technological advances intended to provide farmers with a better decision-making process. Digital, interactive maps display spatial correlations and patterns important for **sugarcane production management, pest control, soil quality, moisture content,** and much more. The **Copla-GIS** initiative is excellent for the **development of the agricultural sector**, which in this case also responds to the renewable energy sector in the **production of fuel ethanol**. For instance, in Brazil, nearly all vehicles work with both gasoline and ethanol, and the use of ethanol reaches almost 100% in some regions of the country. **SCOPE DIVIDED BY AREAS: FIRST PHASE – COPLA-GIS (99GEO)** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Escopo-Coplacana-eng2.png) ## Key Benefits In Precision Agriculture for Sugarcane Industry - **MAPPING FIELD DATA WITH HIGH GPS ACCURACY** The first step to improve the understanding of a farm’s productivity is to **map and collect** necessary information about **soil nutrient levels and crop characteristics**, accompanied by [exact GPS locations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/) to provide a base layer of information. By pinpointing the areas where the productivity of crops is performing well, and areas where the farmer needs to make a change, it makes it easier for a farmer to **monitor yield patterns** that help determine spatial production potential. Explore the benefits and advantages of GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qah89drfH6I) application in [precision agriculture for sugarcane industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-data-collection-tools-for-soil-sampling-in-agriculture/). - **REAL-TIME SHARING AND SUPPORTING DRONE IMAGERY DATA** Large raster data obtained by **drone mapping, satellite imagery** or **aerial photography** can derivate important spatial data such as orthomosaic maps, elevation models, or contours. Sharing large raster data in real-time with **different stakeholders and different privileges,** is the most important factor when it comes to time efficiency in the farming industry. If you are interested in this topic, check out our post on [Sharing Large Raster Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-large-raster-maps-and-drone-imagery-with-gis-cloud/). GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-prepare-and-format-my-data-before-uploading-it-to-gis-cloud/) web app helps farmers to **process and analyze the collected crop and soil data**. Farmers can overlay the spatial data with drone imagery and attach different types of information such as photos from the field, volumetric waste information, pdf documents, and reports. - **FIELD REPORTS AND COLLABORATION** Adopting a cloud-based GIS solution as a farm management tool can help farmers and land managers to keep **track of day-to-day** **activities,** such as the application of chemicals, fertilizers, and water. They can also **track costs** of harvesting, hauling, fertilizing and labor, and **predict current and future fluctuations** in precipitation, temperature, crop output, etc. Full **collaboration** between the **land manager**, **farmer,** and the **local authority** can be achieved using the Map Editor application. Different stakeholders will benefit from [easy access to location data](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/), as well as **real-time reports,** presented as a table with various information about harvest performance, crop characteristics, or the amounts of soil nutrients, throughout the season. Want to try GIS Cloud apps and see what they can do for you? [Request a demo](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Showcasing the GIS Cloud solution for precision agriculture at AgTechDay-Brazil GIS Cloud Expanding to Brazil How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture Risk Management in Agriculture (Use Case) Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** agriculture, collaboration, compla-gis, complacana, GIS, GIS Cloud, mapping, precision agriculture, sugarcane --- ### [GIS Cloud Learning Center and Support](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-support-center/) **Published:** October 17, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Learning Center](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/help1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/help1.jpg)**Every successful GIS story begins with great GIS tools!** **Our mission is to make your GIS journey user friendly as much as possible by helping and assisting GIS Cloud users every step of the way. We believe that learning and exploring new applications and products shouldn’t be tiring and hard but exciting and fun. In our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/), you will find plenty of useful materials, explanations and work processes that can be implemented specifically for your business.** **Learning Center** Everything you need to know about GIS Cloud apps and platform you will find in our Learning Center. Our Support team puts a lot of effort into updating the GIS Cloud [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) on a daily basis, so all the new features that are released weekly are immediately explained for you and your teams. **Developers Page** If you need information that is more developer’s related, check our [Developers Center](https://docs.giscloud.com/) that provides you with useful info on leveraging the GIS Cloud platform. **Video Tutorials** On our [You Tube](https://www.youtube.com/@giscloud6864) page you can find more of video tutorials and webinars that explain different implementations and workflows of GIS Cloud platform in the everyday business of our clients and users. **Live Support** Click the chat button in the left corner for **live help** and access to our online support team. **Direct Contact** If you need any additional information, please contact us directly at For help and general inquiries please contact [support@giscloud.com](mailto:contactsupport@giscloud.com) Related content: GIS Cloud Launches Learning Center! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus **Categories:** Blog --- ### [QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher - Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-plugin-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/) **Published:** April 2, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/QGIS-Plugin-Webinar-Recording-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/QGIS-Plugin-Webinar-Recording-cover.png) Two weeks ago we held a live demo webinar about the QGIS plugin we recently released; the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/). This plugin allows you to **publish and update your QGIS maps online, preserving your symbology**. In this webinar recording (below), you will learn how to **easily transfer entire maps or only a couple of layers** from QGIS to GIS Cloud and continue working on your published maps. Once you have published your maps, you can **share them with colleagues,** **privately** (inside your organization) or **publicly**, and **control their access to your data**. You can decide whether they can only [view the data](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), or [edit the data](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) as well, which allows you to achieve a real-time collaboration when working on your maps and data. **Update** your maps or only specific layers in any phase of your project, preserving your symbology and saving time you would otherwise use to style your data again. Add additional layers into your published maps to get an even better overview of your project. You will also learn how you can [**collect data from the field**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **directly into your published QGIS maps**, and how you can present your data using a public branded [Map Portal,](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) including switching between multiple maps. We also talked about why and how we made the plugin, listening to the feedback from our customers and users. ## **QGIS Plugin Key Features:** - **Transfer your QGIS data (vectors, rasters, wms, wfs) and symbology** - Points, lines, polygons, categories, and labels are supported completely - Upload the entire map, or just a few layers for a fast workflow - Update changes made to your map or specific layers - Upload the same map as a new version to GIS Cloud - Upload as a private or public map - Give a name to your map - Share public maps instantly with an URL link - Share private maps with colleagues inside GIS Cloud - You can also publish your QGIS analysis by first saving them as rasters - QGIS is connected to GIS Cloud over a secure SSL connection - The plugin is compatible with **QGIS 3** and **QGIS 2**. Now that you learned all about the QGIS plugin, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the **GIS Cloud Publisher** for QGIS among **QGIS plugins**, and test it out, it’s free! Related content: GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Publisher for ArcMap **Categories:** Blog --- ### [From Paper to Digital: Water Valves Exercise Logs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-paper-to-digital-water-valves-exercise-logs/) **Published:** March 21, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Exercise Logs](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Water-Valve.png) Are your operators using paper maps to track their routine water valve exercises? Do they have company issued smartphones? It’s time to upgrade the workflow. We are going to show you how easy it is to inventory your valve exercises with a mobile app. It doesn’t matter if you have an Apple or Android device. In with the shredder and outside with your smartphones ## Why are we exercising these valves, Boss? If you aren’t familiar with valve exercising programs, we’ll briefly cover them. Exercising valves is an important regular task performed by the staff of utility companies. Water valves control the flow of water. Checking on valves everything so often is to make sure they work properly. Over time, since valves are sitting in water, they can build up material, including calcium and tubercles. By exercising the valves, we can remove any build up as well and inventory the condition of a valve. Valves are expected to perform a certain way. Each different size takes a certain number of turns to close. Plus or minus a turn, it takes about 18 turns to fully open or close a 6” valve. It takes about 24 turns on an 8” valve. The rule is generally to multiply the valve size by 3, give or take a turn. That formula doesn’t work on the bigger sized valves. Water shut offs occur during water utility construction and pipe bursts or other occasions. By having properly operating valves, water managers can limit the loss of water during accidents and minimize service interruption to customers. If the nearest valves aren’t working properly, a larger number of customers will be impacted by the water shut-off. Water valve exercising inventories are a great time to identify any potential problems like damaged or malfunctioning valves. Water shut-off events require the impacted public to be notified. That’s another place GIS can help identify the impacted parcels using [analysis tools](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/near-analysis/). Now let’s leave the water utility management to the professionals and move on to what we are experts in: **GIS** and **data collection**. ## Data Collection For Your Valve Exercising Program Part of a good valve exercising program is the data collected during the process. This data tracks what issues need to be addressed and ensures the valves are properly tested. Many water districts still capture this information on spreadsheets or paper maps. We are going to show you how you can collect the necessary information in the GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. All the information you used to write down can be entered into a database on your phone. Back in the office, you’ll be able to export the data to a CSV or Excel spreadsheet. The data you collect can include the standard inventory information. This includes: - Valve or Asset ID - Year Installed - Size - Asbuilt Link - Date Exercised - Valve type - Current Position (Open or Closed) - No. Of Turns to Close - Turns taken - Condition of valve - Did not close - Could not operate valve - Valve nut damaged - Valve nut spun freely - Valve stem cap missing ![Mobile Data Collection Asset ID](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/standard-inventory-information.png) If you think of any additional information you need, you can add the fields using the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). Your team can attach photos to the valve point. You won’t need to write down the filename or location and guess which photo goes with which valve back at the office. All that information will be captured in the MDC app. The photos will be linked directly to the valve. ## Tips on how to get the most out of the MDC App when Valve Exercising These are a few quick tips for speeding up the data collection process and solving some issues you may have experienced with paper work orders and printed out maps. ### Tip #1 – Create a Catch All Attribute Field I like having a “Notes” field on all my field data. I use it to collect any information that might not fit the other fields. Or it could be used as extra space for a different field. You never know what you’ll find in the field, so a backup field is great to have. ### Tip #2 – Capture multi photos When you are in the field, you can see the environment around the asset. Back in the office, you won’t have that luxury. Taking a photo of the asset from multiple directions will help give a more complete understanding of the area and situation. When we collect data, we will capture area photos from different angles, the asset from a few feet away, and then a close-up of the asset. That last photo will usually capture the Asset ID if it is present on the asset. ![capture multi photos](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MDC-photo-video-1.png) ### Tip #3 – Create default values Defaults on new data points speed up the data collection process. You may only need to make a few changes, but ideally, the majority are defaulted to the correct or most frequent answer. In this case, we are going to set our default value for water valves to “open”. Unless something is going on, valves are open to allow water flow. ![defaults on new data points](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/default-values.png) ### Tip #4 – Build drop-down lists Drop down lists give you a list of predetermined options. For valve types these can be the common types, for example: gate, butterfly, or ball. Others can be common issues you may expect to find in the field. The valve position, open or closed, can be used in a drop-down. Here we have a drop-down for the condition field: ![mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/drop-down-lists.png) Drop-down menus are great for keeping your data consistent and removing entry errors while simplifying and speeding up the data collection process. ## Conclusion A GIS mobile solution needs to be as reliable as a properly operating valve. Let that be GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection application. Right now, we are offering our premium tools, like Map Portal and the MDC application, as part of our **free 14-day trial**. [**Sign up today**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start digitizing your paper maps before your next valve exercising inventory happens. Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! **Categories:** Blog, Industries, Water Utilities --- ### [Transform CCTV Inspections with the Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/transform-cctv-inspections-with-the-mobile-data-collection/) **Published:** March 14, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Mobile Data Collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CCTV-Inspections.png) The [Mobile Data Collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) is your winning ticket. The app could be worth a million dollars to you and your organization. It is the key to a successful field operation. The application works on iOS and Android devices. Clients of ours, like [Pipe View America](https://pipeviewamerica.com/), use the application. How many thousands of miles of pipe do you think they have surveyed in their 18 year history? We are offering you the same opportunity. Whether you need to collect assets, whether you need to navigate to job sites, whether you want to create an efficient workflow to monitor your team’s progress and share it with stakeholders. It’s all possible with the MDC app. Sign up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and put the MDC app and our other premium tools to use today. # Mobile Data Collection CCTV Inspection Uses Our many clients have used the MDC application in different ways during their annual inspections. The application has proven to increase efficiency and lower operating costs. Our CCTV inspection clients use the application to: - Map the locations where they have been - Show evidence of work completed - Connect footage to pipe segments - Create future work orders - Navigate to the correct site - Document inspections with photos The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. If you come up with a feature you want on the app, tell one of our **Solution Consultants**. ## Work Completed Tracking During large projects, tracking what work you have completed is important. You don’t want to revisit locations you have completed, go out of order, or simply miss work due to forgetting a job site. After signing up for our free [14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), you’ll be able to track your own inspection work in minutes. In the MDC app, under the Water Utilities project template, you can mark the fields to show what portions of the pipelines have been inspected. If you haven’t imported or migrated your GIS data into the database manager, that’s not a problem. You can easily create the features in the MDC app while out in the field. The app also includes different base maps. You have the street labeled polygon option as well as a satellite imagery basemap. In minutes, you can sign up and be tracking your work progress in the field. ## Navigate to an Asset Imagine you are in a different town doing a pipeline CCTV inspection. The starting point was easy to find, that’s where everyone agreed to meet up. You’re done with the first site. Where to now? The next job begins at a manhole 3 miles away. What’s the best way to get there? Easy. Open the MDC application, select the feature you need to reach, and select the [Navigate to Feature](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-mdc-features-read-only-fields-navigate-to-feature-and-manual-audio-recorder/) option at the top of the screen. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-update-navigation.png) Everyone on the team will know where to go and the fastest directions to get there. You can count on the directions to have the latest traffic information and road closures. ## Sharing with Clients and Stakeholders GIS Cloud has different options for presenting your work to your clients, management, and stakeholders. You can keep the data in a GIS Cloud environment or export it for external use. You can organize and present all the crucial information in a customized dashboard. The dashboard can feature your logo and company details. The dashboard can display different data. In one panel, you can show your clients how much work has been completed. Another can show the proposed schedule and which pipelines are next up for the CCTV inspection. Remember the data you tracked in the beginning, it is now being presented live within your dashboard. That data can include any issues you discovered during an inspection. [Photo attachments](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/collecting-photos-and-videos/) can show exactly what the situation is. Since the photo is attached to a data layer, like a point, line, or polygon, you will know the accurate location of the issue. If you want to produce [custom reports](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/) for external use, that’s an option as well. Working with one of our talented Solution Consultants can help develop a custom report form that fits your unique needs. These forms can include: - Date - Time - Inspector - Location - Equipment used - Issues found - Photos - Notes Anything you collect in the MDC app or add to the GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) can be included in the report. And, of course, it can include your company logo and letterhead. ## Conclusion Now it’s time to sign up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) if you haven’t done so. In minutes you can be using these tools and features. Our GIS Cloud Solution Consultants will be available to answer your questions on how to develop your own data schematic, or you can use one of our many data templates. These are some of the ways clients like Pipe View America have been using the Mobile Data Collection application, Map Editor, and Map Viewer for years. Sign up for the [free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and see how much money our set of tools and applications can save your organization. Related content: How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps Mobile Data Collection Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other, Water Utilities --- ### [Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/telecommunications-consulting-use-case-visualising-and-sharing-census-data-with-clients/) **Published:** November 26, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** > GIS Cloud lets us offer our clients a new and exciting visualization tool to better understand the data they report. > > Technologies Management Inc. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Telecommunication-Consulting-Case-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Telecommunication-Consulting-Case-cover.jpg) [Technologies Management, Inc.](https://inteserra.com/) (TMI), a leading provider of [Form 477](https://www.fcc.gov/economics-analytics/industry-analysis-division/form-477-resources) support services for telecommunication US clients nationwide, offers a service that displays the 477 results – text files with information by census tract block code, in an online map format. This case study will showcase how cloud-based GIS can be used to **visualize textual data (excel sheets) in a map format** to better understand spatial data, and improve decision making in the telecommunications industry through data visualization, sharing and publishing. ### **Telecommunications consulting company – helping broadband and voice service providers to report data on served areas** TMI is a consulting firm established in 1986. They provide expert consulting services to clients in the telecommunications and regulated utility industries, offering extensive regulatory analysis, comprehensive informational tools and publications, effective compliance strategies and business advice. In the last several years, there has been an increased need for broadband and voice service providers to **report data** to state and federal agencies **based on served geographic areas.** One of the most complex reports is the [Form 477](https://www.fcc.gov/economics-analytics/industry-analysis-division/form-477-resources) filed semi-annually with the United States Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). Form 477 requires providers to report customer counts and deployment data by US Census Tract and Block. Being either a form or a report, Form 477 is actually a **set of text files** that contain voice and broadband counts or other information by census tract block code. Those are hard to read and unusable for understanding provider service and deployment footprint, and below the county level, **hard for a provider to imagine what tracts and blocks are served**, or included in their reports. TMI offers a cloud-based service – TMI GIS online – that displays these results in an online map format: - **subscription data** by census tract - **deployment data** by census block - **actual locations point** and data for each customer [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Map-voice-and-broadband-deployment-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Map-voice-and-broadband-deployment-2.jpg) Data can be accessed by any desktop or mobile device, no special software, hardware or GIS experience needed. ## **Why was this report so complex for the service providers?** Technologies Management describes the difficulties that occurred in reporting as a consequence of the fact that US Census **blocks can be very small**: > In many cases, they are literally that, a city block. It makes printing block-level maps impractical for clients who offer services in large areas or on a nationwide basis. It might take hundreds of maps to see a service area in the appropriate detail. TMI wanted to offer a service that would **help their clients with a reporting process** that was very time-consuming and not easy to comprehend: > In the past, clients have had to review report outputs as large Excel or comma-delimited text files. The review process is cumbersome. And frankly, it is difficult to understand service areas from a list of counties, tracts and blocks. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Form-477-excel.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Form-477-excel.jpg) ## **The limitations of their desktop GIS setup** TMI considered sending spatial data such as tracts and blocks with telecommunication services boundaries in shapefiles to each client for review, as a possibility to make the reporting process easier and more efficient for them. **But, this option required clients to already have GIS software and the knowledge to use it.** And that was often not the case. The primary challenge was to find a solution which wouldn’t require their clients to have an established expensive desktop GIS installation and staff trained to use it. At the same time, it was important to find a software which could **handle a large amount of data and display it at fast loading speed** so that their clients could have an efficient workflow with this data visualization solution. Technologies Management Inc. wanted to find a GIS solution that would enable them to **host a large amount of census data** and **share it easily with their clients** on a web map. ## **The new cloud-based GIS solution for simple data overview** TMI considered many hosting alternatives for their new GIS services. > Our decision to host through GIS Cloud was due to the ease of use of the service, both for our clients and us. The best solution was an online option that allowed TMI to **post maps for review** by individual clients and allowed them to **access maps on any device** without special software or expertise: “We felt the GIS Cloud platform best suited our plans and made this option possible.” Building maps populated with census data with many layers was easily achievable through GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). ![Karta 8-1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Karta-8-1.jpg) TMI is now using [private maps](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) hosted on GIS Cloud as a way for clients to **visualize the tracts and blocks they serve** and are reporting. In addition, TMI clients can subscribe to one or more standard maps showing US Census Geography, local phone company boundaries, and other telecommunication related data. In some cases, they would make parts of these standard maps available to the general public via GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) as well. > By converting this data into online maps, our clients can review report results much faster and have a better method for confirming that the geography described in the report is accurate. This [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKFep8dlbo4) shows an overview on how Technologies Management Inc. use GIS Cloud hosted maps in the Form 477 season: Subscription data is superimposed over shared layers, such as state or county boundaries or census tracts and blocks. It can also be viewed in conjunction with Street and Satellite maps. Additionally, you can look at the **deployment data, view subscriber counts for a specific tract, all tracts or selected tracts**, overlay tracts on the Bing Street or Satellite map with transparency, and view information on other census tracts in the area. It is also possible to look at the actual subscriber location data that underlies the 477. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Map-Street-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Map-Street-map.jpg) TMI GIS online gives clients a new way to understand their Form 477 data. For long term clients, TMI can host current, as well as historical layers, which will let you see changes to your service territories over time. ## **Telecommunications Solution Key Features** Jennifer Durst-Jarell from Technologies Management Inc. summarized key features for recommending GIS Cloud: 1. 1. ****1. **App Customization, User Accounts and Data Management****** The ability for TMI to create and manage private user accounts was essential. It allows us to manage maps and data for multiple clients through one interface. GIS Cloud also makes it possible to customize the user interface for our clients through separate apps and portal domains. GIS Cloud’s system allows us to build custom maps made from proprietary client data as well as shared layers, thus eliminating the need to duplicate the same public layers for each client. 1. 1. **2. High Display Speed** Maps viewed in GIS Cloud are rendered quickly. Many of TMI’s maps include layers with over 11 million US Census Blocks. Usually, this number of vectors (features) would slow down the display of any map considerably. GIS Cloud handles this amount of data just fine. 1. 1. **3. Ability to Handle Large Datasets** Many of our map layers have over 500,000 vectors/features, the largest being over 11,000,000. The ability to upload, store and display huge datasets was key to our selection of GIS Cloud as a hosting company. ![Karta 7-1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Karta-7-1.jpg) To conclude, Jennifer Durst-Jarell highlights the benefits of using GIS Cloud for TMI in their area of expertise, telecommunications industry: > TMI has been a leader in processing FCC Form 477 data. GIS Cloud lets us offer our clients a new and exciting visualization tool tobetter understand the data they report. In addition, it provides clients of our other GIS services a new method for viewing and sharing data both with TMI and other departments within their companies. Want to know more about GIS Cloud solutions for the telecommunications and utility industry? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Environmental Consulting Case Study: Watching Over Natural Hazards with the help of GIS Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** census data, data sharing, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, map, mapping, Technologies Management Inc., Telecommunications, Telecommunications Industry, use case, Utilities --- ### [GIS Mobile Applications for Leak Detection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-mobile-applications-for-leak-detection/) **Published:** March 7, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Water Pipe Loss Detection Applications](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GIS-Mobile-Leak.png) Leaks occur frequently in water utility systems. They result in water loss and high repair costs. Pipe and valve leaks demand attention from important staff members and are a distraction. Detecting hidden leaks can also be expensive and take crucial funds from the budget. These issues can be tracked, analyzed, and even predicted using mobile applications powered by GIS. ## Tracking Leak Detections with GIS Collecting the leak detections impacting your system is the first step in leveraging a digitized GIS solution. Whenever a leak is discovered, the details should be cataloged into your online GIS directly from the field. A mobile application like the [Mobile Data Collection (MDC)](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application from GIS Cloud can collect, store, and share the important details of the leak. The MDC application will also capture the location of the leak. All these capabilities can be used [offline](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/) in case you lose internet service. What if you can’t access the exact leak location? In the MDC app, you can edit the data point location as needed to show where the leak occurred. Using an external [Bluetooth GNSS receiver](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-connect-mdc-app-to-an-external-gps-device/) will locate your position down to centimeters of accuracy. The MDC application is compatible with a variety of GNSS receivers: - Bad Elf - EOS Arrow - Garmin - Juniper - Leica - Trimble What other data can you capture in the field? The possibilities are endless with the MDC application. GIS Cloud gives you the ability to use their project templates as well as creating your own custom forms. You can collect text, numbers, dates, times, coordinates, and photos in these forms. ![collect text numbers dates times coordinates photos](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/project-templates-forms.png) There is the ability to use drop-down menus and multiple-choice selections filled with expected values. The expected values keep your data entry accurate and consistent. More time in the field collecting data and less time in the office QA/QC’ing the data. A good form for collecting Leak Detection data should include: - Date - Time - Location - Asset Type (Type of asset leaking, e.g. pipe, shut off valve, backflow prevention valve) - Asset Material - Asset Install Year - Asset Condition - Tree Roots (Yes or No) - Last Maintenance Date - Water System Type (examples: Potable Water, Reclaim, Raw) - Asset Pressure Reading - Detection Method (Acoustic, Ground Penetrating Radar “GPR”, Tracer Gas, Surface Mark - Cause of Leak Prediction (Corrosion, Age, Poor Installation) - Notes (Additional information) - Employee (Document who collected the information) - Photos (Document the evidence of the leak) This template gives your team a basic outline for important information they can capture at the time of the leak detection discovery. You can also [link documents](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/optimize-gis-water-asset-management/) like as-builts and recorded easements to the field data. Spending the time to build an in-depth field data form will pay off during your analysis. ## Analyze Historic Leak Detections in Map Environment The analysis of data is a powerful GIS tool. The strength of an analysis is the data going in. Good, complete, accurate, and reliable data will give you confident and actionable results. You may want to consider your analysis goals before creating your MDC data form. Understanding what information you want to inspect will tell you what information you need to collect or gather. A data analysis can be done using GIS Cloud’s [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application and online solution. The analysis tools include: - [Area](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/area-analysis/) calculation - [Buffer](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/buffer/) analysis - [Near](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/near-analysis/) (Proximity tool) - [Heatmap](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/heatmap-analysis/) symbology These tools can be run on your field-collected data and other spatial data sources. Soil types can also be included in the analysis. Contours and elevations may reveal where the low spots are in your utility systems. GIS Cloud can handle different file types, so working with different data sources won’t be a barrier to any of your research. These sources can be: - Web feature services - Shapefiles - KMLs/KMZs - ESRI ArcMap By bringing in other [external data sources](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/), you will be able to further your analysis. ## Predicting Future Leaks With GIS Collaboration The results of your research can show the common factors between different leak occurrences. If a pattern is unclear to you as a GIS professional, you can recruit your team members to help. Sharing your maps and data into your [GIS Cloud’s Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) will give you the ability to collaborate with colleagues. Your team can work together from anywhere in the world using Map Portal. They can access the maps through desktop and mobile applications. ![asset management water](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg) The Map Portal can be customized with your organization’s logo and contact information. Making the access public will give people outside your organization the ability to view your data and become informed. The public dashboard can show the public where leaks have occurred and the efforts being made to address the issue. Transparency builds trust in your organization and its mission. Your team will have access to custom reports, you can deliver a leak detection summary of the event. These custom reports can be changed to fit your goals with the help of one of our GIS Cloud Solution Consultants. ## Conclusion Water leaks don’t need to be a constant problem for your organization. There are powerful solutions available at affordable prices that can prepare your team for a swift response. GIS Cloud has helped many clients [digitize their assets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/telecom-digitization-service-coverage-and-gap-analysis/) and move to a cloud-based solution. Your next step should be to sign up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and meet with one of the [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Our team’s expertise can help make the transition a smooth one. Related content: Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Mini School: Custom Applications How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [Streamlining Your Data Entry with Grouped Form Items](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamlining-your-data-entry-with-grouped-form-items/) **Published:** February 8, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Digital Field Workflow](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Data-Grouped-Form-Items.png) Suppose the first step to improving your data collection workflow was to move from pen-and-paper to a digital solution. The next big step is improving the quality of your workflow for project managers and data collectors in the field. In GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection Portal and [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), grouping form items is a simple but powerful improvement not only for project managers seeking streamlined form management but also for field workers, ensuring a more intuitive and efficient data entry experience. In short, say goodbye to overly long and hard-to-navigate data collection forms! ## User-Friendly Experience for Project Managers For project managers, the challenge lies in designing forms that cater to diverse project requirements. By grouping related fields, project managers can design forms that align with project intricacies, ensuring an efficient data collection process. Project managers can start organizing their form items in GIS Cloud in just a few short steps. Groups are added with one click of a button; after that, all that remains is to add your form items by creating new ones or just dragging and dropping existing ones. For more detailed instructions, check out the guide in our [User Manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/). ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/form_groups_gif.gif) Oh, and did we mention that all of our existing advanced and quality control options can be applied to the form items in the groups? ## Efficiency and improved User Experience for data collectors Field workers benefit from a streamlined and user-friendly data collecting process, saving time in the field and contributing to more accurate and timely data collection. Grouping related items means that data collectors encounter a more structured and logical form layout. In the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, tap the plus icon next to the group name to open it and see the items in the group. Paired with our existing quality control options, the data collection process is more user-friendly and streamlined than ever. ## In conclusion Grouping form items offers synergy between project design and on-the-ground data collection, fostering efficiency in the entire workflow. By organizing related fields into logical groups, project managers can create a structured and intuitive form layout, which also benefits data collectors in the field who can work with greater efficiency and deliver well-organized and more accurate data. We are excited to offer this new feature to our users, and we hope you find it as helpful and insightful as we do! Don’t have an account? No problem – [**start here**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)! Of course, if you have any questions or feedback, you can contact our consultants at [**info@giscloud.com**](mailto:info@giscloud.com). Improve your data collection workflow today! Related content: How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar Form Translations – New Feature Release! How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Teramaps - Partner Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/teramaps-partner-use-case/) **Published:** February 1, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud Online America](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Teramaps-Partner-Use-Case.png) [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.cl/) is a GIS Cloud partner that offers technical solutions for their clients’ geography needs. They integrate QGIS’s desktop applications with GIS Cloud’s online solutions to deliver valuable tools throughout Chile and across South America. Their clients range from a variety of industries, including municipalities, power and gas companies, the Chilean military, universities, shipping companies, and many others from across the continent. We are going to explore the services they offer and how they helped modernize a nationwide police force. ## GIS Cloud Partner As a GIS Cloud Partner, Teramaps has been a long-time user of the platform. They have used GIS Cloud since 2015 and continue to do so. As a [GIS Cloud Partner](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-teramaps-an-official-gis-cloud-reseller-in-colombia-chile-and-peru/), they are experts in geospatial solutions and GIS Cloud. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Partners-Map.png) ### GIS Cloud Training As experts on the GIS Cloud platform, they are a highly qualified organization. They have maximized the capabilities of using open-source GIS solutions like QGIS. Teramaps offers training on integrating [QGIS with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/). The training will include data processing, analysis, and presentation. ### Geocoding Geocoding takes a list or table of addresses and locates them on a map. The process is automated with a geocoding tool. Teramaps offers this as [one of their services](https://www.teramaps.cl/servicios/). Teramaps has invested in accurate address positioning throughout Chile. They have worked on cadaster data throughout the country as part of projects for their private and public sector clients. ### Map Viewer The [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) is an application developed for presenting data to non-GIS users. The deliverable is an easy-to-use map and data viewer. There are tools for identifying layers and features within the dataset. The Map Viewer can be customized with your organization’s logo and branding. As the administrator, you can set the access permissions on the maps and data within your viewer. ### Mobile Data Collection Collecting field data is an important part of a GIS. Data is the backbone of powerful analysis and leads to better decision-making. The [Mobile Data Collection (MDC) application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) is a powerful mobile application available on IOS and Android. With the MDC, Teramaps’ clients collect data in custom forms. The forms can be set up for point, line, and polygon data. The data captured can include photos of the asset. As soon as the data is collected and synced in the field, it is made available to all the users on the GIS Cloud platform. Users can collect items like water meters, pipelines, and property boundaries. If accuracy is important, the MDC application can connect via Bluetooth to an external GNSS receiver and capture high-accuracy data. ### Map Portal The [GIS Cloud map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a hosted application that presents your maps, data, and assets to the public. The interactive maps allow users to search and query your data. This is a great example of [how to develop a hydrological map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-hydrological-map-portal/) Teramaps creates such map portals for their clients. They are able to customize them with their clients’ logos. These have served as excellent tools for clients presenting to the public. ## Modernizing a Nation’s Crime Data The Carabineros of Chile are the national law enforcement military group of Chile. They maintain order and security throughout the country for citizens. ![crime risk map carabineros de chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Crime-Risk-Map-Carabineros-de-Chile.jpg) During times of peace, they serve as a police force to communities. When war situations arise, they mobilize as a branch of the Chilean military. Due to their nationwide jurisdiction, they needed to rely on geospatial experts like Teramaps for their data and analysis solutions. Teramaps developed a GIS Cloud Map Viewer for the agency. The Map Viewer shows crime data as and areas of concern for fires, road conditions, and protests. The map data provides the unit and detachment for the selected area. A feature that receives high praise from the Carabineros is the query and reporting function. The reports provide data by week, zone, unit, detachment, and quadrant. Built into this report are fields that track the changes in the data. The fields identify increases and decreases in crimes weekly and month-by-monthly. ![Carabineros De Chile Crime Risk Map 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-2.png) Teramaps has created a powerful tool that organizes the agency’s data in a centralized location. The different Zones report their data, and it is immediately available to everyone in the organization. Their crime fighting efforts can also be analyzed, and their impacts can be measured and backed by accurate data. The [Teramaps Crime Risk Map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/carabineros-de-chile-crime-risk-map/) was featured on our blog a few years ago and provided an in-depth look at the process and methods used to provide the final product. ![Carabineros de Chile Crime Risk Map 3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-3.jpg) ## Conclusion Their resume demonstrates their expertise in GIS and cloud solutions. [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.cl/) has served many clients around Chile and throughout South America. Their services have helped modernize agencies throughout the continent and empowered the public to be in the know. Their training has supported QGIS open-source software in providing [an affordable option for GIS tools](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/). If you need a geospatial solution, sign up for GIS Cloud’s [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and experience all the premium features. Related content: Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú Become a GIS Cloud Partner Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/) **Published:** May 6, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Works-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Works-cover.png) GIS technology has been enabling the **Road Work Industry** since the early beginnings. It is proven that the **power of location enhances operational efficiency.** **Online GIS** helps you obtain different data from different systems into a **single easy-to-use platform**. You will start using **smart custom maps** to plan, manage and maintain your road infrastructure to **save time and money!** Bring all of your departments together towards a **collaborative and efficient solution** and make **data-driven,** accurate decisions. **Table of Contents:** - The Challenges and Benefits Of Digitizing Your Road Management - Overseeing Road Work And Data Management In Real Time - Why Should You Optimize Your Road Work Infrastructure And Maintenance? Let’s start with a simple survey. Can you fill these gaps with numbers? The **Highway Department** has the responsibility for the administration, construction, maintenance supervision, repair, and care of approximately \_\_\_**lane miles** of **roadways**, \_\_\_\_**bridges**, and \_\_\_\_**culverts**. In your area there are exactly \_\_\_\_**road signs** that cover \_\_\_\_**crossroads.** All signs are in good condition **except for** \_\_\_\_ that will be replaced next month. We are currently repairing \_\_\_\_\_ **potholes** and have \_\_\_\_\_**road damages** left. Last year there were \_\_\_\_\_**trees removed** from main roads. \_\_\_\_\_ **pavement** markings have been renewed. If you can, are you able to visually perceive all of this information? Here is an **example map** that covers it **all at once**, with related information and the condition of your assets. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadworks-Tree-inventory-map-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadworks-Tree-inventory-map-s.png) We understand that many **road work and maintenance** jobs end up within these types of reports and queries. - Do we know how many roads we have? - How many of those roadways are in the city? - How many bridges and covers do we have in the city? - Are there any potholes that need to be repaired? - Do we have information about how many specific road signs are there? - Does each crossroad have a valid road sign? When you have all of this information, the important thing is to **understand the condition** of your assets, in this case, road signs, road lines, bridges, potholes, etc. Having all this field information in one place under **one single GIS solution** will help you with **budget planning, team operating, setting the right amount of work orders, contractors, tender setups, etc.** **Online GIS** will help you store **different spatial data types** **and information** in numerous thematic layers that can be represented with custom symbology. All of the data is **interconnected** with specific **geo-locations** (coordinates), which will help you and your field crew find it easily with the help of an **interactive map.** Let us show you how the **GIS Cloud platform and applications** will streamline the process for numerous field operations, team collaboration and improve your operational efficiency by **reducing risk and optimizing costs**. ## The Challenges And Benefits Of Digitizing Your Road Management To transform your everyday operations and workflow, you need to understand your teams’ daily challenges. Collecting the data, inspecting, repairing, and maintaining the road damage must have a working timeframe with available permissions. When you are in the field, clear communication and fast-acting is essential. Reducing the **unnecessary paperwork** for field data collection and inspection is **crucial.** Field crews need a fast and accurate response to questions like: - What roads and how many miles I’ve inspected? - Where do I need to go next, and can you give me a signed work order? - Do we have permission to repair this road (sign, pothole, etc.)? - Where are the potholes that are reported? - How much time do we have to finish the job? [**Mobile Data Collection App**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) will replace messy paper forms and provide **clear communication** and **fast-acting** between teams. Suppose the field crew finds themselves **challenged** with the landowners, public inspectors, citizen queries, permissions, or anything else. In that case, **the office managers can set up everything online,** and it will all sync in **real time** on their mobile devices or tablets. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Work-Pavement-maps-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Work-Pavement-maps-s.png) The setup and workflow is so easy and intuitive that you’ll be surprised. Let’s say that the **office crew i**s responsible for issuing daily tasks. They can create **Custom** **Work Forms** for any project in [Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/). The data you wish to collect can be anything, **points, polygons, or lines**. Add the [Form Fields](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/new-project-page/) you need, like: - Pothole size (large, small) - Condition of road signs (broken, fixed, needs repairing) - Maintenance actions (cleanup, inspection, replacement, repair) - Road surface (gravel, chip seal, asphalt) - Existing paved road (planned upgrade, no work scheduled, repairing planned) - Priority (high, low, worst) - Bridges - Bike lanes (visible, not visible) - Crossings (painting planned, painting in progress, needs an update, street art) - and much more [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-forms.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-forms.png) To increase the collecting speed and eliminate errors when filling in digital forms, make your form fields **required, dependent (conditional), or persistent**. Mobile Data Collection app also works in **offline mode** if you struggle with internet connection in some areas. ## Overseeing Road Work And Data Management In Real Time So, you are in the office, and someone in your maintenance team has reported an issue (broken sign, pothole, poor lane visibility, etc.). You need your repair team on it. Do you know where the issue is? Imagine having the **issue placed on the map** in custom symbology already marked to be fixed. With the help of [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**,** editing, analysis, and sharing data is **accessible and visible in real time**! That’s half of the job done already. No paper forms and maps to slow your team down. The maintenance team can **send accurate information** with their **tablets or mobile phones.** The data is instantly available and can be easily customized and optimized on **different access and permission levels** by the management team. This corresponding data gives you valuable insight and helps you identify and predict issues such as road cracks, fall in vegetation risks, potholes, etc. You can **color-code different area** **layers** depending on the job priority. **Risk-informed planning and prioritization** of field jobs are crucial for **saving time and money.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Crash-Data-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Crash-Data-s.png) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Crash-query-Road-Map-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Crash-query-Road-Map-s.png) If you need to report these types of information to the stakeholders or the public, you can **visualize all this information on a map**. Extract and evaluate only the relevant information from the collected data to prioritize and organize your business workflow. With [**Map Viewer** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)and[ **Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) apps, your shared data can be **customized** for GIS experts or **optimized** for non-professionals with different access and permission levels on any device at any time. Imagine how efficient your teams will be and how much time and money you will save without waiting on paper reports and sheets from the field. When the **location is identified**, you can **assign the job to the team online**. Photos and notes in the previously created online survey (form) will help workers literally see what needs to be done. Fixing the pole, replacing the sign, repairing the pothole, painting the lines, or simply removing debris from the highway. Once the job is successfully done, they simply set the **assignment status to complete,** which **shows automatically on the map** for the office crew or management. This performance can also be **photo and media** documented as proof of the completed job. This is crucial in **mitigating the company’s liability** in case of future accidents. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-Map-and-mobile-survey-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-Map-and-mobile-survey-s.png) Here are some excellent **examples** of **Roadworks Management and Maintenance** with GIS Cloud apps. - [Traffic Maintenance – Pedestrian And Bicycle Crossings Management ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-maintenance-using-gis-cloud-pedestrian-and-bicycle-crossings-management-use-case/) This particular use case focuses on assigning your fieldworkers permissions to collect and update data about asset conditions. - [Accessibility Map Of Zagreb For Persons In Wheelchairs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/accessibility-map-of-zagreb-for-persons-in-wheelchairs-collecting-lines-case-study/) With this project, geography students created a map that shows sidewalk accessibility and wheelchair obstacles in the center of Zagreb to help people with disabilities. - [Mapping Public Transportation After The Earthquake In Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-public-transportation-after-the-earthquake-in-zagreb-croatia/) A geography student created an interactive Map Portal representing the changes in public transportation due to earthquake damages. It helped facilitate the daily movements of people in the city of Zagreb. - [Tram Station Asset Management In The City Of Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/tram-station-asset-management-in-the-city-of-zagreb-use-case/) With an interactive Map Portal to help citizens get by in the city traffic jam, geography student collected tram station digital displays showing information about arriving trams (their line number, direction, and the estimated time of arrival). - [Traffic Management Solution: City Of Amsterdam Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-management-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/) One of the bicycle capitals of the world, Amsterdam, implemented GIS Cloud as a solution for quality maintenance of bike lanes, racks, poles and different types of bike infrastructure regularly. - [Improving Road Infrastructure Mapping In Australia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) With the help of online GIS, the district council of Mallala in South Australia mapped all of their road infrastructure assets and improved their project management. Our team also held an interesting **webinar on Solutions For Road Infrastructure And Maintenance**. Watch the webinar for [**free on the link.**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/solutions-for-road-infrastructure-and-maintenance/) ## Why Should You Optimize Your Road Work Infrastructure And Maintenance? First of all, **data quality and optimization**. You can’t have that with a paper-based workflow. You get an **accurate and up-to-date information database** accessible from any device in the field or in the office in real time. All of your data and assets at your fingertips. S**upervise, edit, and maintain** the data at once, immediately understanding how to improve your day-to-day job strategies and plans. Having all of this accessible on an **interactive map** will help you increase **team effectiveness** and **communication**. Don’t wait for them to come back to the office and import or download reports and sheets. With GIS Cloud apps it’s all accessible **at request, online in real time!** This will help you with predictive analytics. **Identify and rightly schedule** all of your field and office activities and **decrease any future costs**! Bring an easy **visual language** to stakeholders, contractors, and workers, improve communication, and display project progression and results on an interactive map. Using a location to communicate the job and solve issues on the spot gives you a strategic advantage! GIS Cloud is **fully scalable, pay for what you use** online platform with no desktop installation required. However, suppose you need **additional data control** and abide by internal security policies. In that case, the GIS Cloud system can be installed on your servers behind a firewall as an **on-premises private** cloud solution. You can **easily scale your app subscriptions** at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for vegetation management projects, [**Sign up** **for the** **free 14-day trial.**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) You can also contact our [**Solution Consultants** ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Road Maintenance Webinar – GIS and Power BI Integration Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, custom road map, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS For Roadworks, Highway Department, highway gis, highway maintenance, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, road inspection, road maintenance, road work, Roadworks Department --- ### [From Data to Insight, Exploring the Datagrid - Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/from-data-to-insight-exploring-the-datagrid/) **Published:** November 16, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Datagrid-Webinar.png) ## Making Data Exploration Simple Our recent webinar focused on the GIS datagrid, a tool that goes beyond a typical table. It opens the door to deep data exploration. We showed how this tool helps you spot patterns and trends essential for various tasks, from infrastructure planning to market analysis. ## Unlocking Spatial Data’s Potential Those who joined learned about the extensive uses of spatial data. The webinar shed light on the various features of the datagrid, showing how it changes the way you handle, work with, and sift through GIS data. ## Collaboration Made Easy A major point of discussion was how collaboration becomes smoother with the GIS Cloud datagrid. We showed practical ways in which sharing views within a team or across departments becomes straightforward. For project managers and teams working in different areas, this means easier management and better teamwork. ## Simplifying Data Search and Filtering We also focused on how to search and filter data effectively. The webinar demonstrated how spatial queries let you concentrate on specific areas, helping in focused urban planning and market research. We looked into filters based on attributes, which are useful in areas like utility infrastructure to single out specific equipment. The session also explored how to efficiently work with time-specific data, an important aspect of studies like climate analysis. ## Learn More with GIS Cloud Solutions If you missed our live webinar, don’t worry. The full recording is here for you to view at your own pace. Watch the session to better understand the GIS datagrid and how it can be used effectively. For additional help or to find out how GIS Cloud Solutions can change how you work, [**contact**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) our Solution Consultants. They’re available to help you adapt our solutions to meet your specific needs. View the webinar recording or get in touch with our team today to improve your GIS operations. Related content: Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial) Datagrid Reinvented – Powerful New Filters & Customizations! Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Beyond Maps: How GIS is Redefining Utility Field Operations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-maps-how-gis-is-redefining-utility-field-operations/) **Published:** January 10, 2024 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Beyond Map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Utility-Field-Operations.png) How can modern GIS technology improve the efficiency and decision-making in utility management? We see utility sectors facing challenges like old infrastructure and caring for the environment. This article looks at how GIS Cloud’s tools – **Mobile Data Collection** app, **Map Editor**, **Map Viewer**, and **Map Portal** – make mapping better and change the way utility companies work. Let’s see how these tools change utility field operations, making them smarter, quicker, and more efficient. ## The Changing World of GIS in Utility Management In the past, GIS was about putting some points on a map. Now, it’s a vital tool for dealing with the [complex problems of utility management](https://www.tdworld.com/substations/article/21264618/systems-with-intelligence-transforming-an-aging-grid-where-should-utilities-focus-investments). As the sector handles issues like old infrastructure, environmental care, and customer needs, GIS gives the data and insights needed for smart decision-making.Transforming Field Data with GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection App Collecting field data, once a hard job with paper maps and manual entries, is changed by GIS Cloud’s [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. Field Technicians can gather data directly on their devices, making sure it’s accurate and efficient in real-time. The app’s easy interface and [custom forms](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-map-editor/) allow fast data entry, picture taking, and GPS tagging, making field operations much smoother. With this real-time data flow, Utility Managers benefit as they can make decisions and respond faster. The Mobile Data Collection app doesn’t just gather data; it changes how field operations are done, leading to more efficient, quick, and informed utility services. ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) ## Improving Planning and Analysis with the Map Editor The [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) is a big change for Utility Managers and Data Analysts. They use it to make and change detailed maps, adding different data layers to see utility networks fully. It’s not just a mapping tool; it’s a key place for planning and [analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-data-analysis/). With the Map Editor, professionals can see complex data, spot trends, and make smart choices about resources, infrastructure, maintenance, and services. Being able to add different data types is key for planning in today’s complex utility environments. ![Map Editor - web app for map editing, analyzing and sharing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MacBook-Editor-s.png) ## Getting Operational Insights through the Map Viewer The [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) gives a real-time look into field operations. It’s made for Utility Managers and Field Technicians who need a clear, up-to-date view of their utility networks and assets. The tool’s real-time data showing lets you see operational status, problems, and progress right away. This instant access to information improves teamwork, leading to more effective field operations. The Map Viewer is more than a visual tool; it helps everyone stay on the same page, making sure field activities match strategic goals. ![gis cloud view and access maps and data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Viewer-2023-Blue-crop.png) ## Bringing Data Together with the Map Portal The [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a central place for data access and working together. It’s really useful for Urban Planners and Environmental Specialists who need a central [platform for sharing and viewing data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/key-benefits-of-using-map-portal/). This tool helps combine different data sources, giving a combined view vital for good urban and environmental planning. Working together is central to the Map Portal. It lets different people access, share, and look at data, creating a cooperative environment. This combined approach makes workflows smoother and ensures all decisions are based on the latest and most complete data. ![gis cloud data visualization](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Portal-1200-x630.png) ## Case Studies and Success Stories [ENUGU Electricity Distribution Company](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/): Dealing with electricity theft and resource losses, ENUGU, Nigeria’s biggest electricity distributor, used GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection app. The result was better field data quality, real-time monitoring of the electricity network, and improved decision-making in managing assets and customer service. [Liburnian Waters](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/): This Croatian water utility company solved problems with old infrastructure data and ineffective field operations by using GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection app. The result was better data accuracy, shorter job times, and better cooperation with local governments and citizens. ![data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-laptop-mob-s.jpg) [Smith Brothers Group](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-apps-for-water-utilities/): For better ways to collect asset checks and field data in water utilities, Smith Brothers Group started using GIS Cloud’s mobile apps. The result was a 30% improvement in field operation efficiency, less paperwork, and better data accuracy and gathering. ## Integrating GIS Cloud with Other Systems GIS Cloud’s and its apps’ major advantage is its smooth [integration with various systems](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/), boosting its usefulness in different operational settings. This integration is vital for utility management, where different software tools like QGIS, PowerBI, PowerApps, and external databases are often used together. ![GIS Enterprise Asset Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/integration-automation.png) Firstly, integrating GIS Cloud with [QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-plugin-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/), a well-known open-source GIS platform, is easy. This allows for the transfer of spatial data and maps between the two systems, enabling users to use the advanced analytical capabilities of QGIS with the intuitive interface and cloud-based features of GIS Cloud. This integration is particularly useful for detailed spatial analysis, complex map creation, and data collection. Furthermore, GIS Cloud’s [compatibility with PowerBI](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/road-maintenance-webinar-gis-and-power-bi-integration/) offers significant data visualization and business intelligence benefits. Users can import GIS Cloud data into PowerBI to create detailed dashboards and reports, combining spatial data with other business metrics for a complete view of operations. This integration is especially useful for utility managers and analysts who need deep data analysis and reporting capabilities. Additionally, the ability to link GIS Cloud with [PowerApps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/powerapps-gis-cloud-new-integration-release/) allows the development of custom mobile and web applications. This integration enables field technicians and other users to interact with GIS data through custom apps, improving data collection and operational efficiency. Finally, GIS Cloud’s capability to integrate with external databases ensures easy import and synchronization of data from various sources. This feature is crucial for maintaining current and accurate data and is essential for effective decision-making in utility management. GIS Cloud’s integration with systems like QGIS, PowerBI, PowerApps, and [external databases](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) significantly boosts its usefulness in different operational contexts. This interoperability ensures that GIS Cloud can be a central part of a complete utility management system, aiding better data management, analysis, and decision-making. ![PostGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases.png) ## The Future of GIS in Utility Operations Looking ahead, GIS’s role in utility operations will become even more important. New developments in GIS technology, especially in [real-time data analysis and AI](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/ai-meets-gis-reshaping-data-analysis/), will keep pushing what’s possible in utility management. GIS Cloud is leading this change, always updating its tools to meet the changing needs of the utility sector. ## Conclusion GIS Cloud has changed utility field operations, moving beyond just mapping to become a key part of planning, data analysis, and operational efficiency. For Utility Managers, Field Technicians, Data Analysts, Environmental Specialists, and Urban Planners, these tools offer not just data but insights and efficiencies that can change how utilities work. As the sector keeps changing, GIS Cloud’s applications are ready to meet its new needs, making sure utilities are not just managing their operations but making them better. Want to see how GIS Cloud can help your utility management? Sign up for our [**14-day free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try it out yourself, or contact our Solution Consultants for a product demo [**HERE**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Find out how GIS Cloud can make a difference in your work today! Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Field Maps with GIS Cloud GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Water Utilities --- ### [Using GIS in Tourism - Tourist Map of Solta](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-in-tourism-tourist-map-of-solta/) **Published:** January 31, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** *We bring you a case study about creating a Tourist Map of the Island Šolta, a project done by a Geography student Ana M., who is also the author of this article.* ![Interactive Map of Services in Šolta](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/%C5%A0olta1.png) Over the last few decades, tourism as an industry has become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world, according to [UNWTO](https://www.unwto.org/why-tourism). As in every industry, supply and demand are changing rapidly. Considering the growth of the tourism industry, nowadays tourist hosts are looking for a way to modernize their service. So, **the idea is to provide tourists more information in one place, to comprise all information from tourist guidebooks and give them a spatial component**. Another factor to consider is the fact that tourists are seeking more experiences in a shorter period. They want to experience the most of some location at a reasonable price. Also, more and more tourists are no longer led by the so-called 3 S model (sun, sea, sand), but are interested in all types of activities whilst on holiday, such as bike tours, hiking, learning and experiencing local life, etc. GIS can be a very helpful tool for combining and presenting all those activities. It is good for planning, organizing or analyzing tourist data and activity by creating maps. Maps with marked tourist locations, such as beaches, restaurants, and supermarkets are a must have for every tourist guidebook. The location chosen for this project is the **island Šolta in Croatia**. Šolta is an island only 20 km long and has ten villages. Over the last few years, the number of tourists visiting Šolta has grown up to almost 15 000 per year with more than 150 000 overnight stays per year. The island is developing, there is always more to offer, and demand is high, which was reason enough to acquire this type of map. Šolta’s main quality is its intact beauty of nature. On the one hand, there are villages with a variety of things to see and discover, and on the other hand, there are many macadam roads through olive gardens ideal for biking, hiking or just a relaxing walk through nature. All those Šolta’s features needed to be presented. So, let’s see what were the main challenges and solutions in conducting this project. **Challenge** There was a need for **an interactive map that could be of use for tourists and also for the locals, owners of different types of business, etc**. Information about certain locations is often being changed, such as phone numbers for reservations at restaurants. So, it was important to have the **p****ossibility of quick and easy update of attributes**. Also, information given in the description of features have to be valid so that the map could be accurate. There is already a Google map of Šolta with some pinpoints showing certain locations. That map is relevant for providing basic location info, but it is outdated and lacks locations such as local infrastructure, restaurants etc. and information about the facilities. As mentioned before, there are maps within tourist guidebooks. The problem is that those maps are in a small scale, with imprecise locations. Since there is no map of this kind for this particular area, the main challenge was collecting all the data. **The second challenge** was to decide what is relevant to be shown on the map. The map had to be **adjustable to the user** too, whether it is by **using filters, show or hide layers or the simple zoom in and out option**. Another important item on the list was that the interface is simple and easy to use. The database was created from websites of the [Tourist Board of Island Šolta](https://visitsolta.com/) and Association My Šolta. All this information were already listed and emphasized, but they were missing a spatial component – a place where you can visualize them. **Solution** Using the GIS Cloud platform, it was easy to organize collected information. The map was done in just a few days. GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) was used to create the project and to display roads of interest by using polylines. The biggest job was to add all point features and their attributes. **Search by address option** in GIS Cloud made that job much easier and also more precise than just pinpointing features. Access the portal directly on [this link](https://solta.giscloud.com). The map, published in [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) application, shows a variety of content organized in 6 groups of features: **Services** give information about tourist information centers, restaurants, bars, transport etc. **Activities** answer the question what to do while on holidays on Šolta. In this group are listed beaches, sports centers, rent a bike or scooter businesses. **Attractions** give a list of Šolta’s highlights like viewpoints from where you can see the panorama view over the nearby islands or mainland. There is also a list of churches and locations where to try some of Šolta’s authentic products. **Shops** show locations of all supermarkets, green markets and a fish farm as well. **Healthcare and Safety** contain information about pharmacies, police and fire departments and an ambulance in case of emergency. **Spatial Information** show all the roads of Šolta, macadam roads, bike routes and seaside promenades. [Interactive Tourist Map of island Šolta](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/655354/tourist-map-of-island-olta) demonstrates how to combine GIS technology with tourist guidebooks which are of everyday use for the wide specter of people. This type of map could even be used for other purposes and other industries such as real estate. It could be easily updated to a map of accommodation with listed hotels, private accommodation or even yacht marinas. The map is publicly available and hopefully can be helpful and informative to users. *Want to create a tourist map of your area?* [Sign up ](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)and try it for yourself. Related content: Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Šolta, Tourist map --- ### [Transforming Government Work with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/transforming-government-work-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** November 29, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![cloud work information](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Transforming-Government-GIS.png) In an era where quick and smart decisions are key, governments at all levels – local, state, and federal – are embracing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the cloud. This move is not just about keeping up with technology; it’s about reshaping how government departments work together, make decisions, engage with communities, and plan for today and tomorrow. ### **Simplifying Collaboration with GIS** Imagine a local government, a complex entity with various departments like Public Works, Land Administration, Planning and Development, and Emergency Management. Each has a unique role, yet all aim for efficient service delivery. Cloud-based GIS is the tool that brings these diverse functions together. It enables easy data uploading, project sharing, and collaboration, both internally and externally. This unified approach to managing geospatial needs leads to effective and accurate results. ### **Cost Efficiency: A Smart Financial Move** One of the most significant advantages of cloud-based GIS is cost efficiency. By using GIS Cloud solutions, local governments can avoid large upfront investments in hardware and software. Instead, they can scale their usage based on current demand, paying only for what they use. This flexibility is a great advantage for budget management, reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers and allowing for a more efficient allocation of resources. ![subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/transparent-price.png) ### **GIS Cloud: Customizing Your Workflow** GIS Cloud offers a way to customize your workflow, freeing you from the limitations of traditional office setups. It allows real-time collaboration across various locations using devices like smartphones and tablets. This flexibility is vital for government agencies that need to respond swiftly to new situations. ### **Enhancing Collaboration** The strength of GIS Cloud solutions lies in their collaborative nature. It is designed not to replace but to enhance your existing systems. Departments can collaborate in a cloud environment, sharing and analyzing new and existing projects. This approach elevates GIS, fostering a more interconnected and efficient government. ### **Practical Applications Across Departments** - [Land Administration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-gis-cloud-case-study/): Manage land data interactively and engage communities in exploring parcel data from a web environment accessible on multiple devices using [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/mapviewer/). - [Public Works](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-management-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/): Gain accurate data on parks, traffic, and road infrastructure, and maintain assets collaboratively in real time, regardless of location or device, using [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/mobile-data-collection/). - [Planning and Development](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/city-of-milwaukee-case-study-using-mdc-to-identify-homeless-population/): Gain accurate data on parks, traffic, and road infrastructure, and maintain assets collaboratively in real time, regardless of location or device with [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/mapeditor/). - [Fire Risk and Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/firefighters-of-chile-use-a-dynamic-gis-solution-for-strategic-planning-and-fieldwork-coordination-case-study/): Synchronize office and field operations for fire departments, enhancing firefighter safety and implementing comprehensive fire control strategies. - [Watershed and Water Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-water-utilities/): Improve water utility infrastructure and optimize field operations for sustainable water management that benefits residents and the environment. - [Emergency Management and Response](https://catnat.net/): Coordinate resources effectively by sharing response plans, mapping emergency hotspots, and creating public maps for community awareness, using tools like [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/mapping-portal/) for public awareness. ### **Integrating GIS Cloud into Your Organization** Adopting cloud in your GIS workflow means enhancing your organization’s collaborative capabilities, making processes faster, easier, and more precise. GIS Cloud seamlessly [integrates](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) with existing systems, complementing and extending their functionality rather than replacing them. ![GIS Enterprise Asset Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/integration-automation.png) ### **Why GIS Cloud Matters** For government professionals, GIS users, and decision-makers, understanding the benefits of GIS in the cloud is crucial. It’s about enhancing how we serve our communities, making informed decisions, and planning sustainably. **Have questions or thoughts?** We’re here to help. Our team of [Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) is ready to assist you at every step. Reach out via email, and stay tuned for more insights on how various industries are benefiting from GIS Cloud. In the meantime sign up for our [**14-day free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and begin your experience with GIS Cloud. Related content: Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance 4 Main Reasons Why Governments Choose Cloud Based GIS **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Key Benefits of Using GIS Cloud's Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/key-benefits-of-using-map-portal/) **Published:** December 10, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![gis cloud data visualization](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Portal-1200-x630.png) Discover the essential benefits of GIS Cloud’s [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), a dynamic and user-friendly platform revolutionizing the way GIS professionals and enthusiasts interact with mapping technology. This article delves into the core advantages of Map Portal, offering an in-depth look at why it stands out in the GIS community. ## Key Benefits of Map Portal - **User-Friendly Interface:** Designed for both GIS experts and beginners, Map Portal’s intuitive interface ensures ease of use, making complex GIS tasks accessible to all. - **Efficient Map Creation:** With its ability to quickly produce detailed and information-rich maps, Map Portal is ideal for users working under resource constraints. - **Flexible Data Handling:** Supporting a wide range of data formats, including vector and raster tiles, Map Portal is adaptable to various GIS applications. - **Customization and Branding:** Extensive customization options, including white-label applications, allow users to tailor maps to their specific needs and branding requirements. - **Seamless Integration:** Map Portal integrates smoothly with other GIS Cloud applications, creating a streamlined workflow for a variety of GIS tasks. ![Custom GIS App](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Map-Portal-Vegetation-Webinar-sq-s.png) ## In-Depth Exploration of Map Portal Following this overview of the key benefits, let’s dig deeper into each aspect of Map Portal, exploring user experiences and the platform’s unique features. ### Intuitive and User-Friendly Interface *“The user interface is easy to use even for non-GIS experts, offering a fast and high-quality data visualization solution, accessible anytime, from any device.”* – Marcelo Alejandro Portela, Consulting Specialist ![user interface data visualization](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GSOP1.jpg) Marcelo Alejandro Portela’s feedback highlights the platform’s intuitive design, which is made to accommodate users with different levels of GIS expertise. This ease of use is a key aspect of Map Portal, ensuring that complex GIS tasks are made simpler and more approachable for everyone. ### Efficiency in Map Creation and Detailing *“Map Portal has allowed me to create very detailed and information-rich web mapping applications with limited resources.”* – Josh Forner, City of Darwin ![rich web mapping applications](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wra3.png) Josh Forner’s experience with Map Portal underlines its efficiency and ability to produce detailed maps quickly. This feature is especially useful for organizations and individuals working with limited resources, allowing them to achieve high-quality results without extensive investments. ### Flexible Data Handling and Integration Map Portal’s support for a wide range of [data formats](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/what-file-types-does-gis-cloud-support/), including both vector and raster tiles, shows its flexibility. This adaptability ensures that users can work with various data types, enhancing the platform’s usefulness across different GIS applications. ### Customization and Personalization Features The platform’s extensive [customization options](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/), including white-label applications, provide users with the ability to personalize their maps. This feature is important for organizations looking to keep their branding consistent across their GIS outputs. ### User-Focused Development and Improvement *“The main challenge we overcame with GIS Cloud apps was to have a single online system that allowed us to display a lot of structured layers in the same map… The platform is evolving and is continually improved.”* – Yorik Baunay, Ubyrisk Consultants ![single online system structured layers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1.png) Yorik Baunay’s comments highlight the platform’s ongoing development and adaptability. This user-focused approach to improvement ensures that Map Portal stays ahead in GIS technology, constantly evolving to meet its users’ changing needs. ### Integration with Other GIS Cloud Applications Map Portal’s seamless integration with other GIS Cloud applications, like [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), is a significant advantage. This integration allows for a smooth and efficient GIS workflow, enabling users to easily switch between different tasks and applications within the GIS Cloud ecosystem. ## Resources and Learning Opportunities GIS Cloud offers a variety of resources designed to enhance user understanding and proficiency with the platform. Key among these resources is the “[Map Portal Webinar: Discover Key Benefits and Features!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/explore-map-portal-webinar-discover-key-benefits-and-features/)” webinar, which provides an in-depth overview of the platform’s capabilities and best practices for its use. Additionally, the GIS Cloud [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) stands as a comprehensive repository of knowledge, offering tutorials, guides, and tips to help users navigate and effectively utilize Map Portal. These educational materials are tailored to cater to both beginners and advanced users, ensuring that everyone can make the most of the platform’s extensive features. ## Conclusion GIS Cloud’s **Map Portal** represents a major step forward in the field of GIS. It offers a powerful, user-friendly platform that meets the diverse needs of GIS professionals and enthusiasts. The platform’s intuitive interface, efficiency in map creation, flexibility in data handling, customization options, and seamless integration with other GIS Cloud applications make it an essential tool in the GIS toolkit. In addition to the platform’s capabilities, users and clients have the opportunity to reach out to our [**Solutions Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Whether you’re tackling complex GIS tasks or seeking to streamline your workflow, our Solution Consultants are here to assist you every step of the way. Experience the power of [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) for yourself. We invite you to try it for free with our [**14-day free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and discover how it can enhance your GIS workflow. Related content: Explore Map Portal Webinar: Discover Key Benefits and Features! GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part II.) University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part I.) GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** consultants, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Portal, mapping --- ### [Explore Map Portal Webinar: Discover Key Benefits and Features!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/explore-map-portal-webinar-discover-key-benefits-and-features/) **Published:** October 13, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![viewing key capabilities mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Map-Portal-Benefits-Webinar.png) We’re excited to invite you to a special viewing experience. In this blog post, we’ve embedded our webinar, “GIS Cloud’s Map Portal” brought to you by our experts. Get ready to be impressed by the capabilities of [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), a tool that’s changing the way we use digital mapping. ### **What is Map Portal?** Map Portal is more than just a mapping tool; it’s a path to a world where complex data becomes interactive, visually engaging maps. It’s a customizable, cloud-based application that allows for the creation of interactive, media-enriched maps accessible on various devices. ### **Who Should Watch This Webinar?** This webinar is designed for everyone! Whether you’re a local government official, utility professional, consultant, or map enthusiast, you’ll find valuable insights and applications in this presentation. ### **Webinar Highlights:** - **Speed and Efficiency**: Experience our map engine’s rapid loading times, capable of handling maps with millions of features. - **Versatile Data Integration**: Learn about seamlessly handling various [data formats](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/what-file-types-does-gis-cloud-support/) and integrating with other GIS Cloud apps. - **Customization Options**: [Discover how](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/) to brand your maps with your colors and logo, creating a unique and personalized experience. - **Ease of Use**: See the intuitive interface that makes Map Portal accessible to GIS experts and novices alike. - **Live Data and Interactivity**: Explore how to keep your maps up-to-date and engaging with real-time data. ### **Real-World Applications:** The webinar includes case studies showing how various organizations use Map Portal for impactful projects, from urban planning in New York to environmental monitoring in Croatia. ### **Simplicity and Accessibility:** Map Portal simplifies GIS technology. You’ll learn to set up a fully functional map portal in less than 30 minutes, even without specialized GIS knowledge. ### **An Affordable GIS Solution:** We’re committed to providing powerful, [budget-friendly](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) tools. Our free trial makes starting with Map Portal more accessible than ever. ### **Watch the webinar Now:** Start watching the webinar right here! Learn how Map Portal can change your approach to mapping and data visualization. Be part of the change in mapping today! ### **Join Our Community:** Sign up for our [**14-day free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and begin your experience with GIS Cloud’s Map Portal. Our team of [Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) is ready to assist you at every step. ### **Explore Our Learning Center:** We invite you to visit our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) for more information and to learn more about Map Portal. Here, you’ll find many resources, tutorials, and guides to help you make the most of our tools. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, our Learning Center is designed to support your exploration of the GIS world. Related content: Key Benefits of Using GIS Cloud’s Map Portal Discover the world of Geo-Marketing: FiDA & Co. Studios A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Optimize GIS Water Asset Management with Document Linking](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/optimize-gis-water-asset-management/) **Published:** November 9, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Documents Data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GIS-Water-Asset.png) As GIS Analysts, Specialist, Data scientists, and Technicians we are the holds of a lot of information. Many of us are the go to person for all sorts of questions. How deep is that sewer line buried? What infrastructure is within 50 feet of this road? What do documents say? How many feet of pipe run through this parcel? You are a GIS user and can answer all these questions. Other requests require more digging and research. Who granted us this easement? Can you draw the right of way for me on a map? Show me all the encumbrances for this parcel. Managing assets and providing the best data is a constant challenge. Using documents linked to your assets can give you an easier method for finding this information. The key to an effective document library is organization and attention to detail. Once it is implemented, you will reach a whole new level of knowledgeability. ## Document Linking: An Untapped Strategy As builts, legal records, and parcel maps each contribute to the history of a water asset. Each looks at the asset from a different angle, but as a whole, they give you a 360° view. One gives the details of where and when the asset was constructed. It also provides the engineering facts and final. The recorded documents, the legal records, and parcel maps provide essential information on ownership, legal boundaries, and historic transaction records. Each document gives you and your team a deeper understanding of the area, the utilities, and the stakeholders involved. You may already have all these documents in your document library. That’s a great first step. The next step is to leverage this information as part of your GIS Cloud solution. ![GIS data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Layer_list.png) ## Challenges in Water Asset Management Managing a water district and its assets is a difficult task. It takes a team of staff with the proper tools, equipment, and know how. These challenges include: - Aging infrastructure - Water quality - Population growth - Climate changes - Financial limitations - Data management - Regulatory compliance Each of these challenges present their own difficulties, but one solution can put you on the right track. Online GIS Solutions like [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application can show the light at the end of the tunnel. These powerful tools won’t make your old pipes young again or slow the population growth, but they can provide the answers to these challenges. [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) can share the age of the pipelines with your stakeholders and prioritize improvements of outdated infrastructure. ![View maps online](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Viewer-mob-desktop-s-1024x552.png) The [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application can guide you in the field to where the next part of the water system is being built. Additional analysis can tell you the size of pipe you’ll need to accommodate your population growth, build in a financially responsible way, and manage the GIS data with accuracy and reliability. ![mobile apps for water utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-brothers-mdc_bez-pozadine_sjena.png) ## Documentation In Action GIS Cloud’s tools can give you important information on your assets from your office desktop and your mobile phone. With a [digitized GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/), your data can go anywhere. The platform is compatible with all kinds of [data types, making it an easy process to ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-the-different-data-types/)[digitize your assets](https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/idrica/5-benefits-digital-transformation-water-utilities). There are two options for linking documents to your water assets. 1. Attach the document file as an attachment 2. Link the documents by URL The [instructions](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-attach-documents-urls-and-folders/) are available here in the GIS Cloud Manual. The document attaching and linking is done in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). If you want to attach the documents, you will need to upload the files to the GIS Cloud File Manager. If you have URLs to the files, they can be pasted into the field of the corresponding asset. ## Tips and Tricks for Document Linking The key to a good document system is being organized and planning ahead. You have the 2 attachment options. Our clients have linked multiple documents to assets. If you decide to link documents by URLs, name the fields along the lines of “AsbuiltLink” or “DocLink”. This will guide users to the files they need. To improve your data, you may want to add fields that can store the data contained in the documents. There are many possibilities from the different documents. Asbuilt: - Date and/or Year installed - Linear feet per the asbuilt - Pipe material - Inverted elevations for both ends Legal records: - Date recorded - Grantor/Grantee of the easement - Easement type by utility or access - What is the current status of the easement? - Active - Expired - Pending - Area size by square foot or acres Having this data readily available to your stakeholders in a [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) will answer 95% of their questions. Your investment in developing such a rich data source will repeatedly pay itself off. ![asset management water](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg) ## Conclusion [Managing water assets](https://www.idrica.com/blog/geographic-information-systems-key-to-efficient-water-management/#:~:text=GIS%20are%20an%20essential%20information,management%20and%20water%2Drelated%20assets.) under a water district or treatment requires being in the know. A digitized GIS sets you up for success, while linked documents set your entire organization up for success. These data upgrades further improve the information available to you and your team. They answer questions that, in the end, would take your attention away from important work. You can sign up for our [14-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or sign up for our [December GIS Cloud Advanced course](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-pro-december-advanced-courses/). This 2-day course will teach you how to master the essentials and unleash the full potential of GIS Cloud through hands-on exercises led by our own industry expert. Related content: Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [GIS Cloud Geocoder: Your Guide to Easy and Accurate Mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-geocoder/) **Published:** April 16, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS geocoding video tutorial](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/geocoder.png) Geocoding should be straightforward, and it is with our [GIS Cloud Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/). Accompanied by an easy-to-follow video tutorial, it’s the perfect tool for anyone looking to effortlessly transform addresses into detailed maps. ### Step-by-Step Geocoding The video takes you through the process: 1. **Prepare Your Data:** Learn to set up your data table correctly. 2. **Start Geocoding:** Convert addresses into a visual map with just a few clicks. 3. **Use Your Map:** Download your map or keep working on it in our Map Editor. The tutorial showcases the GIS Cloud Geocoder’s user-friendly interface, pinpoint accuracy, and swift processing. These qualities make it the go-to solution for professionals across various industries, from urban planning to environmental management. ### Expert Support at Your Fingertips Our **Solutions Consultants** are ready to assist you with any questions and provide detailed insights into the geocoding process. They’re here to ensure you get the most out of the GIS Cloud Geocoder with the most precise location data for your projects. ### Expand Your Knowledge Our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) is the ideal place to expand your understanding of geocoding. It offers a wealth of articles, tutorials, and resources that go hand-in-hand with the video tutorial, broadening your practical knowledge of geocoding applications ### Take the Next Step: - Revisit our video tutorial to refresh your knowledge of the geocoding process. - Connect with our [**Solutions Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for personalized support and tips. - Explore our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) for comprehensive learning materials. And if you haven’t already, take advantage of the opportunity to try our geocoding app for [free](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). The [GIS Cloud Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/) is not just about placing points on a map; it’s about unlocking the story behind each coordinate, each location, and each address. Start mapping and join us in creating a more connected, well-informed world. Related content: Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid Geocoder Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Cloud Mapping (Rev)Solutions continue… **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Manager](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-manager/) **Published:** May 5, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![geospatial technology professionals](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GIS-Cloud-Manager.png) In the fast-paced world of geospatial technology, professionals constantly seek streamlined solutions to manage their projects and client relationships effectively. Recognizing this need, the GIS Cloud Team has innovated a powerful tool to simplify your workflow and enhance operational efficiency—introducing the updated [**GIS Cloud Manager**](https://manager.giscloud.com/). **GIS Cloud Manager** is not just an application; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem tailored to empower your organization. Whether managing multiple clients, handling various licenses, or customizing applications to fit unique project demands, GIS Cloud Manager is your gateway to a seamless GIS Cloud experience. ## Effortless License Management on Your Terms Gone are the days of rigid licensing agreements that don’t accommodate the flow of project demands. With **GIS Cloud Manager**, you can acquire licenses on a flexible month-to-month basis. This adaptable approach ensures you can adjust to your project’s changing needs without the extra cost, providing a practical solution that matches your business’s pace. ![mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/user-subscriptions.png) ## Client Management at Your Fingertips Managing new or existing clients, whether within your organization or beyond, has never been easier. **GIS Cloud Manager** acts as a central hub, allowing you to oversee client interactions and projects from one intuitive interface. This centralized approach not only saves time but also enhances the clarity of your business operations. ## Customization That Meets Every Need Every client is unique, and their software solutions should be, too. With **GIS Cloud Manager**, you can create fully custom apps that cater to the specific needs of each client. This personalized service sets you apart, ensuring your clients receive a unique experience that stands out in the market. ## License Association and Access Management Assigning licenses to your clients and managing the duration of their access is a breeze with **GIS Cloud Manager**. This feature gives you the autonomy to control license distribution effectively, ensuring that your clients have the tools they need for the time they need them. ![manager subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/user-roles.png) ## Insights That Drive Business Decisions In today’s data-driven world, having complete insight into your clients’ activities is crucial. **GIS Cloud Manager** equips you with detailed analytics, allowing you to monitor client engagement and project progress. These insights enable you to make informed decisions that drive your business forward. The possibilities with GIS Cloud Manager are vast, and we’re excited for you to experience its full potential. The latest update of GIS Cloud Manager reflects our dedication to ongoing improvement and customer satisfaction. We’ve listened to your feedback, incorporated the latest trends, and refined our technology to deliver an even more robust and user-friendly platform. We invite you to explore the enhanced GIS Cloud Manager and discover how it can transform your geospatial project management. [**Log in today**](https://manager.giscloud.com/) and take the first step towards a more organized, efficient, and successful business operation. ## Take Action Today Don’t let complexity slow you down. Contact our [**Solutions Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to discuss how GIS Cloud Manager can tailor your needs. Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations, manage client relationships more effectively, or harness the power of custom GIS applications, our team is ready to assist you. For more information on the capabilities of GIS Cloud Manager, visit our [**Learning Center**](https://manual.giscloud.com/). There, you’ll find a wealth of resources to maximize your platform use and ensure you get the most out of your GIS Cloud experience. **Begin your journey to simplified geospatial project management with GIS Cloud Manager.** [**Connect with us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) **today, and let’s navigate the path to success together.** Related content: Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud PSD Citywide & GIS Cloud New Integration Partnership Geomobiliti Inc. Interview – Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) Managing Users in a GIS Online Solution **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Webinar: Line & Polygon Data Made Simple](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-webinar-line-polygon-data-made-simple/) **Published:** July 10, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![lines-and-polygons-released-webinar-rec](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Lines-and-Polygons-Released-Webinar-Rec.jpg) Discover the enduring importance of lines and polygons in GIS through our informative webinar. As we explore the world of mobile data collection, we uncover its important role in today’s data-driven landscape, offering a glimpse into the seamless integration of these fundamental spatial elements with cutting-edge technology. ## The Significance of Lines and Polygons in GIS In the world of GIS, lines and polygons are more than just shapes—they are the building blocks for creating accurate maps and models of our physical space. These elements define boundaries, represent infrastructural networks, and outline natural features across diverse industries. From urban planning to environmental conservation, they enable professionals to create detailed maps that inform decision-making and strategic planning. These elements allow for the [visualization](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-map-data-visualization-guide/) of complex data, providing a clear path for [analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-data-analysis/) and planning. ![mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Collect-Polygons-Lines-Webinar.png) ## Advancements in Mobile Data Collection Mobile data collection tools have become increasingly user-friendly and precise, allowing for the swift capture of spatial information. The integration of [high-precision GPS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/), enhanced data processing capabilities, and user-friendly interfaces has transformed how we collect spatial data. Collecting lines and polygons is now more streamlined and precise, reducing errors and increasing efficiency in the field. These technological leaps have empowered professionals to capture complex data with a simple tap on their mobile devices. ## Webinar Highlights Our webinar dives into the innovative features of [mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) for lines and polygons. It covers the setup of GIS projects, the assurance of data integrity, and the use of current mobile tools to collect data effectively. The session, led by industry experts, is filled with actionable insights and is an invaluable resource for GIS professionals. ## Conclusion The fundamental techniques for collecting lines and polygons in GIS are as relevant now as they have always been. The webinar provides enduring strategies and insights that continue to be applicable, offering a solid foundation for anyone looking to understand or enhance their spatial data collection skills. Are you ready to redefine the way you collect GIS data? Contact our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for expert advice on mobile data collection for your GIS needs. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to refine your approach to mapping—get in touch today. Related content: How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps? Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Navigate To Feature: Map Your Way To Your Assets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/navigate-to-feature-map-your-way-to-your-assets/) **Published:** November 2, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Map Feature](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Navigate-GIS-Assets.png) GIS mobile applications allow you to map your water assets. Map mobile applications provide you with directions on the go with improving reliability. GIS Cloud has combined these features under one awesome [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. The [Navigate To Asset Feature](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-mdc-features-read-only-fields-navigate-to-feature-and-manual-audio-recorder/) saves travel time, especially during scheduled maintenance and routine inspections. ## Locating Asset Challenges Twenty years ago, the world was getting lost all the time. We relied on paper maps, printed directions, instructions from strangers, or maybe a combination of all three. You can’t zoom in or out on a paper map. The map won’t reset to face north after a wrong turn. The instructions may have said then head south, but now you’d be scrambling to remember the old rhyme of which direction is which. Mobile applications with directions solved many of these challenges. Water assets don’t have standard addresses and can be located anywhere on a property. They may be under vegetation, in an intersection, or in an existing building. ![data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-laptop-mob-s.jpg) Mapping your assets accurately is especially important now. With our **Navigation Feature**, you’ll be given the best route to the asset and its coordinate location. Our tips and tricks on using the **Navigate Feature** will further improve your ability to locate your assets. ## The Navigate To Asset Feature The feature was developed with you, our end user, in mind. It’s easy to use and easy to find within the application. After downloading the [Mobile Data Collection (MDC)](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, available on the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.mdc) and [App Store on iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mobile-data-collection/id640535923), you are ready to go. 1. Open the **Mobile Data Collection** application 2. Log into your **GIS Cloud account** 3. Navigate to your latest mapping project in the drop-down at the top of the window 4. Select a feature 5. Press **Navigate to Feature** in the attribute window It’s so easy you won’t forget where to find the tool. After Step #5, you’ll be directed to your **default map directions application**. Next, the app will create a pin location of your asset. Select **Direction,** and you are off to your next asset on the most effective route based on current traffic and roadway conditions. Using an external direction service ensures you get the latest information on travel times and construction on the route. ## Case Studies: Real-World Success Stories There are many cases in which our clients have had great success using this feature. These cases come from different industries and fields. With a digitized water utility system, you can maximize the use of GIS online solutions and the Navigate To Feature tool. ### Routine Maintenance A telecommunication client of ours conducts periodic [maintenance on their lines and towers](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-powered-telecommunication-network-maintenance/). The inspection work requires driving to the different locations along a line and inspecting the site. Some sites are remote, accessible only by forest and fire roads. ![assets](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Location-scaled.jpg) They have successfully sent newer employees to conduct the inspections using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. With the **Navigate to Feature** tool, they can get good directions from one site to another, even along fire roads in the backcountry. The directions also provide accurate drive times between sites, as the directions account for the slow travel times along the dirt roads. ### Emergency Water Shut Off When a water line bursts, you can’t waste time searching for a shut-off valve. You need to have smart tools at the ready. The [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application with your water assets can be that tool. In this situation, you can locate the burst and isolate it by identifying the valves needed to stop the flow. When you find those valves, the Navigate to Feature tool will guide you to resolving this crisis. ### Vegetation Management [Managing vegetation using GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/) has become popular. Using an [external GPS unit](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/), clients use GIS to map vegetation precisely. Invasive plant species are mapped with high accuracy. This ensures the cost estimates to perform removal or treatments are accurate. ![Mobile Data Collection for Tree Inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MDC-Vegetation-Management-Tripple-2-s.png) The **Navigate To Feature** tool even provides directions along trails by foot. Clients are getting directions for how to best travel to their sites. They are finding this incredibly useful during transect studies. Biologists can use the tool to get to nesting bird locations throughout large sites in record time. ## Tips for getting started The feature is easy to use, but these tips can improve your experience when searching for assets in the field. When mapping these water assets in the field, we recommend capturing a **photo of the asset** and the **general area**. Don’t worry, there is no limit to how many photos you can attach. Another tip you can use is **to create a route** for visiting all your assets. If you need to inspect multiple assets daily, you can create the optimal driving route by adding multiple sites in your direction. You can adjust the order of the sites to optimize the travel times for the day. By Including a **Notes field** in your asset form, you can provide additional information on the asset’s location. These may include identifying markings or specific comments to differentiate it from similar nearby assets. ## Conclusion Having accurate and reliable directions will improve your efficiency. Getting proper location instructions for your assets can be critical, especially in emergencies. The **Mobile Data Collection** application is available along with all of our premium online GIS solutions during our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Sign up and experience how easy it can be to perform your scheduled maintenance. Our **Solution Consultants** can help you [digitize your water assets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/) so you can begin using the **Mobile Data Collection** app soon. The **Navigate To Feature** is one tool that will have you wondering how you managed to get things done without it. Related content: New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder Critical Telecommunication Assets Supported with GIS Mapping Advertising Assets on Trash Cans (Use Case) GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other, Vegetation Management, Water Utilities --- ### [Becoming a GIS Cloud Pro: December Advanced Courses](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-pro-december-advanced-courses/) **Published:** October 26, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Education course](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GIS-Cloud-Advanced.jpg) It’s still October, but let’s talk end of the year plans! We’re rounding off this year with one last **Advanced Education Course** for 2023, so if you’ve missed the Summer Bootcamp, this is your chance! Our intensive **two-day online training program** provides a solid foundation in essential GIS Cloud tools. It equips you with the latest **best practices and expert insights** for boosting your **workflow efficiency**. Moreover, this course is a living entity, continually evolving to incorporate the latest feature enhancements and innovations. Here’s what to expect: **Day 1: Mastering the GIS Cloud Essentials (4h)** Our first day is all about mastering the **core features and functionalities of GIS Cloud**. We’ll provide an in-depth overview of the fundamentals, ensuring you establish a rock-solid foundation. Even seasoned users will value refreshing their knowledge and uncovering advanced tips and tricks to supercharge their workflows. We’ll address **geospatial data management, visualization, and collaboration** challenges, giving you the skills you need to excel. **Day 2: Unleashing the Full Potential of GIS Cloud (4h)** The second day is all about unlocking the true power of GIS Cloud. We’ll take a deep dive into its **advanced capabilities**, enabling you to harness its full potential. Through **hands-on exercises** and real-world examples, you’ll gain invaluable practical experience in solving complex geospatial challenges. We’ll also explore **integrations with desktop GIS tools** and delve into advanced web **app customizations**, giving you the expertise to conquer the most demanding tasks. **DATE AND TIME:** December 6 – 7, 2023 3 PM – 7 PM CET // 9 AM – 1 PM EST // 8 AM – 12 PM (noon) CST At GIS Cloud, we’re committed to making our apps accessible and intuitive for everyone, whether you’re a **seasoned GIS pro or new to the game**. However, if you want to turbocharge your skills, conquer more advanced workflows in record time, and get the papers to prove it, our comprehensive Advanced Courses are your golden ticket! **SPECIAL OFFER until November 19! Course price – $250** Regular course price – $350 **Become a certified expert!** Upon completion of the course, you can obtain a **GIS Cloud Certificate**, so make sure to participate in our end of the course exam! The **GIS Cloud Advanced Course** is primarily designed for existing premium clients with some experience using the GIS Cloud platform. Please get in touch if you’d like to see if this is the right course for you! **To register,** send us an email to **education@giscloud.com!** Seats are limited, so make sure you **register ASAP**! Please find more information about the course, schedule, and topics we cover in our **[Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-advanced-courses/)**, or contact us at **education@giscloud.com** with any questions about the program. We look forward to seeing you there! Related content: GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-data-collection-tools-for-mapping-and-inspecting-water-and-sewer-utilities/) **Published:** April 26, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![mapping and inspecting water and sewer utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Inspecting-Manholes-in-Utilities-1024x638.jpg) As a utility provider in the water and sewer industry, you know that effective field operations are the backbone of an accurate **asset repository** as well as efficient and precise **condition** **inspections**. To make your field operations team as efficient as possible, it’s a good idea to equip them with mobile apps designed with the water utility professional in mind. In this article, you can learn all about the GIS Cloud mobile apps for water utilities and how to make your field operations super efficient. Constant urban growth is an ongoing trend in almost every city in the world. Rapid urbanization leads to an increasing development of [**underground and ground utility networks**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) which requires frequent and accurate inspection and a robust monitoring system. The most significant challenge for public service providers is to acquire accurate and updated information on the location, characteristics, and condition of water utility assets (hydrants, manholes, culverts, etc.). Surveying and inspecting water utility assets can be time-consuming for two reasons: mapping a **large number of assets** and the use of **out-dated paper-based methods** for field data collection. Locating, aggregating, and searching through these paper survey forms to detect and inspect the condition of a single asset is an ineffective and unproductive process. With advances in GPS, utility mapping apps, and GIS mapping technology, it becomes easier to [**monitor the condition and manage maintenance activities**](https://internetofthingsagenda.techtarget.com/blog/IoT-Agenda/Top-5-benefits-of-real-time-business-intelligence-for-utilities) for different water utility assets. With [Mobile Data Collection](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/mobile-data-collection-app/) (MDC) app, field crews can accurately mark and **store location data** or update any changes to location or characteristics of a single water utility asset. Find out how one of our clients, Liburnian Waters, implemented GIS Cloud mobile apps to [map the water and sanitary infrastructure](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-utilities-managing-water-infrastructure/). ![Inspecting water and sewer utilities form ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Viewer-Mockup-2-Utilities-3-1024x734.png) ## **KEY DATA COLLECTION FEATURES FOR WATER UTILITY INSPECTIONS** - **CREATE CUSTOM INSPECTION MOBILE FORMS** Rather than struggling with paper forms, with [MDC ](https://mdc.giscloud.com/)app you can create a **custom online survey forms** with different types of questions and attribute fields. When field crews need to perform various kinds of field operations such as asset inspection, condition assessment or leak detection surveys, they can [**switch between various survey forms**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-with-mdc-app/) in one click in a dropdown list. If you need to make changes to some parts of the survey form or add a question, with MDC, you can quickly update the form**,** and the changes will be registered immediately with the [Auto Sync function](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/mobile-data-collection-portal/). - **WORK ONLINE OR OFFLINE. ACCURATE GPS DATA** MDC app allows you to **collect data in real time** with mobile devices. If you’re inspecting assets in areas with low cellular coverage, you can download the map, [**collect data in offline mode**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-from-the-field-with-no-internet-connection/) and sync the data whenever you want. Field collectors can precisely mark the location of the utility asset using mobile device GPS, or by **pinpointing** the exact location on the map. You can also increase your GPS accuracy with external [centimeter-accurate GPS ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/)devices. - **CUSTOM FORM FIELDS. DEPENDENCY OPTION** MDC app offers a range of different types of [form items](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/) you can use to create questions for the data collection survey forms. You can set up single or multi-choice questions**,** numeric or textual inputs or capture **geotagged photos or audio** files. One powerful feature in MDC can make your utility data collection process even faster and easier; the [dependency function](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-dependent-fields-in-your-form/). It allows you to set up rules to control the display of the following survey question. If the rule is not satisfied, the next survey question won’t be visible, which makes your data collection faster and reduces errors. - **COLLABORATE. SHARE USER PERMISSIONS** Managing your organization and workforce has never been easier. Build your organization in the [Manager app](https://manager.giscloud.com/), create a [single user](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/users-groups-2/) or define a [group of users](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/users-groups-2/). Share the inspection survey forms to your field teams using [different permissions](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/). You can organize teams in a way they only collect new asset information, or you can set up teams with a task to update existing records. Updates and edits will be visible instantly and you can review the entries in the office. - **VIEW PREVIOUS ENTRIES. UPDATE EXISTING ASSET INVENTORY** Access and view the collected data from your mobile device or the [GIS Cloud web app](https://mdc.giscloud.com/). If you click on the feature in a map, the **pop-up info window** will open with all the collected information and documents on a single asset. In MDC app, you can use the [**search tool**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-with-mdc-app/) to search for asset name or ID number and get detailed asset information as fast as possible. You can search for the data collector’s name to track and **supervise daily performance** and activities. You can also edit and update information for your existing data, both in mobile and web app. Find out how to integrate GIS Cloud solutions in [Water Resource and Watershed Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/) in the following article. We hope you find this article useful. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud technologies for the water utility collection, inspection and maintenance process, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure GIS Cloud and Water Utilities Smart City Apps for Utilities **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities **Tags:** Cloud GIS, GIS, GIS Cloud, manhole, manhole inspection, mapping, mapping water utilities, Mobile Data Collection, Utilities --- ### [Manage Water Resources Using GIS Cloud Solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/manage-water-resources-using-gis-cloud-solutions/) **Published:** October 19, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![manage resources cloud data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GIS-Blog-1200x628_6-24.png) Water is a source of life. There is a reason why major cities are adjacent to water. Management of this precious resource is important in sustaining these populations. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) organize spatial data into tables of dynamic information. This data can be presented in easy to use maps and web applications. One challenge is capturing the water assets in your jurisdiction from the field or presented on as built plans. Another challenge is being able to view how different information is related, also needs to be done seamlessly. GIS Cloud offers the solutions to these challenges in a cloud environment. Water management challenges can be overcome with their powerful suite of GIS products. ## The Role of GIS in Water Management Water is a limited resource that needs to be managed for sustainability. It has been more difficult to access and extract usable water, but alternative sources and methods are being explored. All this happens as the human population and our reliance on water grows. We need to plan our infrastructure for long term sustainability and water efficiency. That begins with understanding what you currently have and developing a plan to best use those resources. Mapping what different water agencies have provides a clearer understanding of their situation. A water utility company can identify the number of valves, pipeline length, and total service connections available by mapping its assets. A water treatment plants can present it’s data in [3D](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) or as a digital twin. Modeling a complex system in GIS allows you to simulate new equipment installation or catastrophic events. Watersheds can visualize the flow of water throughout their systems. A [custom portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) allows them to share information with the public, government, and environmental organizations. ## Challenges in Implementation There are many challenges to implementing software in an organization. Many of these challenges can be solved by working with a leader in the field like GIS Cloud. The cost and risk of adoption can be a huge barrier. So, GIS Cloud offers [affordable options](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) with no risks. If you need a chance to experiment with the products, sign up for a [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). ![transparent cost model](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/gis-cloud-pricing.png) A complex or slow moving implementation will frustrate any end user. GIS Cloud avoids this with an easy setup process that gets your team using the tools in hours and not weeks. GIS Cloud has the fastest map engine. No need to worry about performance issues when analyzing or drawing large complex datasets. Do you have a CMMS or EAMS in place? Or does your organization use Open Source Software? These applications are compatible with the GIS Cloud platform. We can take your capabilities to the next level by connecting our products with your systems. ## GIS Applications in Water Management GIS can be applied to many uses, including asset location, cost and data analysis, asset maintenance management, crisis response, and right of way assessments. GIS Cloud’s solutions can support all of these applications. The tools are available there for you to trial: [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**:** Create, edit, and share your custom maps. Changes are reflected in real time throughout the organization. [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)**:** A customizable web dashboard for sharing and collaborating with the public or with internal shareholders. [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)**:** A mobile solution for collecting information from the field with [offline functionality](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/). And many more that can be tailored to your needs when you work with one of our solution consultants. ## Case Studies GIS Cloud has been supporting water management efforts around the globe for the last 10 years. We have case studies for different scenarios and challenges. If you are at the beginning of your water asset digitization effort, our [case study of Liburnian Waters](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/). They transformed their workflows from inefficient paper based to an efficiency focused effort powered by digitized assets in a GIS. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg) In our [Smith Brothers Group case study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-apps-for-water-utilities/), we highlight how they began using the Mobile Data Collection application for their field inventories and inspections. They collected documentation and photos of their assets, including water, sewer, and power facilities. The Group exported their data into reports and [custom forms](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/). We will showcase additional case studies here on our blog in the coming months. We may even feature a case study during a webinar. Stay tuned! ## GIS Solutions Tailored For Your Unique Water Needs Despite being under the same discipline, your water needs may need to be tailored to your needs. We’ve worked with clients from different backgrounds, industries, and countries. We have developed custom mobile field applications for clients and can also work with your team to create custom reports. Our pricing model also allows you only to purchase the GIS solutions you need. You’ll also be able to [manage your users](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/managing-users-in-a-gis-online-solution/) in one location. Transferring licenses is easy and completely in your hands. ![manager subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/user-roles.png) ## Conclusion GIS Cloud has been a solutions provider in the water space for over 10 years. Our global clientele brings us face to face with every kind of situation, from road work in Switzerland to to telecommunication asset management in Tunisia and water and sewer utilities work in Australia. If you are ready to take the next step in your GIS journey, sign up for our [14 day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and one of our talented solution consultants will reach out, offering their support. Follow us on LinkedIn for the lastest news, updates, and case studies. Related content: Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Mapping the Geothermal Resources of Croatia Mineral Resources Map of Croatia **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [GIS Cloud and Water Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-water-utilities/) **Published:** March 9, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Water-Utilities.jpg) Imagine having all the answers at your fingertips. What size water line is running down this street? What material is it made of? How deep is it buried? Do I have legal rights to install a service line running off this water main into that adjacent parcel? If so, where? With your utilities in GIS Cloud, you can answer these questions with a few simple clicks of your mouse from the comfort of your office or house if you’re working remotely. Managing a water utility system can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Using GIS Cloud and its online GIS solutions can ease that burden. Bringing together historical information and the new construction of the water utility system into one shared environment can solve many of your problems. ## Challenges You May Be Facing There are a set of common issues we’ve heard from our new water utility management clients. We have seen similar problems in other industries and realized many of these problems can be solved with the same solutions. ### Data Silos Data silos are created when people develop sources of data. Still, the data doesn’t get shared and remains isolated from others who could benefit from that information. In organizations, one person may have the utility locations while another may have the recorded document mapped. Maintaining separate and isolated data sources can lead to individual efforts to recreate existing data. The person with the utility locations may begin mapping the easements and vice versa. Bringing these different but trusted data sources into one [shared organizational map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) gives decision-makers the information they need in one location. The utility and recorded document data experts can continue to update and maintain their data as needed. ### Connecting to External Databases or Source Data silos may not be of the same data type and be from different data sources. GIS Cloud allows you to import different services, including web map services, web feature services, and web map tile services. ![PostGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases.png) You can even connect to a **PostGIS** database. ![database](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/GIS_POSTGIS1.png) GIS Cloud can also connect directly to QGIS through our [QGIS Publisher plugin](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/). We have an easy-to-follow guide on [how to publish your maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-publish-your-maps-from-qgis-to-gis-cloud/) if you want to see our recommended process. The plugin maintains your QGIS symbology. With your maps in GIS Cloud, you can set up the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) for collecting field data immediately. Connecting and merging data sources into one environment is an early step in improving your workflows, but it is a crucial one that helps dissolve data silos. ### Trouble Getting Shapefiles into Online GIS Solutions Geospatial data comes in a large variety of data types. Whether they are shapefiles, KMLs, or CSVs, they can each be imported directly into our GIS Cloud File Manager or Database. We have an easy-to-follow guide for [importing layers into your local GIS Cloud database](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-import-a-layer-into-database/) in our knowledge base. Our knowledge base is full of information, from getting started with GIS Cloud to sharing and collaboration tools. ![file import](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-Editor-New-Database-connection.png) If you are still having issues, our GIS Solution consultants can assist you. They can walk you through the process during a video call whenever it is most convenient for you and your team. ### Mapping New Infrastructure During Construction Collecting new construction infrastructure as it is being installed saves time and avoids waiting for the finalized as-built plans. The attributes of the new features can be collected there in the field and photographed as they are installed. All this can be done with your smartphone or tablet’s Mobile Data Collection application. If there is a chance of a bad data connection, download the map to your device, and you’ll be ready for offline use. You’ll be able to collect data and attach photos like normal. After you get an internet connection or connect to WiFi, your edits will sync up with the source data and be added to the database. ![mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline1-606x1024.png) The application also gives you an accuracy reading while you are collecting data so you can collect data with confidence. Suppose you want to connect to an external GNSS receiver to get high-accuracy locations. In that case, the application is compatible with many devices. The application works with many of the receivers from the leaders in the industry, including: - [Trimble](https://geospatial.trimble.com/products-and-solutions/gnss-systems) - [Eos](https://eos-gnss.com/) - [Bad Elf](https://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-3300-detail) - [Stonex](https://www.stonex.it/) - [Juniper](https://junipersys.com/products/geode) Capturing data as it is being installed ensures your utility system is constantly up to date. You won’t ever have to second guess what is in the ground, and you’ll have confidence in the accuracy by which the data was collected. ### Sharing the Utility System Data with Others Your customized [Maps Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) can bring all the data and hard work together and be a tool for anyone involved on the project. Granting access to others involved with the project produces unexpected benefits. Our clients have come back with great feedback on how involving others helped them discover different ways to use the tools. As others use the [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), each has their own ideas of how to take advantage of it. Planners and engineers take measurements of the work being done. Water Service Technicians can identify which valves need to be turned off to isolate a leak and minimum the impact on surrounding customers. By changing the symbology per the “outage reach”, a quick service update map can be produced for customers in the vicinity. A [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a powerful tool that can answer many questions and highlight the progress of projects on the ground. For many organizations, it serves as the project’s repository. ### Exporting The Data to Custom Reports Managing a water network includes conducting surveys, water reports, and collecting data for reporting to the state or federal boards. Many use paper reports stored in dusty binders with no reliable data backups. With GIS Cloud, we can export custom-tailored reports that meet the criteria of the oversight agency. It starts with creating a custom survey in the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), where the technicians are walked through the required questions. Using drop-down menus and preset answers removes spelling mistakes and data inaccuracies. Whenever required, you will be able to prepare the reports in an organized manner that doesn’t require anybody to re-enter the data for a second time. You can export your field data from an attribute table into a custom reporting form with a few clicks. These forms can be arranged to meet your regulatory bodies reporting standards. ![map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Embed.png) ## Conclusion The challenges of managing a water utility system can be mitigated using an online GIS solution, like GIS Cloud. Eliminating data silos and collecting accurate field data brings all the information required into one centralized location. A comprehensive view of the project area can be at your fingertips by including additional layers, such as property lines, easements, and other utilities. If you would like a demonstration of a Map Portal and get a first-hand look at how easy they are to use, sign up for a [free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or request a demo from [our home page](https://www.giscloud.com/), and one of our experienced solution consultants will be in touch. Related content: GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [Mastering Field Data Collection Efficiency and Best Practices: Webinar Recap](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mastering-field-data-collection-efficiency-and-best-practices/) **Published:** October 4, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Mastering Efficiency Webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Field-Data-Collection-Practices.png) Field data collection stands at the forefront of many sectors, from infrastructure and environmental monitoring to asset management. But often, data collection faces inefficiencies due to outdated methods, limited resources, and tight budgets. To provide insights into improving the efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness of data collection processes, GIS Cloud recently hosted a webinar addressing these challenges and highlighting the best practices to overcome them. Whether you’re involved in infrastructure, environmental monitoring, asset management, or any other field, this webinar was tailored to equip you with the tools and best practices for data collection you need to succeed. We have the full recording available for those who missed it. During the webinar, our experts delved deep into several pivotal topics: - The problems with using paper for data collection are that it wastes time, reduces quality, and uses up resources. - The impact of harnessing location-based data to get deeper insights. - What are the advantages of visualizing your project on a map? - Strategies to minimize human errors in data collection. - What are the benefits of real-time data collection? Even though each field project has unique challenges, applying universal principles can significantly boost its success rate. So, we focused on sharing universally applicable tips and tools to help in many situations. Watch the webinar recording here for a comprehensive understanding of these topics and more. We invite you to reach out if you’re contemplating a project or pondering over a challenge. Our Solution consultants are ready to discuss your specific needs and assist in developing the best approach. Reach out to us anytime. We want to make sure your next project goes well. For a detailed consultation or more information, contact our Solution consultants at info@giscloud.com. In the meantime, try out our data collection solution yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Field Data Collection: Best Practices How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Critical Telecommunication Assets Supported with GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/critical-telecommunication-assets/) **Published:** September 28, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS supported towers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Critical-Telecommunication-Assets.png) Data centers, fiber optic lines, and towers make up the telecommunication networks that connect people from around the globe. These physical assets are the critical assets that enable us to live our [digital lives](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/). So, how can GIS safeguard these assets during disasters? We will explore the roles each plays and how a GIS Cloud solution can ensure continuous connectivity during even the worst of times. GIS can support effective disaster response and minimal service disruption during uncertain times. ## The Infrastructure Assets of a Telecommunication Network A telecommunication network relies on many physical assets to provide its services. Due to their spatial nature and unique information, they fit well into a GIS system. If you manage a telecommunication network, digitizing your assets will improve your management of the assets and enhance your customers’ experience. GIS Cloud can help bring these physical critical assets into a smart GIS online solution for your organization. A cloud based GIS solution removes the threat of onsite crashes or critical infrastructure failing due to weather or unforeseen events. Your critical assets and their information will be stored in a safe location, allowing you to leverage GIS. ## Data Centers Data centers are known to store terabytes upon terabytes of data. This data is crucial and serves many customers. During disasters, news sources, medical agencies, and residents all rely upon this data and services they may host. It’s quite possible the GIS data used to locate critical assets during disasters are stored in these data centers. In your GIS system, these sites are hubs of crucial data and need to be protected. Along with physically protecting these assets with sandbags and vegetation buffers, their data needs to be secure or moved elsewhere to safety. Your GIS system can guide you to what is the practical solution. Using a [heatmap analysis](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-make-heatmap-analysis/), your team can see what regions have the greatest concentration of data centers and need the most attention. ## Backup Power Systems Without backup ups, we would always be relying on Plan A. We know with poor planning, Plan A becomes Plan B, then Plan C, and so on. We can avoid these by being proactive. These backup power systems are critical assets and need to be reliable during emergencies. Being out of sight may cause these to be out of mind, thus failing when we need them the most. That’s where your GIS solution can help. With a digitized network, you can [schedule maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-powered-telecommunication-network-maintenance/) of these backup systems, which ensures they are always reliable. You can track the frequency of maintenance performed and the age of these items. In the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, you’ll be able to collect the maintenance log and service history of each feature. During the next disaster, you’ll be able to confidently power up your backup systems. ## Fiber Optical Lines The lines of the network are the most important and most likely to experience a failure due to a disaster. Wildlife or fierce winds can damage lines or the towers they travel across. As new construction installs new lines, their location and attributes can be [collected in the field](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). You can use a [GNSS receive to get the high accuracy locations you may need. Understanding the location of your lines will help you prioritize improvements for your network. ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-connect-mdc-app-to-an-external-gps-device/) - Are your lines underground? Above ground? - Do they need an easement to cross this piece of property? - Are they the correct size to meet the demands of customers? With a digitized GIS, you will have the answers to these requests from management in seconds. Or the person interested in this information can find it on your organization’s [custom map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). ## Telecommunication Towers Towers in your network route data between locations. They are the critical asset customers connect to, in order to receive information. These towers service nearby areas and maybe the final endpoint in your network. It is important to know all the information possible about these assets. Your GIS can contain all this information. New information can be added to the layers in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). Photos from the site can be included to give a better understanding of the tower and its surroundings. It’s another asset that should be getting routine maintenance. The equipment on the tower should be serviced and tracked. The area surrounding the tower is just as important. During the maintenance season, using a [buffer analysis](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-buffer/) your team can visualize how much vegetation needs to be cleared to create a safe empty space surrounding the tower site. ## Conclusion Your telecommunication network’s critical assets need to be protected for when they are needed most. A GIS system may not prevent rain or wildfire damage, but it can create a system of data that allows your team to make the best decisions when faced with emergencies. The answers and data will be at your fingertips. If you want guidance on how to best use GIS to serve you and your critical assets, sign up for our free 14 day solutions trial. One of our brilliant solutions consultants will reach out to you and will be happy to guide your next steps. Don’t wait for the next disaster to expose your network’s vulnerabilities. You can prevent issues by creating an intelligent GIS based asset manager. Related content: Are You Ready to Digitize Your Telecom Critical Infrastructure? GIS Powered Telecommunication Network Maintenance Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study) Mapping Advertising Assets on Trash Cans (Use Case) GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets **Categories:** Blog --- ### [PSD Citywide & GIS Cloud New Integration Partnership](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/psd-citywide-gis-cloud-new-integration-partnership/) **Published:** September 21, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Integration Partnership](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PSD-Citywide-GIS-Cloud-New-Partner.png) **London, Ontario & Zagreb, Croatia – September 21, 2023 –** PSD Citywide® is pleased to announce its new integration with GIS Cloud, a leading European provider of GIS mapping working in more than 50 countries worldwide. Fully integrated with Citywide GIS, current and future clients can access a wealth of new public mapping options to provide greater transparency and value to citizens using easily accessible public maps. GIS Cloud offers a complete location-based solution for different workflows in a wide range of industries, including utilities such as water and pipeline management or electric utilities, telecommunications, roadworks, tree inventory and inspection, retail, smart cities, natural resources, public city maps, and many more. They deliver a cutting-edge mapping technology accessible to a wide variety of users and companies, regardless of expertise, industry, or size. The company’s vision is to create advanced technologies that are simple to use, bringing the benefits of GIS to every corner of the world. PSD Citywide client feedback showed a strong demand for being able to share more information with their citizens online. With GIS Cloud, existing and future clients of PSD Citywide can create, customize, and publish maps that the public can see online. Local governments can take data from the Citywide GIS solution to create their own maps and choose to publish those maps with a system-generated URL. They can then share the link or embed the map on their website to provide more transparency and citizen engagement. This is helpful for sharing details on capital projects like road work, a park enhancement, or a downtown revitalization project. *“Adding this new capability is something our clients have been asking for, and we are thrilled to be delivering this with our new integration with GIS Cloud”*, commented Peter Scott, Chief Technology Officer at PSD Citywide. *“With our existing GIS solution, clients were only able to share maps and data with platform users working within their local government. Now, they can choose to share something like splash pads, which they have in the GIS tool, and make that available on their municipal website so citizens can click on it, interact with it, and see every available location. This is just one of many examples our clients are excited to be able to share with their citizens.”* The integration with GIS Cloud opens many opportunities for PSD Citywide clients. They can create and share maps outlining garbage pick up schedules, park trails, ward zones, and more, all generated through the Citywide GIS solution. Existing clients can begin using these new features powered by GIS Cloud by speaking with their dedicated account manager or by sending an email to info@psdciywide.com. **About PSD Citywide** PSD Citywide is a leading provider of enterprise asset management, maintenance, financial, GIS, and permitting advisory and software solutions. They deliver the only all-in-one solution in the market to support municipal governments, managing more than $350 billion in municipal assets across North America. With a multi-disciplinary advisory team of finance, engineering, municipal practitioners and a leading in-house software development group, PSD Citywide provides holistic solutions to deliver best-in-class service for their clients. For more information, please visit[ www.psdcitywide.com](http://www.psdcitywide.com). **About GIS Cloud** GIS Cloud is a web-based geographic information solution (GIS) that can visualize any data as maps. It helps organizations and businesses improve decision making and optimize operations to save money. Unlike consumer oriented mapping such as Google Maps, GIS Cloud has additional strength in delivering simple and advanced tools and analysis for business and government as well as enabling easy data sharing and collaboration within organizations. Running in the cloud, it can be integrated with client data and various external web applications and provide significantly lower IT costs, and eliminate time maintaining, scaling, and updating software and servers. GIS Cloud is a European company, working in more than 50 countries worldwide with partners around the globe. For more information, please visit[ www.giscloud.com](http://www.giscloud.com). **Media Contact:** James Geneau Chief Marketing Officer, PSD Citywide jgeneau@psdcitywide.com Dario Andrasek Head of Marketing, GIS Cloud dario@giscloud.com *PSD Citywide, Citywide, and Citywide GIS are registered trademarks of PSD Citywide Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.* Related content: Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration PowerApps & GIS Cloud – New Integration Release! Custom Popup Style and Grafana Integration Road Maintenance Webinar – GIS and Power BI Integration 4 Main Reasons Why Governments Choose Cloud Based GIS **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-data-collection-for-gis-professionals/) **Published:** September 14, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Cell Service Mobile Site Never Miss a Data Point](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offline-Data-Collection-for-GIS-Professionals.png) Working at a site without cell service shouldn’t prevent you from getting the job done. GIS Cloud’s [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **(MDC)** application simplifies editing and gathering field data. It lets you and your team capture data from your job sites and update the databases remotely. The MDC application removes the need to write your findings down or take photos that will need to be attached to the data later. You can collect new records in the field with all the necessary field information and even attach photos directly to the point, polygon, or polyline. Our **offline maps** feature lets you do all that **without any data loss**. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/assets/wp-content/themes/wp-boomerang/images/Lines--Polygons-Mob---L-p-500.png_1682489155.webp) ## The Challenge of Field Data Capture Collecting field data is challenging due to its unpredictable nature. Many unforeseen events may occur that even the most seasoned GIS data collector hasn’t experienced or thought of. If your firm captures data in remote areas, away from your cell service, you understand the struggle. You’ve driven over an hour away in the dark of the morning to a new job site. You’ve got hiking boots on, a GPS receiver pole in hand, and your iPad in the other with your GIS field data collection app. After a hike to your first data capture, you realize you don’t have cell service. Other enterprise GIS solutions would have your day end in frustration from that moment. You must have forgotten to enable the map for offline use, publish one of the layers correctly, or download the map to the iPad. All frustrations you didn’t discover until you were at the job site. There won’t be a need to log into an organizational GIS website and search for the right setting to get you back on the right path with GIS Cloud’s[ Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. ## Offline Maps on the MDC application The **offline maps** feature in the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC) application will resolve the challenge of working in a remote area. Without having to enable any settings or check a box somewhere in your data portal, you can download a map for offline use. The Mobile Data Collection application enables all your maps **for offline use by default**. Simply download the map, and you’re all set. ## Benefits of Offline Maps Offline maps provide many benefits to their users. It allows field staff to accomplish their goals on a daily basis and more. The benefits include: - Easy set up - Offline capability by default - Affordable field data collection option - Customizable forms - Ability to download multiple offline maps - Minimal in-office setup Great features are nice to have, but if they are challenging to use, you’d be better off without them. The Mobile Data Application’s Offline Maps are easy to use from the get-go. ## How To Use Offline Maps On The Mobile Data Collection Application You’ll be ready for a field day collecting data following a few easy steps. In your **MDC app**, select the project you will need offline. Next, **select settings** in the bottom right of the screen. Then click “**Offline Maps**“. Finally, click the “**Download (Insert Project Name)**” button. This downloads the entire project locally, not just the enabled layers like other GIS solutions. It is just that easy. ## How Our Clients Utilize Offline Maps Since its first release in 2014, our clients have loved the offline capabilities of the MDC application. Different industries have taken advantage of the feature, including [vegetation management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/), [road inspections](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/), and [civil engineering](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-civil-engineering/). The [Lake Gaston Association](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-survey-of-lake-gaston-case-study/) recruits volunteers to assist their efforts in mapping vegetation around the lake. Volunteers use the Mobile Data Collection application to map the 350 miles of shoreline. The areas lacking cell service are conquered by using Offline Maps during the survey. GIS Cloud has developed [U-Collect for Asterra](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/satellite-based-leak-detection-solution-from-utilis-powered-by-gis-cloud-field-data-collection-and-overview-system/), a customized mobile application. The application identifies and locates water leaks in urban and rural areas. The perfect use for offline maps. Regarding [telecommunication network maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-powered-telecommunication-network-maintenance/), clients can download their forms in the office and then go about their work. They can document their work with photos and the job details. Also, here is a quick video tutorial on how to add 360° images: Our clients love the MDC application and its offline maps feature. ## Tips for Using Offline Maps While using offline maps on your own is easy, a couple of tips will improve your experience: **Turn on airplane mode:** This will save battery power while there is no cellular service. **Download base map(s):** A satellite image will help you get oriented if you work somewhere unfamiliar. **Create the forms in the office:** Having your field forms ready will save you time in the field. **Update the application:** Updates are frequently released and may include that feature you requested recently. **Take photos:** Capturing photos from the field provides confirmation and the ability to revisit sites. **Set Up Default Values:** This can speed up your data collection progress. **Use Dependencies:** [Dependencies](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-dependent-fields-in-your-form/) are rules for collecting data. This ensures your data is consistent and will limit the need for quality control. ## Conclusion The **offline maps** feature is critical for any GIS user collecting field data. It is a smart backup option that ensures no matter where you are collecting data, you will have it captured safely. The [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application and our other applications can be used during our [14-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Use it the next time you are doing field work. It even connects to external GPS units for higher accuracy. Our solution consultants would gladly assist you if you need any help or have questions about Offline Maps. Related content: Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Offline Mapping and Data Collection Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps Mobile Data Collection Update Release Mobile Data Collection **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Powered Telecommunication Network Maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-powered-telecommunication-network-maintenance/) **Published:** September 7, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Telecom Digitized Network Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GIS-Telecommunication-Network-Maintenance.png) Maintaining your telecommunication network is a critical part of your operation. A [digitized network](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/) backed by GIS will improve your maintenance workflows with the introduction of applications like [GIS Cloud’s Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) and [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). In a recent post, we discussed the [analyzing capabilities of GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) and your digitized telecommunication network. We demonstrated how a digitized network empowers your organization through the use of cloud based and mobile GIS solutions. In this post, we are going to discuss the additional benefits of using GIS to maintain your network and walk you through the process of developing a maintenance schedule for your telecommunication network. GIS Cloud’s tools work with predictive, condition-based, and preventive maintenance plans. ## An Asset Maintenance Schedule What is an asset maintenance schedule? An asset maintenance schedule is a timetable set to ensure your network’s assets are maintained or inspected within a predetermined time window. For example, you can create a maintenance schedule where you visit each asset every 6 months. This plan allows you to perform inspections and any necessary maintenance before issues arise. This type of schedule allows you to perform the work when it is optimal for your staff and network operations. These scheduled visits ensure the asset is functioning properly and have not been impacted by external factors, like weather, human activity, or environmental changes. This investment of time will prevent routine calls, increase confidence in your network, and save money by preventing unexpected large overhaul maintenance projects Developing a GIS digitized asset base organizes your assets in a centralized location with attributes and locations that allow you to develop an asset maintenance schedule.The attributes can store asset identification numbers, install dates, last date maintenance was performed, size, costs, links to related documents, photos, and other unique asset information. All this record keeping can occur in GIS Cloud and connect to your other management systems like SCADA or EAMS. One of our solution consultants would be happy to discuss the process with you and your team. ![assets](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Location-scaled.jpg) ## Benefits of Using GIS Cloud for Maintenance Using GIS is the right decision. Using GIS Cloud is the smart decision. There are many benefits to using GIS to track your maintenance. The benefits of using GIS Cloud as part of your telecommunication network include: - Rapid Asset Location - Reduced Network Downtime - Improved Asset Longevity - Centralized Data Portal - Return on Investment ### Rapid Asset Location When digitizing your assets, accuracy is important. Investing the time and effort in your digitizing effort will pay dividends down the road. You can go from spreadsheets of thousands of rows to a clean field application, like [GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). With your telecommunication network’s assets accurately mapped in a GIS, your team will be able to locate the asset in seconds. In the Mobile Data Collection (MDC) app, you can see your assets’ locations in a familiar setting, a satellite image of the world. Depending on how you digitized and mapped your assets, you will have the accuracies down to foot and even possibly inches. Don’t stress about getting everything perfect from the beginning. In the Mobile Data Collection application, you will be able to edit and improve the asset locations in the field during the maintenance process. A maintenance schedule supported with GIS will ensure your assets can be located without needing outdated paper maps or spreadsheets. ### Reduced Network Downtime By using a maintenance schedule, you will identify and resolve potential issues before they impact your service. A common complaint among network customers is downtime. Necessary repairs can be scheduled for off-peak times and the impacted assets can be identified in your GIS system. A GIS solution can show the impacted area and communicate to customers the extent of the outage. There will always be emergencies like hurricanes, wildfire, or tornadoes that will affect your network. But routine scheduled maintenance can minimize the problems these unforeseen events can cause. ### Improved Asset Longevity Performing maintenance on your car keeps it running better for longer. The same can be done for your telecommunication towers and assets. Monitoring your assets through a GIS solution will extend the life of your network hardware. The maintenance schedule will keep your assets in great condition with minimal downtime caused by preventable failures. A GIS solution can help you predict the costs to repair, maintain, and replace assets. Knowing the lifespan of an asset will make it predictable on your budget. The attributes of your assets can be stored in the fields of the layer. You can store costs, maintenance frequencies, time required, and downtime. This information can be shared throughout the organization through your own [custom GIS Cloud portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). ### Centralized Data Portal A [GIS Cloud Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) can display your assets and track the progress of the scheduled maintenance. This portal can show the maintenance to be performed and what has been completed. The Map Portal will show you where your assets are located and how to best perform the maintenance. The key is investing in a [digitized asset inventory](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/). This data portal can be open to your entire organization, allowing decision makers to make informed decisions. Other staff can analyze the data to provide additional information to project managers and leads. ![map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Embed.png) ### Return On Investment Adopting GIS doesn’t have to be a large investment of capital. [GIS Cloud is priced](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) to get you a return on your capital immediately. [Legacy GIS software](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) will charge you a fortune and force you to stay within their platform. Using GIS Cloud will expedite your workflows, including asset location, team collaboration, and asset monitoring, offline field applications, and data analysis. ![gis cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pricing.png) ## So how can I create a predictive maintenance schedule? Creating a predictive maintenance schedule is easy, especially with GIS cloud and digitized assets. Creating the baseline maintenance of your network is the first step. Understanding what assets you have, asset locations, and the frequency of maintenance required will guide you in creating your schedule. Different assets require different scheduled maintenance. You can track that with an attribute or separate survey related to the asset. In our example, we are going to create a twice a year maintenance schedule. This example has our assets digitized and ready to go in GIS Cloud. If you haven’t done this step yet, you can request a demo or sign up for our [14 day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to complete it. ### Creating the Necessary Fields Using [GIS Cloud’s Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), you can add the necessary fields. Under the Tools tab, select the Forms Manager. This step is necessary to prepare the data for the Mobile Data Collection application. In the Forms Manager, select **“Create Form Layer”**, select the layer we will be performing our maintenance one. Then edit the form name to identify the layer. In the design view, or JSON view if you prefer, we will be adding the necessary fields. For a simplistic maintenance schedule, you can create a field called **“Spring Maintenance”** and another field called **“Fall Maintenance”**. These are our 6 month windows. The completion value in the data can be a **Y/N** or **Complete/Pending**. These fields will track your progress during each maintenance window of what has been completed and what remains. Instead of visiting assets and performing maintenance repairs, one by one, assets can be inspected based on their service areas or regions for a more efficient workflow. ![Geographic Information System](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Editor-medium.png) ### Building our Mobile Data Collection app With our asset containing the correct fields, we can move onto the next step. Time to open the Mobile Data Collection app. Select **“Create a New Project”**. Fill out the required information and add a project description. Next, select the **Duplicate Existing Form**, and find the form we created in the previous step. Then select your Project Type and click **“Starting Creating Project”**. In the next screen, you can make additional changes to your fields. Here you can set the field options for your maintenance fields. I recommend setting the default value to **“N”** or **“Pending”**. Then select the **“Dependencies”** text. Under this drop down, create the following two rules where **“at least one rule needs to be satisfied”**: Spring Maintenance should **“be equal to”** **“N”** Spring Maintenance should **“be equal to”** **“Y”** These dependencies will make sure your data is consistent and follows the rule of the field. Be sure to do this with your other maintenance field. After you have completed setting up your fields, select **“Create Project”** on the left side of the screen. Your Mobile Data Collection map is ready to go and available in the mobile application. During your maintenance, your team can now locate the asset, update the work done, and monitor the maintenance performed on the system as a whole. ## Conclusion A telecommunication network built upon GIS is a powerful entity. There are many ways GIS can support and improve the everyday workflows of the entire organization. In future posts, we will explore using offline maps and the capabilities of a custom [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). If you are ready to bring your network assets into GIS, sign up for our [**14 day free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). One of our talented solution consultants will follow up and offer any help you may need. They can get you on the path of bringing your assets into GIS as well as assist you in developing a custom Map Portal for your organization. Related content: Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study) GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Telecom Digitization, Service Coverage and Gap Analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/telecom-digitization-service-coverage-and-gap-analysis/) **Published:** August 24, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Telecom Service Analysis Network](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Telecommunication-Digitizaton-Assets.png) How much does your telecommunication network cover? How many customers are within your reach? Where are your oldest assets? A quick analysis in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) can provide you with all the answers. A service coverage and gap analysis can identify the areas your telecommunication network covers. It will also show you the customers you have missed. How many more customers could you reach with your next investment? The decision-makers in your organization can use this powerful tool to make informed choices. In [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), you can use different analysis tools to obtain this information. ## Telecommunication Network Digitization It begins with a digitized telecom network. After you have digitized your network’s assets, you’ll have many powerful tools at your fingertips. A digitized telecom network is a representation of assets in a digital environment. In GIS Cloud, your real-world assets can be located, cataloged, and viewed remotely from your desktop. These digital assets are accurately located worldwide and contain the unique information attributed to each. Attributes may include information such as text, numbers, or dates. With no limit in attribute fields, you can capture any information you’d like about the asset. This can include: - Date installed - Make and Model - Size - City - In or Outside of Encumbrance (Y/N) - Median Income - Asset Value - Maintenance Schedule Our solution consultants can help you digitize your network and build out the fields you’d like to capture. There are many advantages to a digitized telecommunication network: - Instant view of assets - Location-based Asset Inventory - Remote Asset Management - Data Analytics - Maintenance Planning These advantages pay off immediately. And with GIS Cloud, you can share your new tool with your organization. ![assets](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Location-scaled.jpg) ## Mapping Coverage and Connectivity Using your GIS-centric network, you can perform analysis to guide your business decisions. GIS Cloud’s [Analysis tools](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-data-analysis/) allow you to view your network’s coverage from a different perspective and give you instantly usable data. Within the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application, we will use the [buffer tool](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/buffer/). Selecting the Buffer icon under the Analysis tab opens the [Buffer Analysis](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-buffer/). Select the layer you’d like to analyze. In this case, we are mapping out the coverage of each of our towers. We can also select to fill in the buffer to create one polygon for any overlapping buffers. After running the buffer tool, we will have an accurate view of each tower’s range and the network’s total coverage. The results can be used to find service gaps and potential future tower sites. ## Identifying Service Gaps A gap analysis identifies where something is missing. In water utilities, that may be what pipelines are missing easement rights. In inspection services, it may be who covers what neighborhoods in the country. And in telecom, we are identifying network coverage. The buffered tower site data analysis shows us the area covered. By itself, that doesn’t provide a lot of information. You can bring in other data types to get a more comprehensive analysis. Adding in a parcel layer will show you how many properties are covered. If you have a building layer, that will provide you with a more detailed view of structures within range. This analysis will show coverage in a perfect world, with towers expected to reach a certain range. This challenge of accurate coverage can be mitigated by viewing your data in a [3D perspective](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-3d-in-gis/). *Check out this webinar recording and see how adding the third dimension (3D) provides a better insight into the world around you.* Your next challenge will be pinpointing your next tower’s location. ## Network Optimization GIS can optimize your network’s coverage. In a GIS environment, you can propose site locations without investing thousands of dollars. Your team can review proposed site locations using 3D and contour data in GIS Cloud. Combining these data sources will give you a better understanding of the terrain and the potential excavation needs for development. If any site looks interesting, you can update your service coverage and gap analysis to confirm the improvements in the network. The [low cost of a Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) license empowers you to make these decisions without risk. ## Disaster Response and Support Catastrophic weather mercilessly destroys critical infrastructure, including telecom towers. Responding quickly in these instances is crucial. An online GIS solution can be the backbone for the support the community needs. A [public portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) can show the current situation and inform customers of any current outages. The portal can also communicate to the public where temporary resources like telecommunication vehicles have been set up. GIS Cloud can show where the most affected people are located and the optimal locations to stage resources. Internally, a private portal can be used to Track personnel deployed to mitigate the situation. Maintaining the locations and statuses of these heroic individuals and teams will ensure everyone’s safety. ## Conclusion GIS can take your telecommunication network service to the next level. Digitizing historic assets empowers decision-makers and improves network operations. A GIS-supported portal gives your customers important information on service outages and availability. A potential customer can locate their address in your portal and identify their options. [Our solution consultants are available to help](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) you take the first steps toward a GIS supported network. If you’re tired of [paying high legacy GIS costs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/), GIS Cloud may be just what you are looking for. Related content: GIS Cloud Solutions in Telecom Industry Are You Ready to Digitize Your Telecom Critical Infrastructure? Improving Workflows in Telecom Industry – Sotetel (Use Case) AI Meets GIS: Reshaping Data Analysis Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-analysis-filtering-the-datagrid/) **Published:** July 27, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Analysis filters](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Simplifying-Data-Analysis-Filtering-Datagrid.png) It’s been two months, but we’re still buzzing from the release of our new Datagrid! So, we wanted to take this opportunity to show you some more ways in which you can fully take advantage of this major upgrade. Gone are the days of sifting through endless rows and columns to find the needed information. With our enhanced datagrid, you’ll discover a host of powerful tools and functionalities designed to streamline your data analysis process – from filtering tools and creating data Views, to upgraded exporting and reporting options and simple data table customizations. In this short video, we wanted to show you how quick and easy it is to get started with datagrid filtering. Whether you’re a seasoned GIS professional or just starting out, this tutorial will empower you to navigate and leverage the full potential of the datagrid with ease. Are you ready to take your data exploration to the next level? For step-by-step guides, additional tips and tricks, and filter examples, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/datagrid-filtering/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at . In the meantime, try some data filtering options by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Mini School: Data Analysis Datagrid Reinvented – Powerful New Filters & Customizations! AI Meets GIS: Reshaping Data Analysis STOP Corona! Crowdsourcing App Uses Heatmap Analysis to Predict Coronavirus Outbreaks **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Are You Ready to Digitize Your Telecom Critical Infrastructure?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digitize-your-telecom-critical-infrastructure/) **Published:** July 13, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Digitize Telecommunication](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Critical-Infrastructure.png) In today’s rapidly evolving telecommunications industry, staying competitive and reliable requires more than selling superior systems or software. It necessitates a comprehensive approach encompassing all aspects of a vendor’s operations. One crucial area that telecoms and operators must focus on is digitizing their critical infrastructure. By digitally transforming and maintaining their critical assets, organizations can ensure reliability, reduce operating costs, and pave the way for future innovation. However, despite the numerous benefits, **only 30%** of organizations with critical infrastructure have fully embraced digital transformation. This blog will explore the reasons behind this hesitancy, the challenges involved, and how GIS Cloud solves these hurdles. ## The Current Situation: Limited Digitization of Critical Infrastructure Telecoms and operators are vital in meeting the increasing demand for mobile phones and internet services. As a result, their wired and wireless infrastructure is constantly evolving, generating vast amounts of geographical data. Cloud Geographic Information System (GIS) provides the ideal solution for collecting, centralizing, and managing this data, allowing telecom innovators to optimize their networks’ planning, deployment, maintenance, and operations. However, despite the clear advantages of digitizing critical infrastructure, most telecoms have slowly adopted these solutions. Surprisingly, **less than 30%** of organizations have begun digitizing their assets, and even among those that have, less than 50% of their critical infrastructure is digitized correctly. This reluctance stems from various implementation, cost, and performance challenges. ## Implementation Challenges: Cost, Risk, and Slow Implementation Implementing complex solutions for digitizing critical infrastructure often requires substantial initial investments in licensing, infrastructure, employee training, and process alteration. [The cost factor](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) alone can be a major deterrent for organizations, especially when the return on investment is not immediately apparent. Justifying such investments without clearly understanding when the results will materialize adds considerable risk to the decision-making process. Moreover, the significant changes required to adopt enterprise and company-wide solutions can be met with resistance, as employees may need help understanding the benefits or seeing how these changes align with their daily tasks. This lack of understanding can hinder adoption rates and slow the implementation process, extending the deployment timeline to a year or longer. ## Performance Issues and Integration Limitations Another challenge organizations face when digitizing critical infrastructure is performance. Heavy tools that rely on complex setups, workflows, and big data often suffer from slow rendering, application crashes, or functionality issues in environments with limited technology, such as [offline areas](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-mapping-and-data-collection/) or regular mobile devices. These performance limitations can frustrate users and diminish overall satisfaction with the solution. Additionally, [integration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) limitations pose a significant obstacle to achieving a seamless workflow. Heavy solutions are often not designed for integration with other systems, leading to isolated data islands and incomplete workflows. This fragmented approach results in multiple sources of truth and inefficient processes, as data is not connected to the organization’s operational support systems (OSS/BSS) or other databases. ![Geographic Information System](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Editor-medium.png) ## The GIS Cloud Approach: Fast Results, High Adoption Rate, and Embrace & Extend GIS Cloud has long recognized and addressed the challenges telecoms and operators face in their digital transformation journey. GIS Cloud offers a more location-oriented approach focusing on asset management, workforce coordination, and business intelligence by providing cloud-native, business-oriented solutions. Let’s delve into the three key benefits of the GIS Cloud approach.Fast Results and Low Risk To reduce initial costs and minimize the risks associated with implementing complex systems, GIS Cloud’s modular approach allows organizations to start with a department-level implementation to achieve a specific business result. Rather than attempting a full-scale digital transformation, organizations can concentrate their resources on departments that require immediate [data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-vs-esris-field-maps/) and maintenance improvements. By quickly achieving the first business result, organizations can drive further solution adoption and invest in expanding the implementation to other areas. ![file csv kml dxf](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-Map-Editor-export.png) ### High Adoption Rate The learning curve and user adoption are critical factors in the success of any solution. GIS Cloud recognizes this and has designed its tools to be user-friendly and easily learnable. Advanced users typically require only 3-5 days of training to master the tools, while primary users can start working with mobile apps and web applications in as little as half a day. Additionally, [GIS Cloud’s Map Engine](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-benefits-super-fast-high-definition-maps/), renowned for its fast rendering capabilities, ensures that even complex workflows, big data, and system integrations run smoothly on all devices. This high-speed performance significantly increases user satisfaction and adoption rates throughout the organization. ### Embrace & Extend GIS Cloud’s [integration-oriented products](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-integrations/) are designed to connect with existing databases seamlessly, systems of record (OSS/BSS), and other asset management systems like Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), or GIS tools. This integration capability empowers organizations to leverage their existing investments and extend the usage of adopted solutions. By bridging the gap between disparate systems, GIS Cloud enables organizations to extract more value from their data, improve workflows, and justify initial investments. ![GIS Enterprise Asset Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/integration-automation.png) ## GIS Cloud Portfolio: Addressing Critical Infrastructure Challenges GIS Cloud offers three solution portfolios tailored specifically for telecoms and operators. These portfolios cover various aspects of critical infrastructure, from cellular towers and antennas to transmission networks and customer analysis. Let’s explore each portfolio and its modules in more detail. ### Cellular Towers and Antennas This portfolio focuses on the registration, condition assessment, maintenance, and operations management of cellular towers and antennas. The modules within this portfolio enable organizations to create and update their geospatial database of critical infrastructure, including towers, antennas, and adjacent equipment. Field crews and contractors can collect detailed information about asset location, equipment type and condition, signal strength, maintenance requirements, and more. By maintaining an accurate and up-to-date asset database, organizations can make informed decisions regarding planning, analysis, and innovation. ![assets](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Location-scaled.jpg) ### Transmission Networks & CPE This portfolio addresses the challenges of deploying and maintaining fiber optic networks and last-mile network connections. The Fiber Optic Deployment Planning, Coordination & Registration module assists organizations in determining the best location for fiber optic components, considering existing infrastructure, terrain, and other factors. The Last Mile Network Deployment module facilitates the installation and maintenance of last-mile networks, such as FTTX and FTTH. These modules help organizations optimize network deployment, reduce costs, and improve performance and response times. ### Customer & Network Analysis The modules within this portfolio provide organizations with insights into network coverage, service availability, customer analysis, and competition analysis. Organizations can optimize network design, predict capacity, and plan for expansion by creating detailed maps of physical network infrastructure and analyzing network coverage. Moreover, customer and competition analysis tools enable organizations to improve customer experience, prioritize repairs during service disruptions, and gain a competitive advantage. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/raster-map-heat-map.jpg) ## In the Cloud or On-Premises All the modules offered by GIS Cloud can be deployed on the cloud or entirely on the client’s premises through the Private Cloud environment. The Private Cloud solution ensures that all data remains behind the organization’s firewall, with controlled [external access](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) for field-to-office workflows. This approach allows organizations to maintain information security control, comply with regulatory requirements, and leverage the benefits of cloud technology. ![firewall installation](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/on-premises-telecommunication.png) ## Take the Next Step with GIS Cloud Digitizing critical infrastructure is crucial for telecoms and operators aiming to thrive in the competitive market. By embracing GIS Cloud’s approach, organizations can achieve fast results, minimize risks, and ensure high adoption rates. GIS Cloud’s portfolio of solutions addresses the challenges faced in cellular towers and antennas, transmission networks and CPE, and customer and network analysis. Whether deployed on the cloud or on-premises, GIS Cloud empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their critical infrastructure and pave the way for future innovation. To learn more about how GIS Cloud can transform your critical infrastructure and accelerate your digital transformation, [**reach out to our Solution Consultants today.**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) Related content: GIS Cloud Solutions in Telecom Industry Improving Workflows in Telecom Industry – Sotetel (Use Case) Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Managing Users in a GIS Online Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/managing-users-in-a-gis-online-solution/) **Published:** July 6, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![software licenses](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GIS-managing-users.png) Managing users and licenses for your GIS software shouldn’t be a hassle. Project scopes and roles may change from project to project and require flexibility. Adapting to these changes in a production environment needs to be quick without costing a fortune. Making adjustments to user accounts and licenses shouldn’t require a phone call. GIS Cloud gives you all the permissions needed to manage your licenses. You know what your team needs best. ## Fast Onboarding The cost of GIS software and licenses causes month long delays. During these long periods, you can only plan and hope something goes through faster. Our software prices start at $25 a month or $300 a year. At these prices, you can avoid creating a request for proposal (RFP) and use a credit card. If you need time to test the software, sign up for our [free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or request a demo with one of our solution consultants. Let’s get your project rolling! ## Pricing The [price of enterprise GIS solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) can be a major barrier, we don’t believe that should be the case. Understanding costs in advance allows you and your team to prepare your budget as needed. There are no hidden costs with GIS Cloud. Here are the [transparent prices](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) for GIS Cloud: ![subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/transparent-price.png) Our **pricing calculator** tells you the exact price for the subscriptions needed for your team. We even include the **volume and annual discount price**. ![volume annual discount](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/priceing-calculator.png) [Legacy enterprise GIS softwares](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) have complex pricing structures that can be difficult to understand. Their high costs require additional approvals and processing from your purchasing department, further delaying the project. Our licensing structure allows you to equip your team for a low cost and get your staff the tools they need in minutes, not weeks. ## User Roles Different projects require different users. Large data collection efforts might need many field data collectors and few map editors. Other projects may need a group of map editors who create large datasets in the office. The flexibility of GIS Cloud can meet these ever changing needs. You can change the user roles in your GIS Cloud Manager as needed. With a few clicks, a user can become a map editor and a field data collector. Or you can remove a license and reassign it to another user later down the line. There are 3 user roles in GIS Cloud: 1. Field Data Collector 2. Map Editor 3. Private Map Viewer Each role has different permissions granted within your GIS Cloud platform. ### Field Data Collector This is for your field staff focused on collecting data using the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). They can create and edit the spatial locations and attributes of the data they collect. The Lake Gaston Association sends out volunteers equipped with the MDC app to [collect data for vegetation management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-survey-of-lake-gaston-case-study/) every year. After creating their project, they create a new data collection form or reuse last year’s. They also can make changes to the form should the needs of the project change. ![dependencies as if then](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/project-form.png) This table shows how **dependencies**, also known as if-then statements, can be used in the form. An input for one question can trigger the required or expected data in related fields. Our [field data collection knowledge base](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/) gives you a detailed look at the long list of items available in a form. ### Map Editor The role of the map editor is to create, edit, manage, and share maps and data. Map editors can collaborate with others on maps as well. In the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application, they can start new maps, set map permissions, and access those maps shared by other GIS Cloud users. ![map permissions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/editor.png) If you have the permissions granted by the map owner, you can make edits and add layers to the public maps. Public maps are a great way to work together on projects remotely. Check out how [Adelaide Plains Council](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) manages its GIS data using the MDC app and Map Editor. ### Map Viewer A [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) license allows you to view the public maps on GIS Cloud and the private maps within your organization. ![public maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/viewer.png) A Map Viewer license is the perfect license for managers and decision makers to review the data and check the progress of projects. The license allows them to export map data for printing and create field data reports. ## User Management After purchasing your subscriptions, you are in control of your licenses. The power is in your hands to make changes to users or subscriptions. In the [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/?), you can make all the changes you need. Here is how you add a new user as a Mobile Data Collection user: First, open the GIS Cloud Manager. Next, select “New User”. Fill out the user details and login information. Note that a username cannot be changed later. In the User Subscriptions tab, select the subscription needed for the new user. In our example, it is a new Mobile Data Collection subscription. ![mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/user-subscriptions.png) Finally, select the available subscription, save, and your new user is ready to collect data. You can change a user’s role or subscriptions with a few clicks. Double click the user in the manager window. ![manager subscriptions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/user-roles.png) Next, select “Choose Subscription” to add subscriptions to that specific user. If you need to transfer a license from that user, select “Remove”. You also can delete users from your account, deactivate users, and swap emails on your account if they are tied to a company or business email. You can make all these changes in the GIS Cloud Manager. ## Conclusion There should be no reason for the price to keep your team from growing and your organization from achieving its goals. Adding members to your project can be quick and easy with GIS Cloud, removing any stalls in hitting the ground running. If you need help making changes to your users and group, we have plenty of information in our [Knowledge Base](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/users-groups/). We encourage you to test our applications’ premium features by signing up for a [14-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). If you have questions or want a demo, our solution consultants will gladly assist you. Related content: Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry GIS Cloud – The Best Solution for Non-GIS Users Online Solution for Digital Mapping Cost-effective Solutions for GIS Users **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud's Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI's Field Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-vs-esris-field-maps/) **Published:** June 28, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![data collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mobile-data-collection-vs-esri-field-maps.png) If you have collected field data in the past decade, you probably used ESRI’s Field Maps or Collector application. Over 10 years ago, GIS Cloud created its [**Mobile Data Collection (MDC)**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application based in a cloud environment. A recent debate on the [high cost of enterprise GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) has brought attention to other GIS tools and software. We are going to examine both of these applications. We will examine their features, their free trials, and of course, the cost of the software. ## Features Each application has similar features, but how they offer those features differ. ESRI has created tools that keep your data tied to its proprietary software. GIS Cloud maintains accessibility with different data types and has free plugins for [QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) and [ArcGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/). They offer mapping tools and custom portals. ### Offline Maps ESRI’s Field Maps allow you to make your maps available offline, but you must [configure the items for offline use.](https://doc.arcgis.com/en/field-maps/android/help/configure-the-map.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_1822CD8DD1E74F08BC4308E03A5677F1) Not just the map itself but all the items (tables, layers, and imagery). It’s another added step when you are trying to rush out the door to the job site. GIS Cloud maps are available offline on the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app **by default**. In the settings of the MDC app, select the “Offline Maps” option and choose “Download”. No hidden switches here. ### External GNSS devices Both applications are compatible with many external GNSS receivers. Connecting your phone via Bluetooth to any compatible receivers will give you high accuracy data capabilities. The GNSS receivers they work with include: - EOS Arrow - Bad Elf - Garmin - SX Blue - Trimble - Leica - Juniper Each application also works on iOS and Android devices. ### Navigate to Feature This feature allows you to select a feature in your application and then route you to it using Google or Apple Maps. It has saved me a lot of time trying to grab coordinates from one application into another for directions. GIS Cloud makes it easy to find in their [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. Simply select the feature you are interested in, and you’ll see the link at the top of the screen. ![route application](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/navigate-to-a-feature.png) ESRI buries this great feature at the bottom of the window below the attributes table. You wouldn’t find it if you didn’t know where to look. ![feature attributes](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Navigate-to-Feature.png) ## Design After using both of these applications, despite their similar features, they feel different. ESRI Field Maps focuses on the map and the feature layers within it. They do a good job of presenting the features aesthetically. GIS Cloud’s [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application focuses on the data form. It’s a clean workspace with easy to read options. The map is always just one press away. ## Free Trial GIS Cloud offers a [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) of its entire suite of applications and includes access to premium features. You can use the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and the analysis tools within it. ESRI offers a free 21 day trial of ArcGIS Pro, which includes the Field Maps application and other Pro extensions. You will also get temporary access to ArcGIS Online. These free trials will allow you to test the software and see how they fit into your organization. ESRI won’t even notice you signed up for their trial. However, a GIS Cloud solutions consultant will contact you and offer you any support you may need shortly after signing up. ## Pricing Cost can be a deciding factor when it comes to software. It needs to answer the following questions: - Is this software worth the cost? - Can we move away from this software should we not like it? - Can we trial the software to understand its capabilities and fit into our existing workflow? - Can we buy the license once and keep it forever? - Are there recurring license fees? - How many licenses will we need? - Does it fill all our organization’s needs? - What kind of customer service can we expect to receive? ESRI’s Field Maps have additional costs. It requires a foundational user type license. You must purchase a Creator or GIS Professional license alongside the Mobile Worker license. A Creator user costs $550 per year. It gives you access to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, and other Essential Apps, including ArcGIS InstantApps and Web App Builder. You will also receive an additional 500 credits. ESRI charges customers credits to store data, transact, and run reports in ArcGIS Online. They charge hourly, according to their [credits website](http://go.esri.com/credits). The GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) license, costs **$30 per month** or **$25 per month** if purchased annually. The volume discount for additional licenses is great for budget conscious organizations. [GIS Cloud’s pricing model](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) is **transparent**, with costs presented up front. This includes their [services](https://www.giscloud.com/services/), such as [custom forms](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/) curated specifically for your needs. ESRI charges credits every time you run a form out of Survey123. ![transparent cost model](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/gis-cloud-pricing.png) ## Conclusion Both options will get the job done. But if you haven’t tried one, each has its strengths: - ESRI’s Field Maps is best for GIS specialized companies that don’t plan to expand beyond the ESRI suite of tools - GIS Cloud’s [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) surpasses ESRI Field Maps for large-scale field data collection initiatives that necessitate either continuous, seasonal or temporary access to multiple licenses, catering to diverse projects or clients. Give both a try and see which one works best for you. If you decide to go with GIS Cloud, our solution consultants will be available to help you with [custom forms](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/) or your industry specific goals. Related content: How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Field Data Collection: Best Practices QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Field Maps with GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Preserving Archaeology in Rural Landscapes Using GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/preserving-archaeology-in-rural-landscapes-using-gis/) **Published:** June 15, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![conservation of historic rural project gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Preserving-Archaeology-in-Rural-Landscapes-using-GIS.png) You don’t have to be Indiana Jones to impact archaeology positively. You can be a student equipped with a smartphone. Selin Akdeğirmen Ercan is a Ph.D. candidate from the [Yildiz Technical University](https://webarsiv.yildiz.edu.tr/). For her thesis, she focused on documenting and preserving historic sites in a rural Turkey region. Using GIS Cloud, she set off for the mountainous regions of Antalya, Turkey. ## **The Mission of the Project** Selin’s thesis project aimed to document and develop conservation proposals for historical findings. Her area of concentration is where the Taurus mountains and the plains of the Elmali valley meet. This area was specifically chosen due to the need for more archaeological efforts. It has required citizen efforts to map and preserve the region’s history. The area was a key establishment of the ancient Lycia province. It served as a trading post on the Lycian Way trading route. It connected the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. The rural villages of Elmali, like others in the Antalya region, contain a history dating back to the Bronze Age. Documenting the historic sites was the first step in preserving that history. ## **Challenges of Preserving Historic Structures** Protecting archaeological finds is challenging under the best circumstances. These old structures scattered in Elmali need cataloging and digital preservation. Past documentation efforts were conducted using hand drawn paper maps. These efforts proved to be time consuming and challenging due to the large project scale, an area of over 340,00 acres. Efforts in the past drew every structure in the area by hand. The drawings included the buildings and the existing identifying features. Expanding these noble attempts to over 10 villages produced piles of unorganized documents. Even though organized, the challenges remained. The documents could not be shared between colleagues without large scanners and printers. Mail also delays the frequent collaboration required for unearthing additional information. These challenges could be solved with the right piece of equipment and technology. Being in a remote location requires the ability to [function properly offline](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-mapping-and-data-collection/). Moving beyond pen and parchment to using the latest GIS technology on their smartphones was critical for documenting, cataloging, photographing, and ultimately preserving the important history left by the region’s people. ## **GIS Solution** Archaeological conservation efforts begin with documenting what exists in the area. Mapping data on the go with accuracy and reliability was crucial. Selin decided to use GIS Cloud’s online GIS solutions because, as she discovered, it “is the most convenient, easy, and fast platform for carrying out digital documentation.” ![paperless gis data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/pen-and-paper-to-gis.png) She knew she would be using Map Editor for editing maps and layers. With the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app on her smartphone, she would be collecting data. The ability for reliable [**offline use**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-mapping-and-data-collection/) was especially important since cell service can be spotty in the Elmali area. ![mobile data collection features](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Capture-Data-Offline.png) After making the 700 mile trip from the university to Elmali in southwest Turkey, Selin was ready to capture data. On the MDC app, she captured building outlines and locations. In some locations, she had to hand draw. In others, she would stake the corners and drop points. ![mobile data collection gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/collect-attributes-of-buildings.png) The application then collected the attributes of the building. This included: - Village Name - Location - Type - Material - Year Built - Owner Info - Photos of the structure If you are not an English speaker, don’t fear! GIS Cloud apps are [available in many languages](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/form-translations-new-feature-release/), including Spanish, German, Japanese, French, and many others. Selin created her forms in Turkish. After completing the field data collection, the data was synced to the MDC Portal. This updated the data with any offline data collected. Back in the office, the shapefiles could also be viewed in the [**Map Edito**r](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). ![data aerial imagery gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/shapefiles-map-editor.png) In the [**Map Edito**r](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), last minute edits could be made. If any features were mapped incorrectly, Selin was able to improve the data and align it to the latest aerial imagery. All the data is now ready to be used for the next step: Creating proposals on the best methods for preserving the structures. The data can now also be exported into [**custom forms for reporting**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/). ![MDC portal features datagrid](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/data-aerial-imagery.png) ## **Conclusion** After completing her thesis, Selin plans to expand the documentation project and share the data with others. The data can be shared and collaborated on within a [**custom GIS Cloud portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). A portal gives others access to the GIS data on a worldwide scale. There are archaeological efforts across Turkey and the world. GIS Cloud solutions can bring all these discoveries together for collaboration and analysis. If you want to learn more about GIS Cloud and our solutions, sign up for our [**free 14 day trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). You can use our premium tools to map and share your historical findings with friends and colleagues across the globe. Related content: GIS in Archaeology: Mapping Roman and Byzantine Ruins (Case Study) Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Cemetery Map: Creating Online Burial Records of Maori Tribe (New Zealand) QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) Collect data in only 5 steps! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Streamline Reporting with GIS Cloud Custom Reports](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/streamline-reporting-with-gis-cloud-custom-reports/) **Published:** June 8, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS custom reporting](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/reports.png) Imagine it is that time of year again. Your quarterly reports to the government are due. Your field biologists have been working hard to collect the necessary field data all season. Rain or shine, they were out there inventorying nesting bird data. But now it’s time to organize the data for reporting. At the moment, it looks like a bird’s nest. The data is in your GIS, but how will you get a year’s worth of records into the state’s reports? Don’t waste more time manually copying the information from your GIS into the report. With GIS Cloud Services’ **Custom Reports**, you can automate the process. ## What’s the problem? Collecting field data becomes easy when you need to organize and present your data. The data looks excellent in your attribute tables in your GIS system. All the fields are organized and can easily be analyzed. But you need to take all those months of data collection and bring them into a standardized report. The agency you are reporting wants this information but not that information. The agency requesting the data needs the data entered into their report per their expectations. Organizing your reports can be a trial-and-error experience. Other workflows make it challenging to get it correct quickly. Other GIS systems charge for exporting data into custom reports. If they don’t charge cash, they will charge you in their own software currency. You need to export all the data in bulk; you can’t afford to mess up and try again for the hundreds of records you need to process. ![map editor pdf report](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/green-air.png) Manually transferring the data is out of the question. The deadline is two days, and you want to maintain accurate data. ## GIS Cloud Services Solution The solution you need is brought to you by [**GIS Cloud Services**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/). We can work with you to create the custom report you need. We will charge you a flat fee to develop the tool. The fee depends on the report’s complexity. Our custom reports can bring in your date, time, location on a map, numbers, text fields, and photos. Working with one of our talented developers, we will ensure your data populates the correct entry box on the page you need. ## Design Workflow Starting a conversation with our team is step #1. From there, our team will work with you to develop the right reports. After establishing the custom report design-build, our skilled developers will modify the reports to incorporate your data into the “Report” tool. Finally, in your company’s custom GIS Cloud portal, you will have your “Report” tool. Here is an example of a sample report for tree inspections around the city. ![custom design](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Asset-Inspection-Report.png) This report consolidates the information for an easy-to-read work order report. The information is clearly presented to all the parties. The report can include the photos the [**Mobile Data Collection app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) captured in the field. ![GIS Cloud Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Asset-Inspection-Report-Signature.png) ## Conclusion Reach out to us before it’s too late. Your deadline for that report is coming up quickly. Our team will do the heavy lifting while you point out where you want your data to go. Simple as that. To begin, please get in touch with our team of experts by [**contacting us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/), and we will promptly get back to you. Let’s streamline your reporting process and get you back into the field. Related content: Roadworks Solution: Damage and Maintenance Reports for the City of Amsterdam Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API Custom Popup Style and Grafana Integration Mini School: Custom Applications New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Summer Bootcamp: Unleash Your Geospatial Potential!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-summer-bootcamp-unleash-your-geospatial-potential/) **Published:** June 1, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Geospatial Potential Course](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Summer-Bootcamp.jpg) Are you ready to take your GIS Cloud expertise to the next level? Look no further! We are thrilled to announce new dates for our GIS Cloud Advanced Course! Taking place in early July, the **GIS Cloud Summer Bootcamp** is an intensive, **2-day online event** designed to help you unlock your geospatial potential. Whether you’re a seasoned user or a novice familiar with the fundamentals but looking to take your workflows to the next level, this course is the perfect opportunity to **sharpen your skills and gain a deeper understanding of GIS Cloud’s powerful tools.** The GIS Cloud Summer Bootcamp is an immersive learning experience that combines expert-led instruction and hands-on exercises. Here’s what you can expect: **Day 1: Mastering GIS Cloud Essentials (4h)** On the first day, we will delve into the core features and functionalities of GIS Cloud – an overview of the fundamentals will help you develop a solid foundation. Seasoned users will be able to refresh their knowledge and discover advanced tips and tricks to enhance their workflows while we cover geospatial data management, visualization, and collaboration challenges. **Day 2: Unleashing the Power of GIS Cloud (4h)** On the second day, we will dive deeper into GIS Cloud’s advanced capabilities, empowering you to leverage its full potential. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, you will gain practical experience solving complex geospatial challenges by learning more about integrations with desktop GIS tools and advanced web app customizations. **DATE AND TIME:** July 11 – 12, 2023 3 PM – 7 PM CEST // 9 AM – 1 PM EDT // 8 AM – 12 PM (noon) CDT **Who Should Attend?** The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is the perfect opportunity for individuals who have a solid grasp of GIS Cloud basics but are eager to **enhance their workflow** and maximize their toolset. Whether you want to **improve efficiency, explore new tools, accelerate your results, or even pursue GIS Cloud certification**, this course is tailored to meet your needs. **SPECIAL OFFER until June 21! Course price – $195** Regular course price – $295 **Become a certified expert!** Upon completion of the course, you can obtain a **GIS Cloud Certificate**. To receive it, you’ll need to complete a written exam with a practical assignment within the three months following the course completion. The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is primarily designed for existing premium clients with some experience using the GIS Cloud platform. Please get in touch if you’d like to see if this is the right course for you! To register, send us an email to [**education@giscloud.com**](mailto:education@giscloud.com)! Seats are limited, so make sure you **register ASAP** – make sure to take advantage of it! Please find more information about the course, schedule, and topics we cover in our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-advanced-courses/), or contact us at with any questions about the program. We look forward to seeing you there! Related content: GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Becoming a GIS Cloud Pro: December Advanced Courses INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry **Categories:** Blog --- ### [AI Meets GIS: Reshaping Data Analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/ai-meets-gis-reshaping-data-analysis/) **Published:** May 25, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![gis AI spatial analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Artificial-Intelligence.png) Artificial intelligence has recently hit the mainstream with tools like [OpenAI’s ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com/) and [Midjourney](https://www.midjourney.com/). These AIs are improving workflows worldwide. GIS and spatial analysis have now integrated AI into their systems. With the latest developments in AI, you can leverage GIS and AI together. We will explore how AI can use GIS and its data to perform important tasks. ## Data Analysis Data analysis refers precisely to interpreting and assessing data sets, much as its name suggests. By scrutinizing these data sets, valuable insights and patterns can be uncovered. Artificial Intelligence (AI), however, has the potential to enhance this process even more. AI can perform advanced, in-depth data analysis rapidly and at scale, providing complexity and efficiency that would be challenging for traditional methods to match. Using AI to analyze GIS data can help you better understand large datasets. In GIS, transportation authorities can analyze traffic flow data to understand traffic behavior better. Using an AI can answer the following questions: - What specific portions of the road experience traffic jams? - Is there a problem related to road design? - What are the frequent causes of traffic? - What time of day, month, or year does traffic occur? - What are the conditions of good traffic flow? - Would controlling the on-ramp with traffic lights improve flow? - When would construction have the least impact on traffic? - Are there environmental factors impacting traffic or road conditions? These questions can all be answered with AI. For visualizing the data, [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) can present the source [data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-the-different-data-types/), or you can share your analysis in a [custom data portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). While AI can be used for your analysis, an online GIS solution can be your data management system. GIS Cloud can be used to present your AI’s discovered trends and patterns. ## Image Recognition Image recognition or object detection is becoming a frequent application of AI. Numerous businesses across various sectors harness object detection for a variety of purposes. In the automotive industry, for example, image recognition is utilized in vehicles through onboard cameras for object detection with the help of a neural network. These cameras gather real-time imagery, and the trained neural network identifies elements such as other cars, pedestrians, speed limit signs, and lane markings around the vehicle. This data enables the vehicle to make decisions based on its surroundings and paves the way for fully autonomous vehicles. In the field of environmental conservation, object detection is employed uniquely. It uses drone imagery to classify invasive plant species. The process begins with capturing images using a drone, although other types of imagery, such as satellite or aerial surveys, can also be used. The trained AI then identifies the invasive plant species, providing the biologist with the location and area covered by the invasive plants. Moreover, these AI systems can be trained to recognize structures, road features, or land use directly from the imagery. Computing the volume of a pile of material can be a complex task. However, with the aid of AI and an automated workflow, volume calculations can be achieved swiftly. In such applications, drones capture images from various angles to identify the material’s extent, depth, and height. Then, AI calculates the volume and other characteristics of the material. GIS data is often used to train these models. In [GIS Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), the attributes and spatial properties of the training data of these models can be created. By improving your GIS data, your AI model will improve as it feeds more accurate training data. ![gis cloud tool for building and sharing maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Editor-1200-x-632.png) ## Network Optimization Networks exist all over the world. They exist as [road systems](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) connecting cities, people, and industries. Underneath these surface networks are miles of [utility networks](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-water-utilities/) and other crucial infrastructure. Networks can also exist in single buildings, such as wastewater treatment plants and electric power plants. These networks rely on efficiency and predictability. Once simplified, they can be viewed as points and lines. Each represents an important feature in their network. Step number one is to design, create, and manage the features. This is where GIS comes in. In GIS Cloud, the features can be created to engineering standards with the important attributes associated. Points representing valves, connections, or traffic lights can stop flows or serve as transition points. The lines of the network show the flow and connectivity. Their attributes can represent the speed, volume, starting and ending inverted elevations of the pipes, or other linear features. This information describes how things move throughout the network. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MacBook-Mockup-Viewer-Electric-s.png) After creating these features in GIS Cloud, they can be moved into an AI model. Within an AI model, the possibilities are endless. You can simulate real-life events. Simulating a pipe bursting or planned construction can be used to understand how to work around these inconveniences. With a pipe failure, the AI model can identify which valves need to be shut off to isolate the issue. During a construction simulation, the modifications can be tested on the system at their most extreme capacities. This stress test can find problem areas in the system and show how the construction or improvements will impact the proposed fixes. Learning how to handle crises without the need to experience one is invaluable. The crises are only limited by your imagination. ## IOT Data Integration Internet of Things (IoT) devices are sensors or data collectors connected to the internet. These may be your home security system or home thermostat, your front door’s lock, or even your refrigerator. In many commercial industries, these devices are being integrated all over. They are used as traffic monitors, temperature gauges, access point monitors, water flow readers, [vehicle trackers](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/), and various health condition monitors. These IoT devices can be connected to an AI application that provides powerful solutions and predictive modeling. An AI application can detect anomalies, patterns, and potential failures in the systems of these IoT devices. These detections can identify problems, present the required solution and stay ahead of the issue. In farming applications, soil sample sensors can detect the amount of water and temperature of the ground. This can set off an automated response through an AI. The sensor provides the current state of the ground, and the AI collects that information and then makes an educated decision. The AI may look at the forecast of the area for rainfall. Finding no rainfall in the immediate forecast, the AI will start the irrigation process earlier and increase the flow to accommodate for the lack of rain. Traffic managers have been using AI technology to manage traffic flows. Sensors identify cars stopped at intersections and trigger the traffic lights to maintain a steady flow or pace cars to delay traffic jams at the next intersection. These IoT devices can use AI to make rapid and intelligent decisions. Using GIS to create accurate data tied to these devices can ensure the AI comprehensively understands the system involved. ## Site Optimization Location! Location! Location! Where you set up your next brick-and-mortar store for your business or where you decide to live can be answered with AI. Identifying these important locations can be done through different spatial analyses on GIS Cloud. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/raster-map-heat-map.jpg) Running a [buffer](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/buffer/) analysis within [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) will identify locations inside or outside the analysis areas. This is the beginning of the analysis required to find the best location to attract your customers. You can run this analysis on your parcel and zoning data. AI can expedite this process based on your GIS data. Analyzing your target customer’s demographics, proximity to locations, and existing competition will pinpoint where you need to focus your business. For house shopping, the AI can identify your forever home’s ideal location based on your criteria. It can find a home close to great schools for your children, an easy commute to work for you and your spouse, far away from the in-laws, but close enough to museums and parks that you know your family would enjoy. Supported by strong GIS data, an AI can perform a site optimization analysis to meet your location needs. ## Conclusion GIS has been around for many years, while AI is a developing and rapidly growing field. Combining the two of these powerful tools will unlock an infinite number of possibilities. GIS Cloud can be a great tool for preparing your spatial data for AI. Signing up for a [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) gets you all the premium features included with our [Map Editor packages](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/). If you have any GIS Cloud or AI integration questions, our solution consultants are available to help you succeed. Related content: Mini School: Data Analysis Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid Telecom Digitization, Service Coverage and Gap Analysis STOP Corona! Crowdsourcing App Uses Heatmap Analysis to Predict Coronavirus Outbreaks Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Datagrid Reinvented - Powerful New Filters & Customizations!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/datagrid-reinvented-powerful-new-filters-customizations/) **Published:** May 18, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud upgrade release](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Datagrid-Filters.png) This is HUGE. You’ve been waiting for this. It will change how you work with Data. We are so excited to share that a **major release is out – a new Datagrid!** It comes packed with **powerful filters**, including date range and other queries, neat table view customizations to help you easily analyze and consume data, report options, and much more. In GIS software, along with the map, the datagrid (or the attribute table) is a fundamental part of your toolbox. It lets you view data from your map layer in a table format and helps you organize and navigate it. You don’t always have the option to display all the information visually on the map, so it’s essential to have a way to quickly access *all* *the attribute values* associated with geographic features represented on the map. The new version of GIS Cloud **Datagrid** enables you to manage your data on a whole new level. It empowers you to explore, understand, and leverage the information hidden in your dataset. So what’s new? ## **Take advantage of powerful New Filters** No more scrolling through the endless rows of data, checking for dates and inspection statuses! The new filtering options allow you to quickly search through your datasets and **define which data is displayed** on the map and in the data table according to your query or a combination of multiple queries (filters). ![filter map attributes](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-and-Datagrid.png) More sophisticated filters allow combining different attribute values you want to include in your results. Just add another expression (query) utilizing the **AND** and **OR** operators to narrow down your results further and quickly find what you are looking for You can also **filter based on time** more efficiently, using predefined choices or by setting up a custom timeframe. ![combining different attribute values](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Filter-Datagrid.png) Filter now use autocomplete for faster workflow, and you don’t have to worry about using caps lock or not. The new filter is not case-sensitive and works smoothly with different inputs. ## **Save your filtered data as Custom Views!** Boost your workflow tremendously by creating and saving custom data views according to filtered results! Once you have filtered your data using desired conditions, save your results as a custom view. There are many possibilities to filter data, and you can **save as many custom Views as you want**>. You can also select specific data records in the table, turn on the “Show only selected” option, and save this as a new View. ![visible on the map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Datagrid-views.png) What is even better, you can **open multiple** saved Views in different tabs and easily **switch between results** for quicker insights! Your saved Views will be visible to other users with access to your layers, so you can easily collaborate and better understand the data you’re working with. Saved Views will also change what’s visible on the map, so you don’t have to rely on the appearance settings alone. ![new upgrade](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Datagrid-manage-views.png) ## **Export and Report data that match your filters** After you have filtered your data, you can easily Export or Report the entire View – the part of your dataset that precisely matches the filters you set up. Also, you can select only several features in the table and Export or Report only those records. ![data that match filters](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Datagrid-Report-_-Export.png) ## **Data Table Customizations** The new Datagrid now includes a Settings option to quickly find specific data attributes and decide whether this column should be visible or hidden in your table. This customization will help you cut down the noise and display only relevant data for your current assignments or decisions you have to make. ![Table Columns Filter](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Datagrid-Customize.png) Give the new filters a try, and for more information, read the [detailed guide here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/datagrid-filtering/). Don’t have an account? No problem – [start here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)! As always, we look forward to your thoughts on our newest features, so email us at . Related content: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud Improving Workflows in Telecom Industry – Sotetel (Use Case) Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud And The Different Data Types](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-the-different-data-types/) **Published:** May 11, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![forms file types](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GIS-Data-Types.png) GIS data comes in many forms and file types. Making sure your GIS platform is compatible with the different types is important. Clients and data providers may send you the information in all forms, from shapefiles, to KMLs, to Excel tables with coordinates. We will go over some of the GIS data types, and at the end, we will walk you through how simple it is to import them into GIS Cloud. ## What are the different GIS file types? The two spatial GIS data types are vector and raster data. The two data types cover satellite imagery, parcels, utility lines, and traffic signs. Vector data stores coordinate information in the form of points, lines, and polygons. These are simple and easy objects to visualize. They can also exist and be presented in 3D. Raster data is a set of cells in the form of a grid. Satellite or drone images of the Earth are raster data. Each cell of the image continues a value(s) that contains information. The information of each of these cells can be used to symbolize the grid to make it user friendly. The RGB values of a satellite image are used to properly colorize the features so they can be identified. For a weather radar map of a hurricane, that may be the wind speed or amount of precipitation measured in a specific cell of the grid. Being able to work smoothly with this data will give you and your clients confidence. Here is a list of data types GIS Cloud is capable of importing through the [Database Manager](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/database-manager/): - **Spatial Vector files**: .shp, .mif, .mid, .tab, .kml, .gpx, .dxf, SQLite - **Spatial Raster files**: .tif, .tiff, .jpg, .png, .gif, .img, .sid, .jp2 - **Image files**: .jpg, .gif, .swf, .png, .img, .ecw, .sid, .jp2 - **Excel 2003 and CSV**: .csv and .xls ## What are Shapefiles? Shapefiles contain vector data. They can be used to represent cities, countries, or rivers. They exist as a group of files with unique extensions, including: - **SHP:** This is the main file that contains the geographic features - **SHX:** An index of the features in the shapefile - **DBF:** Contains the attribute information of the features (example: city names, pipe diameters, area of a parcel) - **PRJ:** This files contains the coordinate system information of the data You may find a XML, SBN, or SBX file as well. The **XML** contains the metadata and while the other improves the speed of queries on the data. Metadata is the contextual information of a dataset. It is crucial to understanding spatial but is underutilized. It can store the data source, date, original author, explain the schema, and any additional information that would help someone other than the original author understand the spatial and attribute data. It is important to keep all the files of a shapefile together. Oftentimes, they are delivered as zipped files or stored together in their own folder. They are great, as they can be analyzed in the GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). ![gis cloud tool for building and sharing maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-Editor-1200-x-632.png) The limiting factor of shapefiles is their file size. They are limited to a size of 2 GB. That can still store hundreds of thousands of records. ## What is a KML? A KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is a vector data file that stores spatial information as an XML file. This allows data sharing between different applications. The data is stored in a tag based structure with nested attributes per the XML standard. A KMZ is a zipped version of the KML. KMLs usually originate from Google Earth. When they are exported, they can be saved as a KML or KMZ. Bringing the file into GIS Cloud will allow you to analyze the data. These files contain coordinates as defined by WGS 84. KMLs are a powerful geospatial file type. They can store points, lines, and polygons. The data can be displayed in a 3D environment, like GIS Cloud. ## What is a TIFF or GeoTIFF? A TIFF is an image type. A GeoTIFF is an image that is georeferenced to a coordinate system. Both of these are rasters. And they contain a lot of useful information. They can be satellite images, vegetation health images, or digital surface models. This Geotiff from the [USGS](https://www.usgs.gov/) shows the landscape of a region, including the topography and waterways. These data sources can serve as a basemap for your data. Clients, like [InfraTrace](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/road-maintenance-webinar-gis-and-power-bi-integration/), can use these data sources for their analysis. They can identify low points in the terrain and identify patterns in road erosion. Using a DSM, or digital surface model, as a basemap can show you where buildings are collected. The data can be mapped from the office with high accuracy and precision. The [best maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cool-maps-by-gis-cloud-users/) combine raster and vector data to tell a more complete story. ## Can GIS Cloud work with CSV or XLS tables? Yes, GIS Cloud can work with CSV and XLS tables. The tables can easily be formatted to fit the import function. The import function will hold all of the attributes and schema of the table. If there are WGS84 coordinates in the table, they can be mapped as points in the map. You can also map lines and polygons using this same method. This quick 3-minute video walks you through the process of uploading a table into GIS Cloud. Importing a table is simple in GIS Cloud. Within minutes, you can have your locations mapped. From there, you can create a project for your field crews using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. ## How do you import the different data types into GIS Cloud? The process of importing these different data types is easy. There are multiple methods you can use to upload the data. In [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), you can select the “+” symbol to open the data source manager. At the top of the screen, you can select Upload, then select “+Add Files”. ![GIS data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Layer_list.png) A file directory window will open. From here, navigate to the dataset you want to add to the database or map. This can be a shapefile, KML, TIFF, CSV, or XLSX file. After double-clicking on the data, the window will close, and the file will be uploaded. Closing the window will take you back to the Source Browser window. In the Source Browser window, double-click the layer you want to add to the map. The data will be added as a layer to the map. In the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), you can edit the layer properties by selecting the three dots at the end of the line of the layer in the table of contents. You can edit the symbology styling of the vector data. You can change the layer properties for raster data as well. You can change which band is rendered and customize the color ramp. In the render tab, you can change the raster interpolation method to best fit your map. Our Knowledge Base has a guide for [How to upload your data to GIS Cloud](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-upload-your-data-to-gis-cloud/) and many other tips and tools. Uploading CSV or XLS can be more complicated, as it needs to be organized. Here is a guide on [how to organize and import your tables into GIS Cloud](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-upload-your-csv-xls/), and the video above is a great resource as well. ![import map editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map-tab-import-CSV-1.png) The table will need simple formatting, and if it is a CSV, it will need UTF-8 encoding. After uploading the table into GIS Cloud, you will be able to decide which fields you would like to keep and identify which fields to use for the coordinates. ![GIS Cloud files](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CSV_import-609x1024-1.png) After that, you can add the table as a layer to your map. ![GIS Editor layers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Map.png) Mapping coordinates is a common request. With GIS Cloud, you can go from table to mapped points in a minutes. ## Conclusion GIS data can come in a number of data types. Using an affordable GIS solution compatible with many of these is important and will save you money from purchasing multiple data processing software. You and your team won’t experience data loss due to incompatibles when using GIS Cloud. If you have any GIS or spatial data that you need to move into an online GIS solution, sign up for our [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). During this trial, you’ll be able to import your data and access all the premium tools. Our Solution Consultants can set up a call and guide you through the process should you have any issues. Our [Knowledge Base](https://manual.giscloud.com/) is always available and includes guides to our features and tools. Related content: Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-custom-dashboard-using-the-gis-cloud-api/) **Published:** October 21, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** *Author:* [*Marko Polovina*](https://www.giscloud.com/team/marko-polovina/)*, Frontend Developer at GIS Cloud* [![custom dashboard](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Cover.png) Spatial planning can be hard without a **dashboard application** where we can **connect our map with filters, graphs and tables**. Using GIS Cloud API in the Map Portal application we will show you how to create your custom dashboard and enable better data overview and spatial planning! For our example, we created a custom dashboard to **analyze** **traffic signs inspection and repair**. Take a look at the final result: What we wanted to get from our Dashboard application is a clear display of faulty traffic signs, what is the defect, and the average number of months needed to repair a sign. With that information, we can **make informed decisions and optimize work processes**. Before we start, take a look at [our developer’s site](https://docs.giscloud.com/) and [GIS Cloud JavaScript API documentation](https://docs.giscloud.com/docs/javascript-getting-started). ## How to start creating your custom dashboard Create a **list of components** that you want to have in the dashboard and envision what you expect as the final result. Don’t be afraid to draw your dashboard, be creative! In our example we decided to have 4 different components on the left side (filters, aggregate numbers, graph and table), map on the right, and a small custom legend. The final result is below. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-1.png) Don’t put too much data in your dashboard, use clean design and make it usable. You can use your own HTML and CSS, just load those files in the Map Portal app and use them in your dashboard. Now, [set up your Map Portal app](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/map-portal-starting-page/). To be able to do so, you will need to first upload data and [create a map](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/create-a-new-map-and-learn-basic-tools/) in GIS Cloud Map Editor. Then, go to the **App builder** application and [build your map portal](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/) using created maps. If you need additional instructions on how to create your own Map Portal take a look at [this example](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) directly. When your Map Portal is up, your map is populated with data, and you are done with the initial portal customization and branding, it’s time to start coding. Add [D3.js](https://d3js.org/) library to your Map Portal together with (for now empty) app.js, app.css and init.js files. Add an empty folder named ‘views’ where you can put your HTML files. Go to [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/) and open the Apps tab from the Dashboard. Find your Map Portal from the Apps list, click on Edit, open the Advanced tab, scroll down and Open app folder. Upload your D3.js library to the Source Browser. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Source-Browser.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Source-Browser.png) In the [app.json file](https://docs.giscloud.com/apps/configuration) (which is created automatically once you have opened your portal in the App Builder and saved the changes), we can load all JavaScript and CSS files. Configuration for the dashboard is basic. ``` { "responsive": true, "scripts": { "namespace": "gc", "init": ["d3/d3.js", "init.js"], "setup": [] }, "styles": ["style.css"] } ``` ## Filters In the init.js file first create basic elements of the dashboard. Then load filters to, in our case, ***dashboard-left-content*** element. Every filter has a configuration where you can set layer id, filter type, column name, label, etc. ``` var filter = new giscloud.ui.LayerFilterForm($("#dashboard-left-content"), { filterDef: [ { layer_id: config.signLayerId, items: [ { type: "DATA_FILTER_DROPDOWN", column: "sign_status", label: "Traffic sign status", no_filter: "", multiselect: true, autofetch: true, relevantValues: false, items: [{ value: "", label: "" }], }, ], }, { layer_id: config.workLayerId, items: [ { type: "DATA_FILTER_DROPDOWN", column: "area", label: "Work order: Area",aggrega no_filter: "", multiselect: false, autofetch: true, relevantValues: false, items: [{ value: "", label: "" }], }, ], }, { layer_id: config.workLayerId, items: [ { type: "DATA_FILTER_DROPDOWN", column: "job_type", label: "Work order: Job type", no_filter: "", multiselect: false, autofetch: true, relevantValues: false, items: [{ value: "", label: "" }], }, ], }, ], gcdatagrid: window.gcdatagrid, viewer: giscloud.ui.map, }); ``` ## Aggregate numbers In our example, traffic signs inspection and their repair, we wanted to know **how long it takes to repair a sign**. We decided to display that number in months, as the average value for all signs. In feature data there is a number *month\_reported* and *month\_done*. The difference between these two numbers will give us the number of months for one sign. At the end, we will count the average number by using all feature data. ``` var monthDiff, monthDiffSum = 0, counter = 0, monthDone, monthReported; features.map(function (val, num) { if (val.data.month_done && val.data.month_reported) { monthDone = parseInt(val.data.month_done); monthReported = parseInt(val.data.month_reported); monthDiff = monthDone - monthReported > 0 ? monthDone - monthReported : monthDone + 12 - monthReported; monthDiffSum = monthDiffSum + monthDiff; counter = counter + 1; } }); $("#dashboard-right-content-panel-2 .loader").remove(); $("#dashboard-right-content-panel-2").append( " " + (monthDiffSum / counter).toFixed(2) + "", ); ``` ## Graphs For graphs we use D3.js. In our last developer [blog post](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/spatial-visualization-with-animated-graphs-using-gis-cloud-map-portal-and-d3-js/) we talked about GIS Cloud and D3.js integration and how to create animated graphs combining two API’s. Our graphs example is available at . Now we want to show you how easy it is to get all layer styles in one object and then use that object to paint D3.js graphs. ``` var groupStyle = {}; giscloud.ui.map.layersLoading.done(function (layers) { layers.map(function (layer) { if (layer.styles) { layer.styles.map(function (style) { if (!style.label) { return; } groupStyle[style.label] = style; }); } }); }); ``` In the Editor app you can change the color of the layer by using color picker and writing HEX value. As a result, we have a color-rich graph that is easy to understand. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custtom-Dashboard-Graph.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custtom-Dashboard-Graph.png) ## Table To populate the custom table with data, we need to go through all the features by layer id and then append feature attributes in table columns. Since this table will be filled with faulty traffic signs, we don’t want a *Good* sign status. ``` giscloud.features .byLayer(config.signLayerId) .done(function (features) { features.map(function (val) { if ( val.data.sign_status && val.data.sign_status !== "Good" ) { $("#dashboard-accordion-two-collapse tr") .last() .data("feature", val) .click(tableSelect) .append( "" + val.data.sign_code || "" + "", "" + val.data.sign_position || "" + "", "" + val.data.sign_status || "" + "", ); } }); }); ``` Table template is stored in the ‘views’ folder where you can upload your HTML files. Loading those files can be done in app.json file or in JS, like JQuery *load* method. ## Legend Using the same *groupStyle* object from the graph example, it is possible to create legend with icons in layer colors. This will help users to better understand and analyze the data. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Legend.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Custom-Dashboard-Legend.png) ## Final thoughts In this blog post, we showed you how you can customize your Map Portal and **build a feature-rich map dashboard** that enables **better spatial planning**. Using Map Portal you can develop any element and create your own product. Find our custom dashboard example [here](https://dashboard.giscloud.com/). Also, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) if you have any questions, comments or maybe ideas for a new development example. And if you need any help with development, take a look at our new [Services page](https://www.giscloud.com/services/). Happy coding! Related content: Streamline Reporting with GIS Cloud Custom Reports Mini School: Custom Applications New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** custom app, Map Portal --- ### [Using GIS for Vegetation Management in Electric Utility](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-for-vegetation-management-in-electric-utility/) **Published:** March 30, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![electric utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GIS-Vegetation-Utility.png) **Managing vegetation around power lines** is a significant challenge for electric utilities worldwide. Overgrown vegetation can cause power outages, fires and even endanger public safety. Traditional vegetation management methods, such as pen and paper inspections, are often time-consuming and costly. However, **GIS technology** can help electric utilities efficiently manage vegetation, allowing for a more proactive approach to maintenance. Furthermore, an online GIS can streamline vegetation management efforts, ensuring optimal results and **minimizing the risk of outages due to vegetation-related issues.** In this webinar, we discussed the common challenges electric utilities face in vegetation management and how GIS can provide solutions to these problems through developing effective **vegetation management plans, tracking and reporting vegetation growth, and monitoring weather events’ impact as storms and wildfires**. Check out this webinar recording and see how GIS technology can help electric utilities efficiently manage vegetation around power lines, minimizing the risk of outages and ensuring optimal results. We also welcome you to [**create your new account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) **and try the GIS Cloud platform**. Our Solution Consultants are here to help you find the optimal solution, so [don’t hesitate to reach out](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)! Related content: Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording GIS For Vegetation Management Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Vegetation Management --- ### [Landslide Prediction Mapping for Safe Housing and Construction Planning Using GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landslide-prediction-mapping-for-safe-housing-and-construction-planning-using-gis/) **Published:** May 6, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-cover-s.png) **Landslides** in the Kivu region (DRC, Africa) caused significant **socio-economic destruction** and have highly impacted the population. BEGE-RDC, a nonprofit organization, integrated its desktop and online workflow and created a **heatmap** **with** **GIS Cloud** **apps** that would emphasize the hotspots of the landslides and help predict **development risks** of this region. How can mapping landslides with GIS Cloud help reduce people’s vulnerability living in habitats susceptible to natural disasters? Let’s find out! **Case study outline:** - Choosing the right solution to achieve projects goals - The urban consequences of landslide risks - Main goals and project objectives - Mapping landslide susceptibility - Predicting landslides to facilitate risk management - Mobile Data Collection is Key - Replacing paper with technology - Integrating desktop and online workflow to create landslide heatmap - The benefits of cloud solutions in the GIS workflow ## **Choosing the right solution to achieve projects goals** The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in general, and the Kivu region, are facing severe **landslide risks** which are causing significant economic, infrastructural and development issues at the local level. Between 2010 and 2015, landslides caused the **death of 134 people**, **destruction of 700 homes** and **4 schools** in the province of South Kivu**.** Our GIS Day Contest winners**,** [**BEGE-RDC**](http://www.bege-rdc.org/) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization headquartered in the city of Bukavu where the project originated. They are an organization member of the [UN Sustainable Development Solution Network.](https://www.sdsnyouth.org/) BEGE-RDC recognized the benefits of GIS in order to map landslides and create a heatmap with the help of GIS Cloud apps. They aim to contribute to the rational management of natural resources, the protection of the environment and the management of natural risks (forecasting and prevention) in the DRC. Main activities concern research, expertise, advice and training in the field related to geology and the environment. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-1.jpg) Their contribution made the South Kivu region a much safer setting to live in and plan future economic and infrastructure development. **There are three key GIS Cloud features BEGE-RDC highlights as the most beneficial for their workflow:** - Form editing (option to edit and sync Mobile Data Collection questionnaires) - Sharing data - Real-time heatmap > GIS-based solutions are essential for managing problems related to natural hazards. GIS makes it possible to make a spatial analysis of the vulnerability, hazard and public perception of risks*.* > > *Jean Nacishali (BEGE-RDC)* BEGE-RDC continues to contribute to the rational management and protection of natural resources with an emphasis on forecasting and prevention of natural risks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ## **The Urban Consequences of Landslide Risks** ### Main goals and project objectives Until now there wasn’t much spatial information considering landslides in this region that would inform and help South Kivu’s population on where and how to prevent the risks of landslides. Therefore, a good understanding of the perception of the population on risks, awareness and knowledge of the risk is crucial for the development and improvement of risk management and communication strategies between local authorities and the population. In this way, the project aims to map the susceptibility to landslides using GIS techniques and to determine the people’s perception of this risk based on interview data in the Kivu region. The main goal was to: - Map the susceptibility to landslides - Create a heatmap Creating a heatmap with GIS Clouds Map Editor was based on two independent sources of data: **landslide survey data** and **interview data.** ### Mapping landslide susceptibility The landslide survey focused on getting the information from the leaders of the administrative entities on the frequency of landslides in the last 5 years (average number of slip recorded in the district per year) and the evolution of the slide for the last 30 years. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-Susceptibility-map-GIS-Cloud-3-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-Susceptibility-map-GIS-Cloud-3-1.jpg) *[Open and explore the Susceptibility map](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/1157065/mdc-perception-sur-les-glissements-de-terrain-dans-la-ville-de-bukavucopy)* For **landslide susceptibility mapping**, BEGE-RDC performed a detailed spatial analysis of landslide frequency over the last 5 years, spatial analysis of landslide evolution over the past 30 years and spatial analysis of the occurrence of landslides. For each of these analyses, they established a model that takes into consideration: - topographic and geological variables - vegetation density and cover - distance to roads - drainage networks - soil type - precipitation, etc. BEGE-RDC performed all these activities to predict the risk probability of landslides. The **main challenges** they faced were the **acquisition of data** and **financial resources** needed to cover the entire region. With the help of GIS Cloud apps and Services, BEGE-RDC collected all the relevant data amongst the South Kivu population eliminating paper surveys and reducing costs. They managed to create a representative map that would indicate the probability of **high-risk** **landslide** areas in order to help save future lives and plan safe infrastructure, construction and economic investments. ## **Predicting Landslides to Facilitate Risk Management** A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. The effects of landslides can be hazardous for the environment including the loss of human lives. **Landslides cause:** - property damage - water supplies pollution - forests devastation - road damage - human injuries, etc. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-examples.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-examples.jpg) The most **crucial** matters BEGE-RDC did are the preliminary studies on the **mapping** of different areas exposed to terrain instability regarding **landslides.** Being aware and understanding the risks of landslides was critical for the development and improvement of **risk management** and communication strategies between local authorities and the population. As mentioned before, landslides cause a tremendous economic loss and loss of many lives in the **Kivu** region. ### Mobile Data Collection is Key Using GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection (MDC)](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app to determine inhabited areas of Kivu region that are in a high risk of landslides, BEGE-RDC took into consideration that each individual perceives risks differently, depending on the resilience of the communities. They produced all the necessary **surveys and questionnaires**, helping them understand how people **perceive landslides risks.** To achieve this, they have created a form (questionnaire) containing data grouped into several categories including some required such as: - demographic data - perception of causes - consequences and preventive measure - risk communication - degree of fear [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-MDC-form-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-MDC-form-map.png) ### Replacing paper with technology During the data collection activities, the GIS Cloud **solution** allowed them to **replace paper questionnaires** with the **MDC** app. This made volunteer jobs much easier and accessible, further **reducing the cost** of data encoding. Right after volunteers collected the data, it was immediately available for processing. They did all of this using only their own smartphones! Thanks to all of the collected MDC data, a **risk perception index** was established based on the survey data: **Scale of risk perception **Aware of the cause of the landslide** **Fear of landslide** **Consider household at risk** **Willing to move to a safer location** **Index of risk**High-risk perceptionYesYesYesYes3Medium-risk perceptionYesYes/NoYes/NoYes/No2Low-risk perceptionYesNoNoNo1> *The MDC application, in particular, makes it possible to replace the methods of collecting survey data by paper with the smartphone application* *Jean Nacishali *(BEGE-RDC)** ## **Integrating desktop and online workflow to create landslide heatmap** This project made it possible to spatially present the level of perceptions of the respondents in relations to landslides. BEGE-RDC used the R software in order to perform a model of landslide occurrence according to factors of predisposition. Different categorical data (hydrological, topographic, human activity, etc.) that volunteers collected and prepared subsequently in QGIS as a raster image was later **processed and presented** spatially in GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-QGIS-GIS-Cloud-logo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-QGIS-GIS-Cloud-logo.jpg) *Now you can speed up your workflow using our new plugin,[ Publisher for QGIS ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/)to transfer your maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud.* The centroids of the landslide polygons were used to perform a **Heatmap analysis** in order to show the landslide hotspots, indicating where landslides are more recurrent! With **Map Editor** BEGE-RDC have been able to bridge the gap between desktop and online GIS software displaying spatial data in **real-time**. This way they made all the data beneficial and accessible to the public. > *GIS Cloud solutions make it possible to optimize the visualization of spatialized data. These mapping tools can be used by government organizations and civil society organizations to communicate the public’s perception of the risk.* *Jean Nacishali *(BEGE-RDC)** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-heatmap-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-heatmap-2.jpg) [*Open and explore the heatmap*](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/1234766/mdc-perception-sur-les-glissements-de-terrain-dans-la-ville-de-bukavuheatmap) ## **The Benefits of Cloud Solutions in GIS Workflow** **GIS Cloud** helped BEGE-RDC to collect data and perform spatial analysis of public perception and vulnerability of landslide risks in the Kivu region. Volunteers were able to perform surveys with people in **real time** replacing **outdated paperwork.** They increased work performance by **reducing operating costs** and decreasing human error using GIS Cloud apps. This way, they increased **data quality** that made them more **efficient**. Furthermore, the created exemplary **heatmap** in Map Editor conveys the perception of landslides risks helping future generations predict serious construction and economic problems including the loss of human lives. Mapping of environmental risks can be used in the context of **perception and prediction** of natural risks such as seismic, flood or anthropogenic risks. This kind of mapping will help in sensitizing local communities and **raise awareness** in future socio-economic planning purposes. GIS can directly help in the structuring of economic and population measures in those critical areas. In the future, they intend to use the achievements of this **pilot project** in the context of raising public awareness of landslides risk. They plan to extend the area of their project, assess the population’s perception of the risks in the different territory, produce landslide probability maps for each territory and make these maps available to the public. > *GIS-based solutions are essential for managing problems related to natural hazards.* > > *Jean Nacishali (BEGE-RDC)* Want to set up your own GIS workflow for construction planning or managing natural hazards? [Contact us.](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) Related content: Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions **Categories:** Blog, Construction, Non Profit, Use Cases **Tags:** cases study, data collection, environmental risks, GIS, heatmap, landslides, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, olninegis, qgis, risks --- ### [Addressing the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation Challenge](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/addressing-the-solomon-islands-postal-corporation-challenge/) **Published:** March 23, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![address database](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Solomon-Islands.png) The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation is undertaking a large challenging project. They are embarking on mapping and developing a National Address database for the country. This is a large-scale geospatial project, even for a country of only 700,000 people. There are many challenges in developing such a system, but having the support of an adaptive GIS online solution makes it much easier. ## The Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands are located in Oceania, northeast of Australia and east of Papua New Guinea. The country comprises 6 major islands and nearly 1 thousand small islands. Most of the population lives in rural areas across the larger 6 islands. The capital city, Honiara, is also the nation’s largest city, with a population of almost 100,00 people. Efforts to grow the small nation’s economy and tourism industry are underway. Many companies like the [Solomon Islands Postal Corporation](https://www.solomonpost.com.sb/) are investing in new technology like fintech, [EziPei](https://www.ezipei.com/), and expanding the reach of global e-commerce. ## Solomon Islands Postal Corporation The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation provides three major services: delivering packages, retail postal office services, and fintech, which uses wireless money transfers. The company is improving the postal delivery network to ensure any purchases from the United States and beyond can be delivered to the correct location on the islands. They are in the process of developing the **first-ever postal code for the Solomon Islands**. The team is looking to GIS and an online GIS solution like GIS Cloud to collect, organize, manage, and deliver that data to clients and decision-makers. ## Project Challenges The project challenges begin immediately from the project start. With such a large-scale project, investing in new technology-based services requires planning for the financial investment. Having access to [transparent pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) is important. Knowing your costs from the beginning allows you to plan with accurate numbers and budget as needed for the project. With the finances organized, the next step and challenge are identifying the key information that needs to be collected from the field. Working with a GIS Cloud solutions consultant, Solomon Islands Postal Corp has been able to develop a customized [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) form. The form captures extensive address information of buildings and residences. ![FID](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Central-Bank.jpg) The Solomon Islands project team expressed the need for aerial imagery as a basemap in their maps and data portals. An up-to-date aerial image gives viewers a sense of familiarity with where they are in the world. All this data must come together into a centralized data portal for decision-makers. The end result will need to be an easy-to-use portal for **non-GIS users** to make decisions based on the data presented. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide excellent customer service to their clients. By investing in developing an accurate National Address Database, the Solomon Islands Postal Corp has taken a leap in delivering even more reliable services to their clients. GIS Cloud has been there as they have faced these challenges and will continue to do so. ## Project Pricing Communication is important in every partnership. We at GIS Cloud believe strongly in that. Budgeting for a project like this can be difficult. The number of licenses may change as the project changes over time and more people join the effort. Pricing should be out in the open and easy for our customers and potential customers to see and calculate. No need to “Contact Sales for Pricing”. ![gis cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pricing.png) The Solomon Islands team is in the early stages of launching their effort, but having confidence in their costs makes moving forward easier for the project lead and their budget. By taking advantage of our [free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), the project team can understand what they will need regarding personnel and hardware for data collection. ## Field Data Collection The initial creation of the dataset is important in building a solid and reliable foundation that supports the project’s growth. The Solomon Island Postal Corporation signed up for a [free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) a while back. While working with one of our solution consultants, Domagoj, they created a [custom form](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-new-form-builder-overview-webinar-invite/) for the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. By investing time and energy in developing a comprehensive data collection form from the beginning, the returns will be immeasurable. ![building information](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/field-data-collection-form.png) ![FID mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/custom-form.png) Collecting an extensive amount of field data on buildings and address locations will pay off down the road. This massive effort will prevent second or third field data collection efforts in the near future. Customizing the data form allows the team to collect unique data to create the National Address Database. The field survey will capture fields like Ward ID, Ward Name, and Suburb. This on-the-ground data collection will create accurate and authentic boundaries of the areas. ## Aerial Imagery Maps with imagery are calming and bring immediate familiarity to an otherwise confusing environment. They help the viewer get oriented right away with easy-to-identify landmarks. In [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), under Tile Map Services, there are a number of different base map options. You can add street graphic-themed base maps or the latest satellite imagery from Bing or Mapbox. These base maps will be used in the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), as well as the [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) and [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). ## Geocoding Addresses Once the road network of the Solomon Islands has been created, the process of geocoding addresses can begin. Using GIS Cloud’s [Gecoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/), you can map address locations. Your addresses in a table can be accurately mapped in just a few steps. ![province data roads](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Solomon-Postal-Map.jpg) First, organize your data into columns before exporting it as an XLS (1997-2003) or CSV file. Next, drag the XLS or CSV file into GIS Cloud’s File Manager. Set the address values to the correct corresponding column in the table and then run the geocoder tool. The data will be mapped for you. You can export the layer as a shapefile, CSV, KML, or MapInfo file. The data layer can be pulled into the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for further analysis. ## Data Portal Bringing together GIS data for use by others is where GIS and good data shines. Once the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation has collected and mapped their data, they will create a customized [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). In the Map Portal, once Solomon Islands Postal Corp has finalized their field data and performed the necessary QA/QC, the data will be published and available to the public. The Map Portal can also include the geocoded address as a layer. The team will also be able to create regional boundaries from the Ward and Suburb information they collect. Boundaries can be shared with a few clicks to other industries and public organizations for collaboration. ## Customer Service The goal of Solomon Postal is to provide excellent service to their clients. They are set on achieving this goal by committing to collecting accurate data and sharing it with their clients. By sharing data with others, the data can be improved from feedback received from the public. Delivery services will become predictable and improve delivery efficiency. Just like Amazon and others, the Postal Corporation will be capable of providing faster deliveries to the right locations across all the islands. ## Conclusion While this blog post concludes here, Solomon Islands Postal Corporation’s journey is just beginning. The team is currently collecting field data and preparing to develop a customized Map Portal. Our [free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) was the jumpstart the Solomon Islands company needed to improve and grow their business operations. Our solution consultants are available to demonstrate how your project could benefit from using GIS Cloud. [Sign up for our free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and we will reach out to you and your team. Related content: Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica) Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Using GIS in Tourism – Tourist Map of Solta **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases --- ### [Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-water-taps-to-ensure-wash-infrastructure-and-safe-drinking-water-for-the-entire-population-of-kumba-cameroon/) **Published:** October 15, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Water](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-cover.png) Ensuring safe and clean water for the people across Africa is one of the greatest problems on the continent. Water sources are often miles from towns and villages, so people are forced to spend hours each day simply finding and transporting potable water back to their homes. In the city of **Kumba (Cameroon)**, displaced people settled in their farms **lack safe water access,** and most of them and their hosts are also facing an increased **risk of WASH-related diseases.** This **nonprofit project** is designed to **map water resources** using **online GIS and a data collection app,** to improve existing water points in Kumba (Cameroon) by making provisions of many outlets and rehabilitating the water points which are not functional, with the goal to increase access to safe potable water and **improve health conditions of the local population.** ### **Table of contents:** - [Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Related Diseases, Challenges and Goals](#wash) - [Collaboration between the Nonprofit Organisation and the Local Community](#collaboration) - [Strategy and Planning to Ensure Successful Mapping of Water Taps using Online GIS](#strategy) - [Field Data Collection and Financial Liability of Water Consumption](#data-collection) - [Militant Lockdown and COVID 19 Pandemic Slow Down the Project and NG4C Films a Documentary on Water Situation in Kumba](#lockdown) - [Providing Water Access Info to the Public with online Map Portal and Pursuing Further Funding](#map-portal) Since late 2017, long-running tensions in Cameroon’s NorthWest and South-West regions have escalated, leading into armed conflict. Around 351,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and 372,000 people in the host community need water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Household water treatment is not conventional, and typically many **people lack the means and knowledge to ensure safe environmental health practices**. Available **water and sanitation** infrastructure and support distribution are therefore **significantly limited**. Tabong Phillip Nucha Junior, project manager at the **New Generation For Christ (NG4C) –** NGO from Kumba, Cameroon, decided to apply for ourGIS Day Contest in 2019 to help his community. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Water-Resources.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Water-Resources.jpg) Their main goal was to **map existing water points and water access** in the city of Kumba, Cameroon and deal with dislocated water sources and nonfunctional taps, to ensure access to safe water resources. We have noticed the immense need for sustainable projects in the clean water and sanitation sector around the world and decided to do our part to help, so we awarded those projects with free GIS Cloud subscriptions and our support. We chose his project, amongst others, because NG4C had a clearly developed mapping strategy on how to provide access to clean potable water, which will have a great impact on the local community. ## **Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Related Diseases, Project Challenges and Goals** The scarce water resources and inadequate WASH infrastructure in Kumba increase financial strains on affected households in urban areas and enhances the use of **unsafe water sources**. Consequently, most displaced populations and their hosts are also facing an increased risk of **WASH-related diseases**. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), water, sanitation, and hygiene-related conditions (WASH) are killing more people each year in developing countries of Africa. WASH responses have primarily been through the distribution of items to enable safe health and hygiene practices among the affected populations. Water supply service repairs have been undertaken in the past. However, some of them are still in the planning process for the future, considering the small local capacity to support the distribution of water supply and its technical assistance. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Water-resource-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Water-resource-2.jpg) The biggest **challenge** N4GC faced in executing this project was a **lack of financial resources**. They were forced to use their own monthly income to set the project in motion and provide payment for additional data collectors. The **ultimate goal of this project,** to secure **clean drinking water** for the entire community, will be achieved by mapping existing water resources to find non-functional water taps and rehabilitate them, but also make provisions of outlets, and therefore: - Increase access to potable drinking water - Promote water and sanitation hygiene, thereby reducing diseases related to inadequate water and sanitation hygiene such as Cholera, Malaria, Diarrhoea, etc. - Enable proper sewage disposal (wastewater) in households and decrease WASH-related diseases. The NG4C nonprofit plans to achieve **many valuable and sustainable objectives** through this project, that will have a **significant impact**, not only on the entire Kumba population but also **on the society in general**: - Improve the health conditions of the local population - Reduce the risk of an epidemic caused by poor hygiene and sanitation - Increase the availability of potable drinking water - Water utility charge collected from the beneficiaries will help in the sustainability of these water points and the creation of other water outlets in the nearest future - Increase experience by involving the community in the Design, Implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the project - Improve girls’ academic performance in schools. The time they spend in fetching water will now be directed to studies. **This kind of approach is going to** **empower the local community on sustainability** to ensure effective usage of the water points through training. It is also going to **reduce** **long distances** people have to walk to get potable drinking water and reduce the inequalities in access to water and sanitation. An essential objective of this project is also to bestow a sense of ownership of public water projects, especially in terms of project sustainability. > W*hen you increase the availability of clean drinking water to the local population, you also teach the local community how to use the water points effectively and more sustainably.* > > *Tabong Phillip* ## **Collaboration between the Nonprofit Organisation and the Local Community** **New Generation for Christ (NG4C)** is an NGO of youths from diverse backgrounds. They are young professionals who share a common vision and desire to effect change. They are an operational NGO, that is, they plan and carry out boots-on-the-ground projects to accomplish their objectives and tasks such as this one with a great deal of careful planning, communication, and local involvement. Volunteers already carried out numerous community development projects that brought a change in the community and are continuing enabling rapid development such as road construction, coverts, blowing off drainage, schools. Bringing clean and potable water to the people of Cameroon is yet another honourable mission that they wish to accomplish beginning with the town of Kumba. By involving volunteers and local people in the project essentials; the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation will **increase community experience** in executing development projects. ## **Strategy and Planning to Ensure Successful Mapping of Water Taps using Online GIS** Household water treatment is not standard in the Kumba town area, and many people lack the means and knowledge to ensure safe environmental and friendly water practices. Displaced people in villages and urban areas have inadequate and unsafe access to water supply systems. This can increase financial strains and risks of using hazardous water resources. NG4C constructed a plan divided into **project phases** to improve the already existing water points in this area and make provisions for many future possible outlets: - ### Data Collection and Mapping The first phase includes a general assessment of the water supply system, WASH infrastructure functionality and accessibility to local people. The starting point is collecting data in the field with GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)app to map existing water resources. This phase also includes the sensitization of local population and stakeholders by understanding the local perception of water in the area and communicating a strategy between the population and stakeholders. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Mapping-Taps.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Mapping-Taps.jpg) - ### Data Analysis and Monitoring The second phase includes the analysis of the collected data to assess the condition of the water supply system, followed by staff coordination and activities. Daily monitoring and evaluation of activities ensure success in gathering accurate and quality data to reach the desired outcome. This is important because collected data needs to correspond with its position on the map and provide accurate geo-information. With the help of [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), they analyzed and monitored the course of the project. - ### Reporting and Progress Evaluation This phase consists mostly of creating reports and evaluating the progress of the project. It is important to monitor and update adequate geo-information of the located water outlets in case of water availability changes regarding the specific tap. Teams on the field and in office need to be in sync and ready to refresh the information. - ### Launching the Map Portal The last phase of the project is launching and sharing the public including a map with the locations and access to clean drinking water. This GIS app allows the public to search, visualize and explore geospatial data of all water locations on the map. ## **Field Data Collection and Financial Liability of Water Consumption** Project activities started on 23rd of January 2020 when the project manager held an orientation meeting with mobile data collectors, illustrating practical examples of how they will collect data to ensure the project moves on smoothly. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-orientation-meeting-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-orientation-meeting-s.jpg) They created their own custom digital form to perform a survey on dislocated water taps and other sources. While mapping along the city streets, NG4C discovered that the Kumba City Council had already allocated public taps beside the road to be used by the local population sustainably. Unfortunately, this strategy was not effective because the local community did not abide by the rules. People placed in charge of collecting daily fees for those carrying water were not executing their work rightly. As a result, the City Council was responsible for paying monthly bills of consumed water to the supplying company Camérounaise des Eaux. This became an additional liability to the City Council, and unfortunately, they **had to shut down the taps**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-non-functional-water-taps.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-non-functional-water-taps.jpg) City Council gave a condition to the owners of the land where the water taps reside if these taps were to continue flowing constantly, to collect the daily water fee and meet up with the monthly water bills. This additionally made public access to water difficult since people in the community are poor and lack money. Some of the water taps were not functional because of local political reasons, and the main pipe that supplies water to the local population is very small. Thus, the water is not distributed evenly in every home. Taps that are functional are also compromised during the rainy season, and the population is forced to rely on unsafe water sources. Tabong is hoping that **mapping these water taps** will help the local government to coordinate activities and repair or construct new taps, and to the people **in responsible water consumption and diminishing monthly water bills.** The NG4C team **collected data with the** Mobile Data Collection app to ensure that the project implementation is on point. It was essential to **collect quality data,** and with the MDC app, they adopted this process without any difficulties and started collecting data on the spot, taking notes, and recording which of the taps are in function and which are not. **Data control and accuracy** is secured by using required form fields and by giving collecting and updating permissions to designated data collectors. Volunteers did all of this using only their smartphones. All activities were supervised by the project manager making sure the data collected corresponds with its position on the map. GIS Cloud’s **Offline mode** in Mobile Data Collection and **Offline Maps** option helped the NG4C team with constant electricity cuts and lousy internet connection. Offline collections are **stored on the phone and synced automatically when back online.** This was very beneficial and helped organize the field crew efficiently. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-MDC-and-Editor.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-MDC-and-Editor.png) *Mobile Data Collection and Map Editor Apps.* During and after the data collection process**,** the project manager had a **great visual overview** and could **track the progress of the collected field data in real-time** in the [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**.** This app gave them the possibility of analysis, data editing, and sharing maps to stakeholders on the spot, replacing the outdated paperwork. Also, Map Editor enabled them to create their custom symbology for the water taps. ## **Militant Lockdown and COVID 19 Pandemic Slow Down the Project and NG4C Films a Documentary on Water Situation in Kumba** While the project was ongoing in February 2020, Tabong and his team suffered a one-week militant lockdown imposed by the non-state armed groups to prevent Municipal and Legislative elections from taking place in the English Speaking Regions of Cameroon. This further complicated the situation and postponed field data collection on this complex project. > *Insecurity and violence have forced more than 400,000 people to flee their homes and continue to have serious consequences on livelihoods and living conditions.* > > *Tabong Philip* After the lockdown, they restarted the project and filmed a **video documentary** in one of Kumba city subdivisions – Barombi, to portray the current water situation in the area. The video shows first-hand information from the interviews with the displaced people on the challenges they needed to overcome and shows **how NG4C implemented their project using GIS Cloud apps** to get results and plan further actions. Watch the video documentary in full: Tabong’s team needed to know what conditions these people were facing considering clean water, sanitation and hygiene while in isolation. Unfortunately, this is forcing the local people to rely on unsafe water, increasing WASH-related diseases. In March 2020, as the COVID 19 pandemic became prevalent in Cameroon, Tabong and his dedicated team were experiencing additional difficulties, and in May 2020 project activities with regards to data collection were temporarily suspended. First of all, they had an inadequate number of volunteers to participate in mobile data collection. They needed to recruit and pay collectors so they could effectively carry on the mapping of the project. Also, during this crisis, the majority of citizens in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon have been reasonably sceptical about any action not related to health and food provisions and thus refused to map their taps. Change is challenging for some people to accept, and they often resist outside activities even when a project is beneficial for them. This will, unfortunately, leave some of the taps in the NG4C project unmapped for now. ## **Providing Water Access Info to the Public with online Map Portal and Pursuing Further Funding** When the data collection part of the project was completed, the NG4C used two classifications in Map Editor to easily assess conditions in the field and to clearly visualize data on a map for all interested parties. Tabong’s team [created and published an **interactive Map Portal**](https://newgenerationforchrist.giscloud.com/), a branded GIS app for sharing maps with the public. It allows the public to search, visualize and explore data, **in this case, functional or non-functional water taps.** Map Portal displays the map with the data NG4C collected, where the **blue taps** indicate all functional taps, while the **red taps** indicate non-functional taps. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Map-Portal.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Map-Portal.png) [*Open this link to browse Map Portal in a separate tab.*](https://newgenerationforchrist.giscloud.com/) This was a huge step in helping the local community and **providing visual and secure access** to clean drinking water. It was also intended to **assist other NGOs** and **the governmen**t to easily **locate taps** that need **rehabilitation**, or where to construct **new taps** in Kumba using the data that NG4C provides to them upon the completion of this project. For **sustainability purposes**, the NG4C will be **updating the map** whenever a public tap is rehabilitated or newly constructed to ensure access to safe water for the local population, carried out by any NGO or the Government of Cameroon. The **availability of data** will be ensured with help from the Ministry of public works, local councils and other local NGOs intervening in integrated rural and urban development within the community. During their mapping activities and after assessing the needs of the local community of Barombi Kang in Kumba, NG4C discovered they are currently facing a high level of water shortage which is due to the inconsistency of water supply by CAMWATER, with a majority of people not having WASH hardware in their homes. They are forced to consume untreated water sources, which is detrimental to the health of the entire household and the community at large. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Functional-taps.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-Functional-taps.jpg) **NG4C plans to contribute** towards solving this problem by rehabilitating three nonfunctional water points and increasing the number of water outlets to ten per water distribution point. However, to achieve this, **they need additional funding**. Despite all of the NG4C efforts and the help of GIS Cloud’s apps, services and technology which empowered the volunteers to increase work performance and data quality by reducing operating costs and making them more efficient, the New Generation of Christ is **still faced with unfortunate financial challenges** that are slowing down this project. The NGO is **in search of additional funding** to be able to continue their efforts through Cameroon and introduce new approaches, and they have data to support their project! You can also get involved by[ donating to the NGO on their website ](https://www.givingway.com/project/a95d9d)and aid them in their project expenses to ensure access to safe water resources in Kumba, Cameroon. We are proud to be able to take part in this project and help Tabong and his team in providing and ensuring access to safe water for the distressed population of Kumba, Cameroon. Are you interested in GIS Cloud solutions for NGOs and Nonprofits? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/); we’ll be more than happy to give you a live demo. Related content: Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) Landslide Prediction Mapping for Safe Housing and Construction Planning Using GIS **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit, Water Utilities **Tags:** data collection, field data collection, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, nonprofit, use case --- ### [GIS Cloud and Civil Engineering](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-civil-engineering/) **Published:** March 14, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Enviromental GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Civil-Engineering-Cover.jpg) Civil engineering covers various disciplines, from impressive structures to critical water distribution infrastructure and sensitive environmental resources. Each of these play an important role in society. Failures in either could have a devastating impact on society and the environment. Properly constructing and maintaining these assets is essential. Let’s explore how GIS Cloud can improve the workflows of different civil engineering projects. If any of our many solutions interest you, we invite you to sign up for a free [14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) with all our premium features available to you and your team. Our solution consultants would happily connect and give you a software demo. ## Project Cycle Civil engineering projects involve a lot of moving parts as they develop. Project design and environmental analysis must be completed before the shovels break the earth. Collecting and storing your data in an online GIS Solution will keep the data in one place while giving all involved access. The [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) can [share the map](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/), control the permissions and decide who can change the data. GIS Cloud can also connect to external databases with a [REST API](https://docs.giscloud.com/rest). As a project gets underway, changes on the ground can be monitored in multiple ways, including using the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC) or capturing aerial imagery with [drones](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-3d-drone-mapping-imagery-with-clients-a-report-from-south-africa/). Combining boots on the ground and eyes in the sky, you can track the process of all your projects without missing any developments. As projects reach completion, the data can be used in asset inventory management systems or monitoring efforts. GIS Cloud can support a number of disciplines under civil engineering. ## Traffic Engineering Everyone is happier when traffic flows smoothly and efficiently. Combining GIS and traffic engineering can make this difficult task more manageable. The [US Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices](https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/) document is a traffic engineer’s Bible. In the United Kingdom, they follow the [Traffic Signs Manual](https://trafficsignsmanual.co.uk/home/). Following the guidelines of these will improve the flow of traffic. Traffic signs are essential in communicating to drivers the information they need to know. This can include road speeds, road conditions ahead, construction/school zones, and services in the area. Collecting asset inventories can be a significant undertaking without the proper tools. The [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) will speed up the process. An initial sign inventory captured with the [MDC app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) might include attributes along the lines of sign type, condition, install date, a night reflectivity score, in compliance? (Y/N), pole type, and attachments of photos of the signs and their surroundings. Comparing your existing sign inventory to the traffic code will guide you in what changes you need to make. As work orders are completed in the field, the changes made in the [MDC app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) will update instantly for those using the [MDC app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). If the area has poor [cell coverage](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-in-telecom-industry/), the maps can be downloaded for offline use and synced once they get better cell service. Point data can be easily mapped and managed in GIS Cloud whether you are a GIS pro or someone just discovering GIS. ## Storm Water Systems Stormwater systems move rainfall and water runoff from properties and roadways to ponds and other bodies of water. Keeping these pipes and drains clear of debris is an ongoing task and requires periodic maintenance and cleaning. Knowing the location of your storm drains and manhole is an important function in a well-run system. Looking at your system in a 3D environment helps show where the direction of flows is going. In GIS Cloud’s [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), you can look at your data in [3D](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) with a single click. In a [3D GIS environment](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-3d-in-gis/), the low spots and potential problem areas can be identified. Maintenance information collected in the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) can also show where frequent problem areas occur by symbolizing the data with a heat map. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/raster-map-heat-map.jpg) A complete view of your system will give you a better understanding of how the system flows and locate inefficiencies. By attaching links to the storm features, you can review the as-built plans associated with that specific feature and get further details. We recommend capturing the different inverse elevations if they are available on the plans. These elevations can be used to determine how fast the stormwater flows down the system. It will also help locate the pipe by knowing its correct depth. Polyline data is a simple type but can prove useful when viewed in 3D and depth information is captured as attributes. ## Legal Boundaries Legal boundaries and encumbrances is information collected in the planning stage of the engineering project cycle. Once you have mapped your easement locations and your utilities, you can do a gap analysis. This analysis will compare where your legal rights exist versus where your current and proposed utilities are located. Resolving these issues will be necessary for each of the stakeholders involved in the project. My favorite way to do this is to map the legal boundaries of the georeferenced TIFFs brought directly into GIS Cloud or import the shapefiles provided by the title company or engineering firm. In the attribute table of the easements, we recommend pulling information directly from the recorded document tied to the easement. You may want to include things like recorded date and type of document. Is it a Grant Deed giving permission from one person to another? Or is it a Quit Claim, and the rights are being revoked? Collecting the document number will make it easy to track county records or link between documents. Attaching the document directly to the mapped easement is a great idea. Viewing the recorded document in the [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is helpful for those researching the project. We recommend adding other details to the attribute table, including the Grantor, Grantor, granted rights (water, utility, access), document status, and the legal easement’s dimensions. ![Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Editor-Utilities.png) A comprehensive attribute table may require more work initially, but it pays dividends. Users of your [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), which you can [customize with your brand](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/), can identify the encumbrances and view the details of the recorded documents. When the spatial data is brought into the map or portal viewer, capturing this information gives stakeholders all the necessary information. If there are any issues related to legal rights, they know which “Grantor” or “Grantee” they need to get in touch with. Sometimes a waterline gets installed in an easement, only allowing stormwater. Your gap analysis will identify this issue and allow you to resolve it before it becomes a larger problem. ## Environmental We are dependent on the environment and must respect its natural power. Using contours and terrain data can help us improve our surroundings and understand the environment. In a 3D view, we can see the contours and slope areas. The Map Editor even allows you to bring in your own [DEM](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-add-custom-digital-elevation-models-dem/). We can also import GeoTiffs, JPEG2000 files, KMLs, shapefiles, and other spatial file types in the Map Viewer through the File Manager tool. ![Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Edit-Map.png) Combining different data will give you a complete understanding of the ground situation. The 3D model can also serve as another tool for analyzing the environment. The dramatic slopes of hillsides can be used to identify potential mudslide areas. Combined with the soil types in the area will improve the risk assessment. Adding the soil information and adjusting the data symbology with hatches or transparency can give you a clearer view of the situation. You will be able to see which permeable soils are near fault lines and if recent fire burn areas might be additional factors. This analysis can be done to protect homes, roads, and other infrastructure in the vicinity. ## Conclusion An online GIS solution like GIS Cloud can support civil engineering projects regardless of their discipline. By building an accurate spatial model and accurate attribute table, **the return on investment is impressive**. The hard work of field crews and those on the ground can be communicated directly to project managers and stakeholders through the GIS Cloud ecosystem. If you’d like to see a demo with one of our experts, [**contact us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/), and we will be in touch shortly. We offer a [**free 14-day trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) if you want to try GIS Cloud. The trial includes our premium features, including the 3D viewer and Map Portal. Related content: A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases GIS Cloud Will be Showcased at Geomapplica in Greece Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS GIS Cloud and Water Utilities Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering --- ### [GIS Cloud Track - Complete Feature Overview](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-track-complete-feature-overview/) **Published:** March 16, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Track - Complete Feature Overview Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/GIS-Cloud-Track-Complete-Feature-Overview-Cover-1.png) During the last month, we have introduced our newest product: GIS Cloud Track which is fully integrated with the entire GIS Cloud platform. Now the time has come to go in-depth with all the functionalities and insights to the solution itself. Check out how easy it is to track the real-time location of people, vehicles, and anything with API. We covered all the features, showing you how they work and how you can utilize them to get the most out of your data. GIS Cloud Track enables you to follow and track your field workers on top of your existing base map but also enables you to create reports, alerts, POI, and much more. In the meantime, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), explore data collection and register for [GIS Cloud Track early access](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/)! Related content: GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets GIS Cloud PowerPlus – Technical Overview & Components GIS Cloud Track A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS Cloud Track, webinar --- ### [Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/) **Published:** December 15, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![District Council of Mallala](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Road-Infrastructure.jpg) The District Council of Mallala, now known as [Adelaide Plains Council](https://www.apc.sa.gov.au/home), in South Australia, has been using GIS Cloud for over eight years. The Adelaide Plains Council area covers over 350 square miles off the St.Vincent Gulf. Despite being a small community with fewer than 10,000 people, the Council uses smart and modern technology to provide the best possible service to its constituents. Since they started leveraging GIS Cloud and its solutions in 2014, the District Council has grown its GIS databases quite a bit. Over that time, the District Council has mapped over 60,000 features using the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC) applications. The Council is tasked with providing many services to its citizens, including: - Business and Economic Development - Emergency Management - Infrastructure and Environmental Services - Public and Environmental Health - and Waste Services The Council has come to rely on GIS Cloud solutions to meet the demands of providing these services. We will show you how the Council addressed its road infrastructure problems using GIS. ## Road Infrastructure Issues Managing road infrastructure and addressing citizen concerns have been an issue in the past. Before using GIS Cloud, the Council relied on paper maps and other spatial tools. These tools required multiple pieces of hardware and various software. Data format types were constantly an issue moving from one piece of software to another. With the arrival of smartphones and online solutions, the Council chose to explore its options. ## Old Problems Solved with New Technology The Council was looking for a budget friendly option maintain efficiency or tool options. After a short trial, the Council began using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application and [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) with vigor. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Improving-Road-Infrastructure-in-Australia-with-Online-GIS.png) The team set up an easy to use map in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) tool. This workflow avoided prior issues the Council had dealt with in the past. This included: - Additional desktop software map creation - Data conversion software - Uploading maps to GPS hardware via a wired connection - Data format conversions to meet the data collection hardware standards With the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, the Council avoided these problems and was able to launch the project within days rather than weeks. Here is an example of a Road Pavement Inspection form within the **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** (MDC) application. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-forms.png) As you can see, the survey is clean, with easy to select options for accurate data collection. The preset data options have saved the Council staff a lot of time on the quality assessment part of the workflow. Staff can be confident the data was correctly entered in the field. The ability to add photos has made a huge difference. Prior workflows required attaching the photos to the data points while trying to remember which photo was associated with which data point. The [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) removed the need to write down photo names and the ObjectID’s of the data collected. The initial effort of the project was to locate issues throughout the service area. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/damage-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/damage-1.png) Issues like cracks in the sidewalks and potholes in crucial roadways were problems that needed addressing. The data inventory and assessment of the Council area collected these problems using the [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application on Council staff’s smartphones. There was no more need for heavy external data collectors. Any IOS or Android device with the application could collect the information. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Improving-Road-infrastructure-in-australia-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Improving-Road-infrastructure-in-australia-2.png) With the ability to work **offline**, Council staff could continue collecting field data if they lost an internet connection. They simply synced the data once they regained internet access and updated the source data. Since the initial road infrastructure assessment, the Council has changed the project’s focus. They now actively collect road data on an as-needed basis. Field crews can capture new data points as they cross their paths. This gives the Council the information needed for properly maintaining their roads and staying ahead of citizen reports. ## Road Sign Inventory using GIS Cloud This has been another significant project for the Council. The Council, following its mission to “Provide a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for our growing community, business, and visitors, by providing quality services, infrastructure and facilities”, took the need to improve the road sign inventory seriously. A road sign inventory was proposed to follow the guidelines for traffic devices on Council roadways. Using [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), the Council could deploy multiple staff members to the field to collect the existing traffic sign inventory. The road inventory data, using GIS Cloud solutions, allowed for editing by multiple users at one time. While the team was collecting information from the field, another person was able to analyze the data in real time from the desktop at the office. With an up to date road sign inventory, the Council has been able to address the damaged signs and those that were out of compliance with the [Asset Management System](https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Technical-standards-publications/Transport-Infrastructure-Asset-Management-Policy) and Manual of Uniform Traffic Devices. Creating work orders for the necessary changes was easy. Using GIS Cloud again, **custom reports** were generated in the software and exported as PDFs. The custom reports pulled data directly from the information captured in the field, including the photos. The new road signs were captured and photographed as the work order changes were completed. The inventory has allowed the Council to properly budget and plan for future road signage repairs and improvements as they become necessary. ## Conclusion With GIS Cloud’s online GIS solutions, the Adelaine Plains Council was able to efficiently meet the important transportation needs of those who live there. By understanding the current situation quickly, they were able to identify and strategically schedule the road work maintenance and signage improvements. GIS Cloud has been a proud partner to the Adelaine Plains Council for the past eight years and is excited to see how else they can support them. The Council may be small, but they have proven to have a great understanding of the power of GIS. If your municipality could benefit from a similar workflow, explore our full suite of online GIS solutions by signing up for a [14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). If you have any questions, our GIS Cloud solution consultants are ready to answer your questions and support your efforts. Related content: Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Roadworks **Tags:** Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, custom road map, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS For Roadworks, local government, local governments, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, Road Infrastructure and Maintenance, road inspection, road inventory, road maintenance, Roadworks Department --- ### [Making Informative Maps and White-labelling Apps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/making-informative-maps-and-white-labelling-apps/) **Published:** February 16, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![making informative maps and white labelling apps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/create-custom-apps-improve-data-visualisation-linkedin-webinar-invite.jpg) Have you ever looked at a map and immediately, from the get-go, were able to understand what the author wanted to show? GIS allows us to interact with data more efficiently and make precise decisions and actions based on the representation of spatial data through maps. **Data visualization** is one of the crucial things you need to keep in mind when designing a map; unfortunately, that is often left as a back thought. We wanted to share our best practices and advice regarding data visualization so that you can avoid sharing difficult-to-understand maps. As a bonus, it’s always best to **customize the interface** to suit the viewer’s needs. On top of the visualization tips, we also wanted to show you how easy it is to white-label applications with the GIS Cloud platform. You don’t have any coding experience? No worries, we have you covered. Our App Builder will help you create a user-friendly interface all by yourself, and what’s best, you can change it if and when necessary. Don’t take our word for it; check out our live webinar, where we go in-depth on both, and you will see that it takes less than an hour to get your maps and apps out for the end users. If you want to try GIS Cloud apps and services, [**Sign Up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the **free 14-day trial**. You can also [**contact us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) directly, and our Solution Consultants are available to answer any questions. Related content: Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Sharing Maps: Best Practices for Web & Mobile Smart City Apps for Utilities Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Does Enterprise GIS (such as ESRI) Need To Be That Expensive?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/) **Published:** February 22, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![cost gis solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Geoawesomeness-GIS-article.jpg) [Geoawesomeness](https://geoawesomeness.com/) posted an interesting [**article exploring the costs of GIS solutions**](https://geoawesomeness.com/does-enterprise-gis-such-as-esri-need-to-be-that-expensive/). The article explores the pricing model of legacy GIS companies and the challenges of implementing open-source GIS tools at scale. It also highlights the trend towards **hybrid open-source solutions**, such as QGIS for desktop processing and startups like [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/) or Mapbox for cloud and server collaboration. Many organizations around the world rely on legacy GIS software. They are ingrained into their company’s operations and workflows. Over the years, the prices of these legacy GIS softwares have skyrocketed. Some customers are forced to pay for the software and other features separately. The software license only gets you the basic software. If you want access to online GIS Solutions, software updates, or technical support, you will be forced to pay for an additional license. Be sure to check out the article and see how they think a solution like [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/) fits in their proposed **hybrid model**. Additionally, check out the podcast below, where Aleks Buczokowski from [Geoawesomness](https://geoawesomeness.com/) had the pleasure to discuss with our CEO & founder, Dino Ravnić, why enterprise GIS is that expensive and the options to make it more affordable. Sign up for a [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and one of our brilliant solutions consultants will reach out and see how they can assist you in upgrading your GIS system and bringing your company’s GIS cost down! Related content: GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps Managing Users in a GIS Online Solution Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2022 **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Solutions in Telecom Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-in-telecom-industry/) **Published:** February 9, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![telecommunication](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Cover.jpg) GIS, much like telecommunication, has come a long way. Telecommunications have developed from smoke signals to fiber optic lines and long-range wireless data connections. GIS has gone from hand-drawn maps to as-built plans to 3D models that are accurate to the hundredths of an inch. Bringing telecommunication networks into a GIS will take the industry to the next level. ## Migrating to GIS Cloud We love old maps. They have so much character, and you can truly appreciate the hard work that went into creating the fine details. They have their limitations nowadays and should be respectfully hung on a wall for all to admire. GIS Cloud’s [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) can bring all that important information from your pile of old maps into a functioning asset and records-keeping system. The assets can be migrated into a spatial environment and preserve the important attributes that provide depth to the data. A complete migration from static paper maps into a [cloud-based GIS solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-mapping-and-benefits-of-online-solutions/) will improve your operations and impress your clients. ## Creating New Assets In a GIS system, infrastructure and utilities, like roads, telecommunication, and water distribution systems, can be actively mapped throughout the construction process. In [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), you can create proposed new assets in your system in minutes. Clients often map proposed projects and can analyze the required capital and potential return on their investment. They can identify gaps in their legal rights and agreement with the existing system. In a GIS system, these features can be removed with simple edits to the feature’s attributes. Changing the symbology based upon an attribute is an easy way to display the same data but show the “Proposed” versus the “Active” assets. Classifying them as “Proposed” or “Planning” while the existing features can be deemed “Active”. ![data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Editor-medium.png) All of this data can be mapped throughout the life of the asset. Starting in the planning stages, through construction, up to and beyond the as-built approval phase After the as-built phase, the final assets can be confirmed using GIS Cloud’s [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and a [Bluetooth connected external GPS unit](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-connect-mdc-app-to-an-external-gps-device/) to ensure the feature is mapped with high accuracy. With this confidence, you will never second guess where to dig to reach that feature. ## Hardware Maintenance Tracking annual maintenance needs to be efficient and be an accurate record log. Routine maintenance ensures the quality of your service remains high and extends the life of the telecommunication hardware. A poorly maintained asset will fail with time and has the potential to cripple an efficient system. A mobile application like [MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) can assist teams in tracking and recording the maintenance inspection, and the work completed or scheduled for the future. The application can store notes directly from the operators. [Attaching photos](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attach-media-files-documents-and-much-more-to-your-map-data-in-gis-cloud/) can record the current condition of the asset. A maintenance log in a GIS Cloud environment will improve your routine maintenance schedule for efficiency and thoroughness. ## Location! Location! Location! We have all heard it when it comes to real estate and buying a home. In telecommunications and internet service providers (ISP), location is important when building their coverage network. Address locations can be mapped with a few clicks using our [Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/). A geocoder takes a table of addresses and maps the data. Once mapped, the locations can be exported to various data types, including shapefiles, CSV’s, KML’s, MapInfo, dxf’s, and others. ![file csv kml dxf](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-Map-Editor-export.png) A potential ISP client can search for their own address on a telecommunication company’s personalized GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). A quick search will tell them if there is a telecommunication provider they have access to. A location on a flat map has limitations. Looking at the surrounding terrain is important when planning the future site of a cell tower. In GIS Cloud’s [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), analyzing locations in [3D](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) is an option. This analysis can include the uninterrupted range of a tower. ![assets](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GIS-Telecom-Location-scaled.jpg) Adding other layers to the map, we can analyze the potential impact the surrounding buildings may have on a tower’s range. ## Simulating Scenarios Disasters can occur with little to no warning and impact millions of people. The idea of being unable to communicate with family, friends, or first responders is a nightmare when life takes an unexpected turn. By simulating these types of scenarios, you can be better prepared to respond. Using a public GIS Cloud portal, you can communicate the necessary information about your network’s current status to the public. In a GIS environment, you can mimic the impact of a single closure or the potential a downed line has on the network. These simulated scenarios can show you and your team where improvements must be prioritized. These mock network failures can answer questions like: “How many clients would be impacted?” “What would our realistic response time be?” “Do we have any redundancies in place as backup?” “Where should we prioritize our capital to mitigate potential outages in the future?” Understanding the vulnerabilities of a network will help you react the right way should it experience a failure. ## Conclusion Telecommunications rely on spatial information to serve their customers and be a reliable operation. GIS Cloud’s many tools and applications can be a powerful supporter of a telecommunication service provider. Our solution consultants can provide you and your team with guidance no matter at what stage in adopting GIS you are at. Our [solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/services/) include custom reports, company branded mobile applications, and public portals. Sign up for a [free 14 day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and one of our brilliant solutions consultants will reach out and see how they can assist you in upgrading your GIS system. Related content: Improving Workflows in Telecom Industry – Sotetel (Use Case) Geomobiliti Inc. Interview – Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other --- ### [Improving Workflows in Telecom Industry - Sotetel (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-in-the-telecommunication-industry/) **Published:** July 5, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud in Telecommunication Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cover-telecom.png) As the telecommunications industry is one of the fastest-growing GIS markets in the world, we want to showcase the benefits of implementing the GIS Cloud solutions to provide an effective tool for making data-driven decisions. Companies use GIS Cloud for multiple purposes, from managing field operations to performing spatial analysis, network planning, deployment, and maintenance. Once implemented, GIS Cloud solutions help digitize and streamline current workflows, understand spatial data, improve decision-making, and, most importantly, save time and money. GIS Cloud has recently started working with Sotetel, a key player in the telecommunications industry in the Tunisian market and abroad. Sotetel is the builder of telecommunications networks and services and the integrator of digital solutions and services based on technological innovation and continuous improvement. As a long-term Tunisia Telecom partner and positioning itself as a leading digital solutions and services provider in the region, Sotetel saw a need to upgrade its current workflow and processes by implementing a cloud-based GIS solution. The advantage of GIS Cloud was that you can capture, check, store, and display data with a single solution. Their previous workflow was based on the traditional pen and paper process, where a lot of work was done manually, as shown below. Obviously, the main flaw of that system is that it is very time-consuming, prone to errors, and lacks collaboration capability. ![GIS Cloud telecommunication pen and paper](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-pen-and-paper.png) To upgrade their current workflow, they have decided to use the following GIS Cloud solutions: - [ **Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) – to capture data from the field - [ **Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) – to set up projects, upload their current data from other systems such as AutoCAD, and share the project with the people in the field **Why Mobile Data Collection?** Sotetel chose Mobile Data Collection because it was a simple and easy tool for real-time data collection that could be used on the web, iOS, and Android devices. It allowed them to: - Collect data (such as poles, power lines, transformers, customer information) in real time and create as many projects as needed - Work in offline mode and collect data in the areas where there is no internet coverage. - Create custom forms with requirements and dependencies that allowed them to ensure data quality and speed up the data collection time ![GIS Cloud telecommunication MDC example](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-MDC-example.png) Mobile Data Collection also provided the capability to review collected data in real time and report it. The data can be filtered as needed and exported into a CSV table or as a report. The report displays all attribute data, including photos and other collected media. With the new digitized workflow, Sotetel makes weekly, and monthly reports of the work carried out and sends the reports to the management. ![GIS Cloud telecommunication report](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-report.png) **Why Map Editor?** Sotetel needed a powerful cloud-based tool to create and share projects, access and modify current projects, and share projects among teams if required. With Map Editor, they can configure classifications, create new layers and existing attributes and modify them as needed. It helps Project Managers and decision-makers analyze the current conditions in the field, plan new projects and easily manage collaboration between teams. Some of the capabilities Sotetel often uses are: - upload data that you have in other systems such as ArcMap - upload PDFs, images, video, and audio files and attach them to features on a map - use snapping options to maintain your data topology rules - map and layer export, ability to download various raster and vector data, including DFX formats ![GIS Cloud in Telecommunication Cover Map Editor example](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-Map-Editor-example.png) ![GIS Cloud in Telecommunication Cover Map Editor example Map Editor export](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sotetel-Map-Editor-export.png) **Conclusion** GIS is a crucial component in any utility, and having a cloud-based gis tool greatly enhances your operational efficiency and communication between different departments. Some of the key benefits of the GIS Cloud solutions for telecommunication companies: - Cutting Costs by Going Paperless - Real-time insight – instantly available - Instant feedback from the field - React instantly to a project issue - Maintenance, quality control, plan ahead - All in one solution – upload data / collect, sharing, publishing, collaboration Interested in using GIS Cloud Solutions in the telecommunication industry? [Sign up for the free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). You’ll have 14 days to test the apps and see if they fit your field workflow. If you want someone to show you around and propose a possible GIS solution contact our **[sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)**. Related content: GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Improving Crop Inventory And Crop Scouting With GIS Cloud Apps (Use Case) Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other --- ### [Road Maintenance Webinar - GIS and Power BI Integration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/road-maintenance-webinar-gis-and-power-bi-integration/) **Published:** January 24, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![integration](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Road-Maintenance-GIS-and-Power-BI.jpg) Last week, GIS Cloud hosted [InfraTrace](https://www.infratrace.ch/) for a webinar discussing **Road Maintenance** use case with **GIS and Power BI integration.** InfraTrace’s Roland Christen showcased its methodologies in collecting data from the field, analyzing data, and leveraging GIS Cloud with Power BI. They develop informative dashboards and comprehensive reports for the local communities they serve. Mr. Christen has over 37 years of experience in **infrastructure management**. That is evident in his ability to interpret the condition of a road using his vast knowledge and sense of smell. The challenges of infrastructure maintenance: - Capturing accurate GPS locations - Connecting external data sources - Understanding environmental conditions - Sharing data with different partners - Presenting complex data In last week’s webinar, Mr. Christen walked us through the process of meeting these challenges. GIS Cloud’s suite of products and Power BI are essential in proper Road Maintenance plans. The road data is captured using the [**Mobile Data Collection app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). A Bluetooth-connected external GPS unit, a Trimble Catalyst, ensures any road damage is accurately mapped. Using web services in GIS Cloud [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), the surveyed roads are compared to the Swiss government’s “blue stream” data. GIS Cloud also allows InfraTrace to inspect a road segment in [**3D**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/). A critical feature when understanding roads in the Swiss Alps. Combining real world video and photos with existing waterways allow for a comprehensive view of a roadway. Mr. Christen’s inspections of these roads go in the [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) before being pulled into Power BI as a CSV. In Power BI, interactive **dashboards** and tables present the findings to the local communities. Using GIS Cloud and Power BI, the challenges of road maintenance can be solved quickly and precisely. If you weren’t able to attend, you can see the whole process in the webinar here bellow. If you think GIS Cloud and Power BI can take your organization to the next level, we invite you to [**sign up for a free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Our Solution Consultants are available to guide you through the process. Related content: Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog, Roadworks --- ### [GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management-free-webinar/) **Published:** February 4, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Vegetation-Webinar-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Vegetation-Webinar-cover.png) We have held a free webinar/live demo showing you how to **organize your vegetation management project**. It was a **step-by-step guide** on the best field and office workflow with **live examples** and suggestions for organizing your vegetation management, crew & job coordination within the GIS Cloud platform. Including these processes and online collaboration in your organization can help you **quickly deploy** and **efficiently execute** projects and **reduce operational costs!** We have covered important topics concerning vegetation management like tree inspections, workforce & client enablement, analysis, and project planning. Check out this webinar if you are confronted with extensive administrative and field paperwork, data accuracy concerns, difficulty tracking and visualising field data, and challenging team coordination. Arborists, utility vegetation managers, landscapers, forestry managers, tree care specialists, and various other vegetation management professionals can find out how to: - Create and set up your [**custom forms**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-create-custom-forms/) (surveys) for the field data collection on trees and vegetation. Attach your photos and media, and sign off your work forms with an electronic signature. - Share this project and form with your colleagues and field crews for data collection and collaboration for tree maintenance, disease and growth monitoring, worksites identification, disaster and risk assessment response, pruning, mulching, etc. - Share the project whit clients and stakeholders to review and identify high-risk / high-cost vegetation areas in real time. Improve your crews work productivity, maintenance and decision making. - Visualise and analyse the map data with colour coding and custom symbology to prioritize job and risk assessments of hazardous trees, diseases and growth monitoring, pruning etc. - Plan and budget your project in **real time**. Learn to reduce the initial costs of modifying operations in your organisation for greenspace analysis. Cover your climate impacts, bloom periods, coverage, future planning, damage reduction, allergies, seed pollution etc. - Learn to build a cloud-based vegetation inventory accessible at your disposal from any device at any time. - Learn to organise your field workforce, save time and money on your projects with advance prioritisation, job assessment, site navigation, where to park or what route to take with our navigate feature, coordinate permits and work orders. Real-time data collection, inspection and editing, proper field communication, and decision-making can help you build up and grow your organization **faster, better and smarter by saving time and costs**. Having a clear overview of issues in the field and ongoing projects helps you win tenders, reduce future costs and modify your vegetation management actions and operations. In case you already have an operational system in place, we can help you seamlessly integrate with your existing software and solution, like ArcMap, QGIS o any other custom software. Why GIS Cloud? - Fast onboarding and map engine - Accurate cloud-based inventory management - Workflow digitalization - Geocoding - Geolocated photo database - Census data ingegration - Operational visibility - Real-time data overview - Proof of concept and jobs done - No previous GIS experience needed - Education / services & support - Online/offline maps - GPS / Pinpoint tool - Navigate to feature or POI - Raster imagery + ogc formats - Ad hoc and quick project surveys - Fast adoption time - Android / iOS supported - No additional installation process - Cloud-based (online) - Custom reports - Custom search/filter - Media attachments (including google doc links or work order documents) - And much more! [Create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for free to learn how to bring crucial project issues to your team’s attention in real time with the help of GIS Cloud apps and services! Related content: Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management GIS For Vegetation Management Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, webinar, webinar recording --- ### [Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-new-form-builder-overview-webinar-invite/) **Published:** June 15, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![mobile data collection new form builder webinar invite](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cover-1200x628-d-6.png) [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) is a simple but extremely powerful application that enables you to create custom forms, control data access for your teams, organize crews and ensure the best data quality you can get. And most importantly, you do not have to be GIS professional to be able to set it up. It can be set up and deployed quickly, reducing your operational cost immediately and saving you lots of time In this webinar, we have shown you different types of fieldwork and data collection environments, how to transform your daily workflow, and real-life examples of using Mobile Data Collection to make your job more efficient. Some of the topics that we have covered: - How to digitize your workflow and transfer it from Paper to cloud - How to create easy-to-use but powerful data collection projects using our freshly redesigned Form Builder - How to share this project and form with your colleagues and field crews for data collection and collaboration - How to enable easy access to real-time data for both field and office crew - How to enable field crews to start collecting data for your live map If you are already working with some kind of data collection tool, you know that every field project is a bit different. Even if you’re working in the same industry and on the same site for years, there will always be something you’ll need to tweak and adjust in your workflow. Hopefully, this webinar will help you optimize your data collection projects. In the meantime, you can try our new Form Builder by [**signing in**](https://mdc.giscloud.com/), or if you already haven’t, [**create your account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Getting Started with Mobile Data Collection **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Single-band Raster - New Feature and Webinar!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/single-band-raster-new-feature-and-webinar/) **Published:** July 6, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![gis cloud single-band raster cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cover-Single-band-Raster.png) Raster data has always been a big part of our users’ workflow – from adding drone imagery to maps in order to keep track of changes on construction or development sites to monitoring crops, from watersheds to monitoring water leakage. You can always add a basemap – they are a great, easily available resource to ensure your vector data isn’t simply “floating in the air”, but adding your own images and data takes your map to the next level. We’re happy to say that we made some upgrades to this feature, and are now also **supporting single-band raster files**! You no longer need to worry about converting your raster to RGB before adding it to GIS Cloud, and can take full advantage of different visualisation options to help you provide more information to the end-user. If you’d like to learn more about using single-band raster in GIS Cloud, check out this webinar recording and see how to: - How to use single-band raster in GIS Cloud - What classification options you can choose from - Why you should be using this feature in the first place You can also take a look at our [guide](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-change-raster-appearance/) to help you out with setting up. Try some raster visualization options yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at and we can help you with your setup. Related content: Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) GIS Cloud Track – Complete Feature Overview Supporting raster data in .ECW, .IMG, .SID, .JP2 formats **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud and Power BI - Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/) **Published:** January 19, 2023 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Infrastructure-Management-with-InfraTrace.jpg) GIS is a powerful tool being used worldwide. Maps have become an effective tool for communicating information to people. In recent years, maps have been frequently used to show the widespread pandemic and the impacts of natural disasters. Maps and GIS communicate with minimal losses in translation about **what** is happening, **where** it is occurring or **where** it may spread to, and **when** things may occur. Amazing maps that meet these criteria can be produced with cloud-based GIS solutions like GIS Cloud. ![Infrastructure Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Work-Pavement-maps-s.png) ### What is GIS? GIS is a collection of systems that collect, manage, analyze, and present spatial information. Using a combination of hardware, such as your smartphone and computer, as well as software, like GIS Cloud, information in the real world can be digitized and evaluated. GIS helps identify patterns and relationships in complex data. This information is used for decision-making and communication with those affected. ![roadwork maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roadwork-Map-and-mobile-survey-s.png) This process leads to the enlightenment of an object in the real world. A road in GIS is more than just a feature transporting people in vehicles. Investigating a roadway in GIS shows you how much ground has become impassable to rainfall. Zooming out further, we can see the road’s role in connecting people in the community. Often public utilities are installed under roadways. Thankfully, GIS can simplify these complex networks and present the information in easy-to-understand visuals. ### What is Power BI? Power Business Intelligence (BI) is a powerful analytics tool developed by Microsoft. The cloud service or desktop software allows users to create dashboards from their data. The platform can produce reports with data visuals in charts and tables. The tool can work with over 70 data sources, including CSV tables, SQL Server databases, XML, and JSON files. With analytics and visual reports, we can answer the other important question of **“Why?”**. Understanding the cause of an event allows decision-makers to react correctly to matters of great urgency. For example, damaged or destroyed roads cutting off access to safety for residents may occur due to weather-related debris flows. We know what happened and where. Understanding why the event took place will allow the appropriate response in handling the present situation and develop strategies for preventing similar crises in the future. ![data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Road-condition-after-wintertime.jpg) The reason may be the lack of vegetation on the adjacent hillside following a recent fire. Other causes could be the extreme slope of the hill itself or the lack of road barriers. By knowing this information, tax money can be spent to prevent future devastation. The vibrant dashboards produced within Power BI communicate to decision-makers the information needed to plan and spend tax money accordingly. [InfraTrace](https://www.infratrace.ch/) shows us how they went about this when tasked to inventory the infrastructure of local towns. ### Who is InfraTrace? [InfraTrace](https://www.infratrace.ch/) is a Swiss-based infrastructure management company. The company was founded in 1985 by Roland Christen and was a one-man show until the 1990s. In 1996, the company became an LLC and has continued growing ever since. Sustainability is important to InfraTrace, so they took the initiative to find an environmentally responsible solution to repairing asphalt for their clients. Through their intensive research, they discovered Biochar. Biochar is a carbon powder produced from biomass products like wood chips and agricultural waste. Biochar passively absorbs carbon monoxide from the atmosphere. ![InfraTrace roads](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/21-map-biochar-Eng.jpg) For the past few years, InfraTrace has been using **Biochar** to repair potholes and road damage. They call the combination of Biochar and 100% recycled asphalt **InfraGreen**. The process requires 8 times less energy and is easy to mold. They have been using and tracking the locations since it was adopted in 2020 with great success. InfraTrace focuses on supporting local communities and municipalities with their infrastructure maintenance needs. InfraTrace has developed a process of inventorying and analyzing a community’s infrastructure. The process goes through planning, data collection, data modeling, publishing and analyzing the data using GIS Cloud solutions, and producing results in an InfraReport. ![InfraReport](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Roadwork-maintenance-cycle.png) These InfraReports combine GIS Cloud and Power BI data and analysis for their clients to make informed decisions on the true status of their infrastructure. ### Infrastructure Mapping Using GIS Cloud’s [Mobile Data Collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), InfraTrace maps the infrastructure of their clients’ jurisdictions. The team collects road data, wastewater pipelines, freshwater pipeline systems, and other critical frameworks. The data collection process is done with [Mobile Data Collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and a GoPro camera installed into the InfraTrace vehicle. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Wastewater-and-Roadwork-schema.png) This process produces an accurate asset inventory of the physical features and locations while also including detailed attributes of the features. These attributes include the material, size, elevations, object’s physical condition, maintenance schedule, projected costs, and multiple photos attached in the Mobile Data Collection application. The videos collected with a GoPro camera are also linked to the project inventory in the office. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Asphalt-Repair-Map-in-GIS-Cloud-and-Biochar.png) The [Mobile Data Collection application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) allows the data to be instantly visible on the map in the cloud. This technology communicates the progress made throughout the day and over time as the inventory is collected. The live data collection enables InfraTrace to estimate its completion timeline more confidently. With an accurate, up-to-date, and thoroughly attributed inventory, the team is ready to begin the GIS Cloud and Power BI integration. ### GIS and Power BI Integration Before discovering the power of GIS and Power BI, Roland Christen of InfraTrace had previously used Microsoft Excel to catalog community infrastructure. Finding the ease with which GIS Cloud and Power BI integrate into one another, he quickly made the switch. The accurate infrastructure inventory data is first exported from GIS Cloud as a CSV table. From there, the team can program additional formulas in the table, such as their **live-calculation tool**. The CSV table is then imported into Microsoft’s Power BI. Next, the team configures the necessary dashboard for their client’s needs. Power BI has a free option; however, you will be required to upgrade your license to publish your data to an external site. This upgrade also allows you to **embed the dashboards** into an iframe of a website. For a road maintenance inventory dashboard, the data is shown in a few different ways. The InfraTrace dashboard includes a pie chart cut into slices highlighting the current condition of the roads in the area. Selecting a slice brings up that group’s total values, including road length, area, and projected maintenance costs for 10 years. Other information is shown in tables, graphically symbolized to make it easy to understand. The dashboard includes widgets that can be used as counters. The different dashboard features can be linked, allowing for a dynamic data viewing experience. Making a selection in one data widget automatically applies those filters to the others. This gives leaders the ability to interpret the information presented to them easily. In this video, you will find out how InfraTrace **integrated Power BI with GIS Cloud** to enhance the project data. ### Community Empowerment Information is most useful when shared with others. By presenting the information to the public, they can be informed about how and why their tax money is being spent. The ability to embed dashboards into website iframes for sharing with clients and the public has been important. The public sharing of information has encouraged the public to provide their input into decision-making. Decision-makers are able to use the dashboards to highlight the improvements they are achieving with their programs. ### Next Steps InfraTrace has been a client with GIS Cloud since 2017, and recently in 2022, it has become a GIS Cloud partner. GIS Cloud continues to develop tools and plugins that support organizations like Infratrace’s goals. This relationship is a two-way street, as each uses the other to grow and provide better client services. InfraTrace has continued on its path of coordinating with communities on infrastructure management. They have developed workflows that encourage safe public facilities and provide information so tax money can be invested appropriately. As always, if you think GIS Cloud and Power BI can take your organization to the next level, reach out to one of our Solution Consultants or [sign up for a free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” Educational Infrastructure Maintenance Management using GIS Cloud GIS For Vegetation Management Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Government, Roadworks **Tags:** biochar, Cloud Data, Cloud GIS, collaboration, Custom GIS, custom road map, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS For Roadworks, gis wastewater, infrastructure management, Infratrace, Map Editor, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS, Recycle asphalt, recycling asphalt binder, Road Infrastructure and Maintenance, road inventory, Roads, Roadworks Department, use case, Utilities, Waste Management, wastewater --- ### [GIS Cloud Benefits: Super-fast High Definition Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-benefits-super-fast-high-definition-maps/) **Published:** December 6, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![high definition](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Super-fast-High-Definition-Maps-cover.jpg) The GIS Cloud team takes great pride in having accurate and detailed **super fast high definition maps**. Aside from providing **remarkable map visuals** where every pixel is rendered at high definition, our map engine significantly improves the **speed** at which a large number of map features are generated. Working on our high-resolution maps, which can be displayed in 3D, can drastically **improve the user experience** for both beginners and experts. GIS Cloud’s platform presents a new level of advantages when it comes to **spatial analysis** and **field data collection**. The high-definition maps implement highly detailed data that can be used for more precise data collection and an overall better organizational workflow. The high amount of details doesn’t pose a threat, our map engine maintains the same smooth performance when rendering a map, regardless of the quantity of data. The reason these enhanced digital maps are better at visualizing data and the overall performance is **vector tile files**. Conventional maps use fully rendered image files as a base for the user to work on. Whereas super high-definition maps are based on vector tiles where all the data is stored in a compact, structured format. They make large maps run faster while granting full design flexibility. Our map engine raises the bar on performance and visualization because the vector tiles are rendered at high definition while using all screen pixels. Rendering the vector tiles significantly improves map visualization quality on high-pixel density screens on desktop and mobile devices. The map engine automatically detects screen capabilities and adjusts itself to utilize maximum resolution. Additionally, GIS Cloud’s platform offers other benefits other than the **fastest map engine**: - **Easy to use even for non-GIS experts** – no need for expensive training or hiring extra staff - **All you need in one place:** a platform that provides everything from data collection to data publishing - Numerous **integrations:** with QGIS, Power BI, PowerApps, external databases, and other - **100% collaboration environment** – accessible anywhere, with any device, with no need for in-house servers or IT maintenance staff - **Cost-efficient solutions** with a pricing model which fits your particular needs If you still haven’t tried our platform, make sure to [**sign up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try it out for free during your trial period. Also, if you have any questions or feedback about our products, don’t hesitate to contact us at . Related content: Map Engine: Super-fast High Definition Maps! Map Export: High Resolution Maps Key Benefits of Using GIS Cloud’s Map Portal GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Offline Mapping and Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-mapping-and-data-collection/) **Published:** November 23, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![mapping remote](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Offline-Data-Collection.jpg) GIS Cloud’s **offline maps feature** has proven to be a helpful tool not only in remote areas with poor signal but in cases where using mobile data to connect your app can make a substantial bill for the company. **GIS Cloud’s platform** provides a single-click solution for companies looking to improve their productivity. Our **[pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/)** is transparent and budget friendly, shielding our customers from spending excess money. Sometimes, mapping out a project requires **data collection** from remote locations where network signals are virtually nonexistent. Aside from carrying essential equipment, every field worker must be equipped with an offline data collection and mapping application. If synchronized, the apps can accumulate their data in one place and instantly improve the workflow and collaboration between different sectors in a company. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline1-606x1024.png) On top of this, our apps are **easy to use** and work even faster offline than working online! Setting up a project for **offline data collection** is very simple. Firstly, while the device you’ll be using is online, download the maps you’ll be working on, including the layers and basemap that go with them. During data collection in the remote field areas, all the data collected with offline maps will be stacked in a queue waiting to be uploaded onto your account. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline2-607x1024.png) After returning from the field and connecting your device online, the data from our **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** app will be automatically synchronized, and all the map updates will be sent. The newly added data can be accessed instantly by the entire team in either **[Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)** or **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** applications. For more detailed instructions about collecting data offline, you can visit our [guide](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-from-the-field-with-no-internet-connection/) or [Contact our Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). They will help you set up the perfect workflow for your needs. If you haven’t already done this, you can download the new version of the **[Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** as well as the new version of the **[Map Viewer app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)** for [Android ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.viewer&hl=en)and [iOS ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gis-cloud-map-viewer/id1059431691)devices. Related content: Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps Mobile Data Collection How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Custom Popup Style and Grafana Integration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/custom-popup-style-and-grafana-integration/) **Published:** November 17, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Grafana integration](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Custom-Popup-cover.jpg) ##### *Author:* [*Marko Polovina*](https://www.giscloud.com/team/marko-polovina/)*, Frontend Developer at GIS Cloud* Info popup is one of our standard UI components to visualize feature data. By default, the component is available in any GIS Cloud application. But sometimes, we want to customize popups to adjust the style or to integrate with other apps. In that case, we can use API to achieve that. Before we start, look at [our developer’s site](http://developers.giscloud.com/) and [GIS Cloud JavaScript API documentation](http://developers.giscloud.com/javascript-api/guide/). ### **About the data** For our example, we use storm data from the [NOAA](https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/). The original raw dataset contains the following: - Lightning strike events that cause loss of life. - Injuries. - Significant property damage. - Disruption to commerce in California for the period 2007 – 2022. Every event has a location, so it’s easy to display the dataset on a map. ![storm data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/grafana-data.jpg) We will focus on a few columns to create an **informative portal with clean info popup**: - DAMAGE PROPERTY – damage in US dollars. The goal is to display the Grafana graph as an iframe in the column value. The graph will show the damage of lighting strikes in comparison with others. - EVENT NARRATIVE – the title of the lighting strikes event, depending on the source. We want to display a link in the info popup that will open a modal window with text. - EPISODE NARRATIVE – the episode of the lighting strikes event, depending on the source. We want to display a link in the info popup that will open a modal window with text. - INJURIES – if exists, show the value in red to make it more visible. - DEATHS – if exists, show the value in red to make it more visible. Also, use animation to create blinking points on the map to make them easier to spot. ### **Let’s start coding!** It’s time to [set up your Map Portal app](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/map-portal-starting-page/). To be able to do so, you will need first to upload data and [create a map](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/create-a-new-map-and-learn-basic-tools/) in GIS Cloud [**Map Editor**](https://editor.giscloud.com/). Then, go to the **App builder** application and [build your map portal](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/) using created maps. If you need additional instructions on how to create your own Map Portal, take a look at [this example](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) directly. When your Map Portal is up, your map is populated with data, and you are done with the initial portal customization and branding, it’s time to start coding. ***Get data from layer*** ``` giscloud.features.byLayer(, { geometry: "wkt" }).done(function(features) { console.log(features); // ... }); ``` - change *layerId* with your layer id - get geometry for a feature in WKT format; it’s possible to get features without geometry #### ***Create points on the map*** ``` features.forEach(function(feature) { var pointGraphic = { color: new giscloud.Color(0, 0, 0, 100), fill: feature.data.DEATHS && feature.data.DEATHS !== "0" ? new giscloud.Color.fromHex("e6312e") : new giscloud.Color.fromHex("3a2ee6"), size: 8, border: 2, shape: "circle" }; var pointStyle = new giscloud.GraphicStyle(pointGraphic); var point = new giscloud.GraphicFeature(giscloud.geometry.fromOGC(feature.geometry), pointStyle); giscloud.ui.map.graphic.add(point); // ... }); ``` - create points with blue and red colors, depending on the DEATHS column value - the shape can be a circle or square #### ***Add animation to red points*** ``` if (feature.data.DEATHS && feature.data.DEATHS !== "0") { $(".leaflet-marker-pane .leaflet-marker-icon:last-child").addClass("animated-icon"); } ``` ``` .leaflet-marker-icon.animated-icon { animation: highlight 2s linear infinite; } @keyframes highlight { 0% { width: 8px; height: 8px; opacity: 0.3; } 50% { opacity: 1.0; } 70% { border: 1px solid rgba(230, 49, 46, 0.5); } 100% { width: 18px; height: 18px; opacity: 0.3; border: 1px solid rgba(230, 49, 46, 0.2); } } ``` - add **animated-icon** class to point element on the map and then apply CSS animation #### ***Enable info popup on point click*** ``` point.bind("click", function() { gcapp.selo.showRecordInfo(this.feature, false, giscloud.geometry.fromOGC(this.feature.geometry)); }); ``` #### ***Change info popup values before render*** ``` gcapp.selo.addEvent("beforeshowrecordinfo", processPopupDataBeforeRender); function processPopupDataBeforeRender(evt) { $.each(evt.tabledata, function(fieldIndex, item) { switch(item.fieldName) { case "event_type": // change column name from 'event_type' to 'EVENT TYPE' item.name = "EVENT TYPE"; break; case "TIME": // change TIME column format from 830 to 8:30 item.value = item.value.substr(0, item.value.length - 2) + ":" + item.value.substr(item.value.length - 2); break; case "DEATHS": // add red color to column value if value bigger then 0 if (item.value !== "0") { item.value = "" + item.value + ""; } break; case "INJURIES": // add red color to column value if value bigger than 0 if (item.value !== "0") { item.value = "" + item.value + ""; } break; case "EVENT NARRATIVE": // change column value to link with onclick event if (item.value && item.value !== " ") { activeInfo.eventNarrative = item.value; item.value = 'View'; } else { item.value = "NONE"; } break; case "EPISODE NARRATIVE": // change column value to link with onclick event if (item.value && item.value !== " ") { activeInfo.episodeNarrative = item.value; item.value = 'View'; } else { item.value = "NONE"; } break; case "DAMAGE PROPERTY": // load Grafana chart item.value = ' DAMAGE = ' + item.value + '$'; break; } }); } ``` - in **processPopupDataBeforeRender** function, we can change the **tabledata** array and display new attribute values or names in the info popup - attribute value can be any HTML element ### **FINAL RESULT** This blog post showed you how to create a custom portal to **visualize lightning strike events and get a decision-making tool**. Take a look at the final result: [**Map Storm Data 2007 – Example**](https://infopopup.giscloud.com/) ![storm data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Final-result-grafana-custom-popup.jpg) You can find our last development blog post [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-custom-dashboard-using-the-gis-cloud-api/). Also, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact) if you have any questions, comments, or ideas for a new development example. And if you need any help with development, take a look at our [Services page](https://www.giscloud.com/services/). Happy coding! Related content: Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API PowerApps & GIS Cloud – New Integration Release! Mini School: Custom Applications New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal Road Maintenance Webinar – GIS and Power BI Integration **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Why Go GIS Cloud? Alternative for GME or Simply a Better Solution?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-is-not-an-alternative/) **Published:** March 7, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** Instead of saying what GIS Cloud can do for you as an alternative or how it can replace ‘certain players’, ones that shall not be named :), let’s focus on what GIS Cloud does as GIS Cloud, and does it better. - **Better Map Performance** - **Better Pricing Structure** - **Better Collaboration and Functionality** - **Better Integration** - **Better Platform** **Yes, we are the fastest** GIS Cloud team has developed the fastest mapping technology available today. Besides being able to produce raster map tiles it is able to produce vector tiles as well which means even faster performance. Don’t believe us? Create a map with a million features (points, lines or polygons combined) and compare the performance with the same map in other player’s solutions. If they win we’ll provide you with free licenses and an apology! **Our pricing actually makes sense** You can utilize our monthly subscriptions for long and short terms projects. There are no service credits and no hidden costs. You pay for only what you need and use. Tile generation is unlimited, storage is included in the subscription price with the possibility of upgrades. Did you know we charge $5 for 1000 Geocodes? Which is like 8 times less than certain other players charge. **We are 100% Cloud without Legacy in Desktop** GIS Cloud focuses on tools only cloud solutions can bring to the table like Collaboration, Data Sharing and Management. This means that we count on the fact that you have projects in… oh well let’s name them after all: ArcGIS, MapInfo, Google Earth…and that’s fine. Desktop solutions have advanced options and tools GIS professionals definitely need. However you also need to share the data to others within or outside of the organization who can even be non-GIS professionals. **Don’t Replace, simply Embrace and Extend** Not replacing your desktop solutions but extending them allows you to extend your reach to the rest of the organization. GIS Cloud enables you to publish your existing ArcGIS projects with a single click, we support multiple vector and raster formats as well as OGC standards like WMS, WFS etc. and our user interface is tailored to your needs and can be customizied for each organization department separately. **Use GIS Cloud Platform as your own** You would like to develop your own solutions on GIS Cloud Platform? Done! You would like to integrate your existing solutions on GIS Cloud Platform? Done! You would like to aggregate and leverage data from enterprise application siloes using GIS Cloud Platform? Done! To sum it up… …you want to use your existing solutions and tools but need a high quality, fast(est), cost effective and secure cloud based addition? We have it! **Success is a choice.** ### Related content: - [Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/reinvent-your-workflow-gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-maps-engine/ "Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine") - [GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-fusion-tables/ "GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables") - [Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/lewis-county-case-study-small-community-cloud-solution/ "Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution") - [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-crowdsourcing-solution-released/ "GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released") - [GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management-free-webinar/ "GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Alternative to Google Maps Engine, GIS, GIS Cloud, mapping engine --- ### [Benefits of GIS Online Solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/benefits-of-gis-online-solutions/) **Published:** November 9, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![online solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Benefits-of-GIS-Online-cover.jpg) For years now, online GIS solutions have been improving the efficiency of thousands of organizations in their day-to-day operations. The benefits of these solutions go beyond time and cost savings. GIS Cloud has been around since the first migration to online mapping. Our company is centered on providing its users with the benefits of **GIS mapping** through an **easy-to-use platform** built in the cloud. Our infrastructure allows our clients to maximize the advantages of online GIS mapping solutions. These benefits include: 1. Remote Access to Data 2. Secure Data Backups 3. Offline Map Access 4. Dynamic and Live Data 5. Public Information Empowerment Simply migrating parts of your organization’s GIS to the cloud unlocks these benefits and improves the services you can perform. ### **Remote Access to Data** You’ve parked your company vehicle at the job site and excitedly jumped out. It’s day one of an important contract with a new client. As the client approaches, you go to grab the site plans from the backseat. They are nowhere to be found. In your rush this morning to grab some coffee, confirm the location of the job site, rearrange your afternoon meetings, and remind yourself to grab the correct gate key, you completely forgot to grab the rolls of plans on your desk. Not a great first impression with a new client. Thankfully, the iPad that lives in your backpack is loaded with the GIS Cloud [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app, and the data is linked to the project site maps. Seconds later, you and your client are looking at the “rolls of plans,” smoothly analyzing their concerns, and discussing the next steps thanks to having remote access to your GIS data. ![View maps online](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Viewer-mob-desktop-s.png) ### **Secure Data Backups** Having backups of your data is important in every business. With online GIS solutions, your organization can **store its vector, raster, and tabular data files in a secure cloud location** without fear of data loss. Onsite data issues can occur during network outages or IT updates. A simple internet connection will provide you access to your organization’s GIS data at a moment’s notice. ### **Offline Map Access** On the GIS Cloud [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, your maps can easily be stored locally on your device for offline use. With offline storage, **your maps and data can be accessed anywhere in the world**. Locating critical data on sites with limited internet access can be done confidently. The data will be captured, saved, and stored locally until you regain an internet connection. This security will allow you and your team to map as needed without relying on paper notes or inaccurate markings on field maps. ![GIS for Electric Utilities - create project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-create-project.png) ### **Dynamic and Live Data** Information is frequently changing as new resources are used, and the source material is updated. An online GIS solution allows **access to live data with up-to-date representations** from the field or office. This two-way communication allows field crews to communicate live conditions to office staff. These updates communicate locations and can show field conditions through attachments, such as photos and videos. In emergency response situations, such as storm or wildfire events, decision makers can quickly interpret the critical data and make informed decisions based on field collected information. These communications can be life saving during crises that rely on up-to-the-minute knowledge. ![GIS Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/GIS-Cloud-Map-Editor-medium.png) ### **Public Information Empowerment** Combining live data and data sharing capabilities gives organizations the **power to inform the public during emergencies**. By taking public input and dispatching the appropriate responses, the public receives peace of mind knowing they have been heard and their concerns are being addressed. During emergency events, the public can look at live publicly shared data, allowing them to make smart decisions without interfering with lines of communication with the emergency operations center. ### **Conclusion** Each of these benefits are powered and made possible by online GIS solutions provided by tools like the **[GIS Cloud Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)** and the free **[Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)**. Maybe your organization needs to conduct field data collection in the remote forests of Alaska or dispatch flood response teams around Florida. Each of these can be supported by an online GIS solution. If you still haven’t joined our platform, **[register](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)** to GIS Cloud and get a **free 14-day trial**. Of course, if you have any questions or feedback about GIS Cloud, you can contact our consultants at [**info@giscloud.com**](mailto:info@giscloud.com). Related content: GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Key Benefits of Using GIS Cloud’s Map Portal GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Online Solution for Digital Mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-solution-for-digital-mapping/) **Published:** October 27, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Online-Solution-for-Digital-Mapping-cover.jpg) One of the main benefits of any GIS software has become sharing data and collaborating on maps in real-time. GIS Cloud’s platform offers a single-click solution for sharing maps and data with clients or the public. With [**GIS Cloud publisher for QGIS**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/), any GIS user can quickly publish and share their maps without changing the symbology, spatial reference, and layer structure. A perfect desktop and online alternative to ESRI, with a much **friendlier budget**. Businesses that use mapping software understand the importance of fast and accurate analytical performance. Those that use desktop GIS software do so because of their valuable tools and complex analytical capabilities. Still, online GIS solutions are quickly influencing the market. In recent times more and more companies are constantly in demand of products that improve the workflow and do not have a steep learning curve. Our plugin bridges the gap between desktop QGIS and the rest of the world. Transferring your QGIS maps to our platform is so easy that even those that are not GIS experts can do it. The transfer process can be completed in a matter of minutes, and it preserves your symbology. Furthermore, you can share your maps publicly via a map link or privately with your colleagues, allowing colleagues to contribute or view the project. Once you publish your map in GIS Cloud, you can seamlessly update the same map or specific layers on our platform. Moreover, after you publish your map, all of the changes made in QGIS will be synced with the published map. You can check out our [step-by-step guide](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-publish-your-maps-from-qgis-to-gis-cloud/) in our manual or [webinar recording](https://manual.giscloud.com/2020/07/26/qgis-plugin-for-map-publishing-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/) if you want to see it in action. Another unique feature is to use your published QGIS maps to collect or inspect data in the field with our [**Moblie Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. Our users can upload their collected data directly in QGIS, continue working on it, and perform further analysis. GIS Cloud offers users to use the same technological resources for a fraction of the price. Instead of buying an expensive desktop GIS software with tools, you won’t use most of the time, GIS Cloud offers a cost-effective solution for GIS experts and non-GIS users. Working with GIS Cloud can **save up to 50% of your budget** and improve effective work time in your company. If you still haven’t tried it out, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the GIS Cloud publisher and install it for free. Also, you can sign up for a 14-day trial and learn more about other GIS Cloud apps and features. Of course, if you have any questions or feedback about GIS Cloud, you can contact our consultants at info@giscloud.com. Related content: GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions Oil and Gas Case Study: Providing Client Mapping Data Online Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil) Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Master GIS Cloud In-Depth!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/master-gis-cloud-in-depth/) **Published:** October 20, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![non gis certification](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Advanced-Course-Cover.jpg) At GIS Cloud, we always do our best to ensure that our apps are user-friendly and **used by GIS** and **non-GIS users** alike. Our team of customer support specialists and expert consultants is always on hand to offer support and guide you to an optimal workflow within GIS Cloud. However, if you want to expand your knowledge and **master more complex workflows – faster**, then our in-depth Advanced Courses are just the thing for you! Our **2-day online training course** offers a refresher on essential GIS Cloud tools and expands your knowledge with best practices and suggestions for improving workflow efficiency. The course is constantly updated with new feature introductions, and there have been plenty this year – from improvements to data collection to **single-band rasters** and **3D**! **Course Details:** November 15 – 16, 2022 3PM – 7PM CET // 9AM – 1PM EST // 8AM – 12PM (noon) CST The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is for you if you: - Understand GIS Cloud basics but are looking for ways to **improve your workflow** - Want to **make the most of the tools you’re using** - Want to learn how to use **new tools** - Want to **get results faster** - Are an expert GIS Cloud user and want to **get certified** **Special offer until November 4! Course price – $195** Regular course price – $295 **Register** before November 4, 2022, to take advantage of our **special offer**, and attend our Advanced Course for **$195**! **Get certified!** Upon completion of the course, you will be able to obtain a **GIS Cloud Certificate**. In order to receive it, you’ll need to complete a written exam with a practical assignment within the 3 months following the course completion. The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is designed for **existing premium clients** who already have experience using the GIS Cloud platform or have previously attended a GIS Cloud Crash Course. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to see if this is the right course for you! **To register**, simply send us an email to **education@giscloud.com**! Seats are limited, so make sure you register **today!** Find more information about the course, schedule and topics we cover in our [**Learning Center**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-advanced-courses/), or contact us at **education@giscloud.com** with any questions about the program. **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by an expert GIS Cloud instructor. Learning sessions emphasize best practices and encourage discussions and hands-on exercises. Related content: GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program: Enroll Now! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis-released/) **Published:** February 6, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QGIS-Plugin-Released-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QGIS-Plugin-Released-cover.png) After extensive testing and listening to your ideas and needs, we are excited to present you with the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/)! This QGIS plugin allows you to **transfer maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud** in a matter of minutes, preserving your symbology. You can also **update** all changes to your QGIS maps in any phase of your project, or you can choose to update only specific layers. We like to say it’s a single click solution for sharing maps and data from the most popular open-source desktop GIS with the rest of the world! This is great news for all of you GIS professionals in need of a quick and affordable way to **share ‘heavy’ maps and datasets** with clients or make the data public. The idea is that what you see in desktop QGIS is instantly replicated on your GIS Cloud account. Once your maps and data are transferred to GIS Cloud, you can easily share them with your colleagues, the public via map link or embed them into a website. The process of publishing QGIS data to GIS Cloud is seamless. For smaller maps, it takes a few seconds and for bigger ones a few minutes to complete the transfer. This can impact your workflow significantly. There’s no need to export the dataset from QGIS and then import it manually to GIS Cloud. The Publisher for QGIS in that way saves you from the menial part of your daily workflow. ## **Key Features:** - **Transfer your QGIS data (vectors, rasters, wms, wfs) and symbology** - **Points, lines, polygons, categories, and labels are supported completely** - **Upload the entire map, or just a few layers for a fast workflow** - **Update changes made to your map or specific layers** - **Upload the same map as a new version to GIS Cloud** - **Upload as a private or public map** - **Give a name to your map** - **Share public maps instantly with an URL link** - **Share private maps with colleagues inside GIS Cloud** - **You can also publish your QGIS analysis by first saving them as rasters** - **QGIS is connected to GIS Cloud over a secure SSL connection** The QGIS plugin is compatible with **QGIS 3** and **QGIS 2**. Here you can find [a step-by-step guide ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-publish-your-maps-from-qgis-to-gis-cloud/)to walk you through the process and explain all the features in detail. We also invite you to join us at the [live demo webinar on March 19](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-plugin-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/), learn about possible workflows and share your insight! [Create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the **GIS Cloud Publisher** among **QGIS plugins**, install it for FREE and start publishing your maps! Let us know about your thoughts on the plugin, or if there is anything new you’d like to see, drop us a line at hello@giscloud.com. Related content: QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project GIS Cloud Map Viewer for Mobile Released **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** gis cloud publisher, plugin for qgis, publisher for qgis, qgis, qgis plugin, qgis publisher --- ### [Cost-effective Solutions for GIS Users](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cost-effective-solutions-for-gis-users/) **Published:** September 22, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Solutions cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cost-effective-Solutions-for-GIS-1200x628-2.jpg) Imagine a world where small and medium-scale businesses can get a taste of the megacorp technological resources for a fraction of the price. Is a low-cost approach even possible in the GIS market? The answer is **Yes!** Consequently, these reasonably-priced GIS products have been recognized as convenient solutions for small businesses across different working environments due to the uncertain global financial situation. GIS Cloud is proud to be a part of the solution! GIS Cloud [prices](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) are **flexible** and can be adjusted to anyone’s requirements. Whether you need a single Mobile Data Collection license, or a complete set of apps to cover the whole team, GIS Cloud has a solution. GIS Cloud pricing system is **transparent** so that you can plan your budget. Companies with a large number of users can benefit from extensive **volume discounts**. You can try out the pricing calculator to estimate higher volume purchases quickly. Our flexibility also allows users to purchase the rights of our apps whenever they need them. For example, if you’re doing your fieldwork in spring and autumn, you can buy the app for those periods and unsubscribe when you’re not using them. This applies to all of our apps. Our vector storage allows you to use up to 200.000 features and 1 GB of free space for other types of data. With other GIS platforms, where data storage is managed by buying credits, you usually need to calculate the number of credits for specific transactions. This results in unnecessary distractions that can complicate budget planning and ultimately prevent the company’s efficiency. Working with GIS Cloud can **save up to 50% of your budget** and improve effective work time. However, while GIS platforms such as ESRI or similar, you might have additional costs over time, which could be hard to fathom. Check out our [cost-effective solution](https://www.giscloud.com/how-it-works/), save yourself from unreasonable software expenses, and reap the benefits with your team. In the meantime, [register to GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and get a 14-day free trial. Of course, if you have any questions or feedback about GIS Cloud, you can contact our consultants at . Related content: GIS Cloud – The Best Solution for Non-GIS Users Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users Cloud Mapping (Rev)Solutions continue… Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces using GIS Cloud Solutions | Nestorio, Greece Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance **Categories:** Blog --- ### [3D - Exciting New Feature Release](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/3d-exciting-new-feature-release-webinar-invite/) **Published:** September 14, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![New Feature 3D Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GIS-Cloud-3D-Visualization-1200x628-1.jpg) For most, summer is a time for some rest and relaxation. We have decided to develop a cool new feature that will change how you look at your data. So without further ado, we are excited to release our newest feature: ****3D visualization**.** We’ve heard your feedback and are implementing a 3D view into our applications so that you can better understand your data and make more informed decisions. We strive to provide our users with the best mapping experience possible. We believe we’ve taken a big step forward with this feature release. *Check out this webinar recording and see how adding the third dimension (3D) provides a better insight into the world around you.* GIS Cloud 3D will enable you to use the predefined 3D model, your data, and any basemap you set. You’ll also be able to add your own Digital Elevation Model to provide more accurate data for your local area. There are many solutions out there that enable you to view the data in 3D. But how many of them can give you the option to dynamically add your data on top of it, collaborate with in-office and field crews to enrich your 3D models, and share it with others in real-time? These are vital steps for turning your data and solutions into better products that improve your daily workflows and raise your understanding of physical assets through a digital world. Applications of 3D mapping are found in a variety of industries, including engineering, construction, architecture, urban planning, utilities, and local government. There are many benefits of using 3D in GIS, some of which are listed below: - It helps you understand the world better - It helps you make better decisions - It helps you communicate your ideas better - It enables you to visualize data in a more efficient way - It allows you to analyze data more effectively - It will enable you to create more realistic models - It allows you to understand the interrelationships between different features In the end, we’re used to seeing things in 3D, so sharing your data in a way that enables a 3D view is a very intuitive method to communicate what’s going on in the field to users who don’t necessarily need to be GIS or tech experts. We are excited to offer this new feature to our users, and we hope you find it as helpful and insightful as we do! In the meantime, if you want to use 3D functionalities in your workflows and projects, make sure you [**Sign Up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for a 14-day free trial. Of course, if you have any questions or feedback about GIS Cloud, you can contact our consultants at info@giscloud.com. So what are you waiting for? Start mapping in 3D today! Related content: Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Multi Labels – New Feature Release Form Translations – New Feature Release! Copy Symbology – New Feature Release New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** 3D mapping --- ### [Woodland Survey - Evolving Forests Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/woodland-survey-evolving-forests-use-case/) **Published:** October 12, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Woodland Survey Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Evolving-Forests-Cover.jpg) Delighted for the opportunity to design and deliver a woodland survey focused on Dartmoor commons, our client **[**Evolving Forests**](https://evolvingforests.com/)** joined the ‘Healthy Trees for Tomorrow’ project. A joint venture with[ Dartmoor National Park Authority](https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/),[ Foundation for Common Land](https://foundationforcommonland.org.uk/), and the Lottery Heritage Fund, realized by volunteers. Dartmoor on their doorstep and in their veins, investigating tree health and natural regeneration, was right up their street. Evolving Forests joined forces with friends and all-around great beings Paul and Bea from[ Corylus Ecology](http://www.corylus-ecology.co.uk/) to bring that expert edge to habitat surveying. Then they rallied some twenty-plus volunteers in the name of citizen science to help them collect the data. We spoke with Katherine Giles, Sustainable Timber Specialist at Evolving Forests, about the project and how have GIS Cloud solutions improved their workflow. **About Evolving Forests:** Evolving Forests, based in Devon, England, works with people looking to use more timber in more considered ways. Always looking for new solutions, their work seeks to better human connection and relationship with trees and work with other organizations and people growing trees to benefit ecosystems, society, and beyond. The team at Evolving Forests lives for innovation, curiosity, challenging convention, and creating symbiotic relationships with the natural world. Their work does not differentiate between timber product development and ecological surveys. They believe that the path to better business development and land-use change is through seeking out the spaces in which environmental, social, and economic aspects can come together and complement each other. **What motivated you to start the project? Why did you choose GIS Cloud?** Regarding curating our methodology, we were a little stumped by the lack of digital software available. Bored of endless days of data entry associated with paper surveys, we searched high and low to find a solution. We finally discovered ‘GIS Cloud’. It did everything we needed (I know this answer reads like an aspirational advert for some lifestyle product, but stick with us). The smartphone app is user-friendly, with a clean interface and automatic geo-location that pinpoints data collected. It connects with the mapping program we use to analyze data (QGIS). Unfortunately, we’re not cool or clever enough to design that sort of thing ourselves, so we almost gave up looking. Working with GIS Cloud, we could develop the data collection form easily and quickly. The GIS Cloud tech support team was always on hand when she tried to break it. **How did GIS Cloud change how you usually do things?** App in hand, our invaluable team of doggedly-determined volunteers have traversed boggy divots to woodland edges collecting tree health data. Because data in the app is uploaded in **real-time**, we could react swiftly to areas that demand further investigation. With that, we can have confidence in our data set long before official data processing starts. As a result, our baseline data on tree health on Dartmoor has benefited dramatically. The confidence of knowing that everything collected is safe has been invaluable. Nevermore will we see data flutter away on a gust, dissolve in a downpour, or suffer misinterpretation. And gallant efforts to gather data are instead meticulously captured and judiciously stored. We have also curated an open and positive working relationship with the GIS Cloud Support Team, which supported the development of our survey forms at every step. **What was the biggest challenge in achieving your project goals?** Employing citizen science with a diverse group of volunteers to gather as much data as possible meant finding a solution with an **easy and intuitive data-collecting** capability was essential. Using GIS Cloud also meant that training our group was simple and fun. We gathered together on Dartmoor, briefly discussed how the app works and got out in the field to test it together. The session threw up many questions we could work through as a group. By the end of the 2-hour session, everyone felt confident and happy to get out to their survey areas on days and at times that suited them. The paperless aspect of GIS Cloud was a massive bonus for us. Keen to reduce our consumption of raw materials and even keener to cut down the amount of data entry, the app allowed us to simply download an Excel file when the data collection period finished, and we could start analyzing it straight away. This also fed into the project’s costs, **significantly reducing** them by cutting out the days required to input everything from paper-copy surveys into Excel. The **integration of GIS Cloud with QGIS** is perfect for how we work. We love to use maps and visuals to communicate our projects, and quickly pulling our results into our mapping project has been great! We can’t wait to share our findings with our stakeholders and work together on the next steps for the health and future of Dartmoor’s trees. **In your opinion, what are the main uses and benefits of the GIS Cloud Solution for organizations like yours?** The confidence of knowing that everything collected is safe has been invaluable. Nevermore will we see data flutter away on a gust, dissolve in a downpour, or suffer misinterpretation. And gallant efforts to gather data are instead meticulously captured and judiciously stored. Since developing GIS Cloud for our use, we also started working with the[ Woodland Trust](https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/) and[ Plantlife](https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk) to use the digital platform to collect woodland survey data for [Rapid Woodland Assessments](https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/our-work/conservation-projects/woodland/building-resilience-in-south-west-woodlands/interested-in-volunteering/rapid-woodland-assessment-rwa). In our opinion, there is great potential for GIS Cloud solutions usage in our sector. If you are looking for an **easy and intuitive** solution for your data collection projects, [**sign up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the free 14-day trial. Of course, you can also contact our Solution Consultants to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow at **info@giscloud.com**. Related content: Vegetation Survey of Lake Gaston (Case Study) Optimizing Operations with Online GIS in Sustainable Forestry (case study) Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Vegetation Management --- ### [GIS Cloud Services](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-services/) **Published:** July 8, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIS-Cloud-Services-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIS-Cloud-Services-cover.png) To **ensure your success** while using GIS Cloud platform, we are launching **[**GIS Cloud Services**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/)!** Having an abundant portfolio of **diverse GIS apps** that are easily customizable, as well as a **rich API** allowing you to integrate or develop your own solutions within GIS Cloud, we decided it is time to put our **consultants** and **developers at** your **constant disposal** and show you everything this platform can do! They will help and guide you along your journey and set your organization up for success with the GIS Cloud technology and solutions. Let us **assist** you and **onboard** you with confidence, whether you need to learn, develop, build or analyze your data faster with GIS Cloud. We will help you build **customized solutions** that will **inspire** your clients and users to **implement online GIS (or on-premises)** into their everyday workflows. Find out how what type of services do we offer and how our team can help you accelerate your workflow and **save valuable time and budget costs!** ## **Training and Certification** This is an opportunity for **non-GIS professionals,** as well as proven **GIS practitioners**, to extend their knowledge and become **certified specialists** in GIS Cloud solutions and technology! - Mobile and Web application **Crash Courses for beginners!** - **Advanced Modules** for users who want to know more! - **Personalized training** sessions for specific workflows! - **Regular Certification** opportunities! ## **Map & Data Management** Maybe you already understand how maps and spatial data help your organization but you’re simply too busy with other work. Well, we think being busy is good! You just make sure to focus on what you do best and let us take care of everything else “spatial” related by helping you **set up the right GIS Cloud workflow!** - **Data Conversion & Visualization** – Do you have data in non-GIS formats that you want to see on a map? Yup, we can do that for you! - **Cartography** – Need help with creating beautiful maps? Our experts can help! - **Big Form Building** – We can be your extended hand and manage forms, data, and maps on a daily basis if needed! You have paper or complex forms you need to digitize? We’re on it! - **User & Account Setup – We’ll create a perfect environment for your organization as per your needs!** **GIS Cloud Services Team will handle all the heavy grinding and optimize your training to ensure a smooth transition and easy launch of your team’s future workflow success!** ## **Custom Reports** Transform your **paper reports into digital** and enable your users to create **feature reports directly in GIS Cloud**. - Your personal report built with your template and design - Report per feature generated directly in the map - Streamlined process – from the field to the document in a matter of seconds ## **Branded GIS Cloud Applications** Did you know that you can put **your name and logo** on GIS Cloud applications? Some of our biggest partners, like [Asterra, ](https://asterra.io/)a company that revolutionized the water industry with satellite leakage water detection, and [SmartAqua,](http://smartaqua.hr/index.html#SmartAqua) a water management and consulting company chose to [white label mobile and web GIS Cloud applications.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/) This helped them grow their personal brand reputation in the market **without investing** in **hardware, software, or coding**! - **Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer** – GIS Cloud mobile apps available in App Store and Google Play under your personal brand! - **Public Portals** – We build and customize your visitors’ best possible experience in a browser environment. - **Private Applications** – Your maps and data in an app your private users deserve. ## **Customization & Development** Do you wish to build a completely custom solution that 100% fits your requirements? Don’t worry, we’ll build and set it up for you with the best technology in the business. - Setup a custom Dashboard - Build new applications from the ground up - Change the layout of the existing GIS Cloud applications - Build a completely new functionality according to your specifications - Prioritized feature development With [GIS Cloud API integration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/spatial-visualization-with-animated-graphs-using-gis-cloud-map-portal-and-d3-js/) you can create **analytic animated graphs** within your dashboards to understand the data even better. **Unlock the power of geolocation to identify and solve complex operational problems!** ## **Integration & Automation** Whether you need to connect to your **existing infrastructure**, empower the solutions you’re **already using,** or simply make things **more automatic**, we got you covered! - Integrate with third-party Analytic tools (PowerBI, etc.) - Make your regular IT solution a spatial one by integrating with GIS Cloud (CRM, ERP, etc.) - Create backup and synchronization scripts for a more automated work **With GIS Cloud Services you will address everyday challenges more effectively, get trustworthy results and discover the real potential of Online GIS!** ## **On-Premise Deployments that Scale** Our vast experience in building and running a **scalable cloud platform** is at your disposal for deploying GIS Cloud on your infrastructure. We’ll help you architect, design, and integrate our platform into your environment to provide **optimal performance**. **GIS Cloud technology and solutions help numerous organizations around the world to unfold their true geo-potential and strategically benefit from utilizing our apps and services!** [**Request for a Quote**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/) by filling in the form at the end of our page and enjoy the benefits of **GIS Cloud Services!** Related content: Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS GIS For Vegetation Management Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** alternative to carto, alternative to ESRI, alternative to fulcrum, alternative to google maps, alternative to mapbox, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, consulting, Custom GIS, custom GIS app, data collection, data visualisation, developers, field data collection, geodata, geospatial, GIS, gis certificate, gis certification, GIS Cloud, GIS consultants, GIS Partner, gis professionals, GIS providers, gis services, IT providers, location inteligence, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS, qgis, qgis plugin, qgis publisher, Smart Cities, Smart City, Spatial Data, use case, Utilities --- ### [Create a GIS Project in 3 Easy Steps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/create-a-gis-project-in-3-easy-steps/) **Published:** October 4, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS in 3 easy steps cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GIS-Blog3-1200x628-1.jpg) Starting a GIS project has always seemed like a hassle to non-GIS users and even beginners in this field. However, creating a map that anyone can access and use should be done in a few steps that anyone can understand. GIS Cloud offers a real-time solution where the whole team can collaborate on the mapping process. Creating a GIS project shouldn’t be a one-department problem. So that’s why our platform offers multiple specialized apps where every department can have a role in the GIS mapping process. Creating a GIS project in your company can be summed up in **3 easy steps**. **1. Organize your team** GIS Cloud isn’t just software for mapping. It’s an entire platform where the whole team is engaged in the project-making & decision process. People with specific roles can use specialized apps designed for their roles. Engineers and managers can set up the base map for the project on our [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) map tool. The field workers can collect data and report from the field via our [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) software. Finally, the company decision-makers can participate in all this by monitoring and coordinating the whole project using our [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app designed for them. **2. Working on the solution** Once your team has the proper tools for the project, the whole company can now move together. Once you’ve created a map, you can upload the data you’ve gathered from the field and share it. Our Map Editor mapping tool is constantly updated with new features making it easier for engineers to create, style, and edit maps. Check out how to [get started with GIS Cloud](https://manual.giscloud.com/2015/06/10/getting-started-with-gis-cloud-using-only-3-steps/) using **only** 3 steps. **3. Implementing the strategy** With a strategy like this, every company will have improved project results. The workload will be spread across the departments, improvements can be implemented on a smaller scale, and the monitoring process can be done in real-time. For projects of public interest, you can upload your maps on our customizable [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) app, where you have an overview of your mapping efforts, and it allowing the public to explore your data with one click. Our powerful platform enables you to view data instantly on your maps at [fantastic rendering speed](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-super-fast-high-definition-maps/). On top of that, we use Amazon data centers as our cloud servers, known for their reliability and security. Our prices are transparent and highly flexible, meaning that you get to pay only for what you use. If you still haven’t joined our platform, [register to GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and get a 14-day free trial. Of course, if you have any questions or feedback about **GIS Cloud**, you can contact our consultants at . Related content: Collect data in only 5 steps! How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps? How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Mapping the Italian Heritage – A Story about GIS Cloud Implementation for the Proditerr@ Project **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud - The Best Solution for Non-GIS Users](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-the-best-solution-for-non-gis-users/) **Published:** September 1, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Non GIS users use GIS Cloud cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GIS-Cloud-The-Best-Solution-for-Non-GIS-Users-Cover-1200x628-d-13.png) GIS software is constantly improving the process of how digital cartography benefits consumers with consistent and accurate personalized information at any moment. The wide variety of functions makes GIS a powerful tool for any enterprise. However, learning the software poses many obstacles for the average person to overcome. Implementing and learning GIS solutions can sometimes be discouraging for novice GIS users and even more challenging for non-GIS users. This division between GIS-savvy and non-GIS users usually results in an unproductive project workflow. Nevertheless, a *smart* way for companies to avoid this drawback is to empower non-GIS users. By providing an easy-to-use solution for everyone, companies can increase the potential of their geospatial data and exceed in their respective fields. GIS Cloud solved this problem by developing *smart GIS software*, consisting of several applications for different needs of GIS workflow. Our platform offers companies an all-in-one package customized to their needs. It can be used by both GIS professionals and non-GIS users. Involving non-GIS users in the learning process and distributing the workload will take the pressure off GIS specialists, making them concentrate on finer details. ### **GIS Cloud – One Platform Solution** Our specialized applications allow every team member to work on a specifically assigned project and tasks, enabling a streamlined workflow and faster organizational task management. Our apps can be used on all devices, online and offline, improving the ease of use. The GIS Cloud platform is divided into several applications with different functions designed to enhance data quality control in various departments. All the while operating in real-time, the platform provides updated information ready to be used at a moment’s notice. **[Mobile Data Collection (MDC)](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** An excellent way for fieldworkers to transition from paper to digital reports and notes. The perfect tool for data collection, visualization, and monitoring in real-time. It is a fast and easily deployable solution helping you collect data on different types of assets in online and offline work environments. All of the above makes Mobile Data Collection the most cost-effective solution for your data collection projects. **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** A powerful cloud-based map application is used for creating and sharing maps, surveys, and general project management. Map Editor supports many vector and raster formats, rich symbology, and built-in collaboration capabilities that allow real-time editing and sharing. It has numerous feature and attribute editing and data analysis tools, spatial filters, and data filtering tools. **[Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)** Used as an easy collaboration tool to view and access maps and data, Map Viewer is optimized for non-GIS users. It enables you and your clients to access shared or public maps on any device in real time, making it an efficient tool for decision-makers. **[Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)** A friendly way of displaying your data to the public, Map Viewer offers an affordable and effective solution for your viewers to search, visualize, and explore media-enriched data. ### **Usability & Intuitive User Experience** Since we want to encourage non-GIS users to use our platform, the GIS Cloud team developed products that provide customers with the best possible user experience. To start using our products and services, [**create your GIS Cloud account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), which enables a 14-day trial period to check out our apps and features. After purchasing the desired application, you can log in to your account and start using it. If your team consists of non-GIS personnel, implementing a GIS Cloud platform to your project/workflow will save you training and project time. Users will not experience a steep learning curve and will not require extensive training to use our apps. For more advanced functionalities, you can always look up the solution in the[ GIS Cloud manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/) or contact us directly at info@giscloud.com. Performance-wise, GIS Clouds’ robust and fast engine allows you to view data on a map at an astounding rendering speed. Aside from working online, our apps can run offline, enabling fieldworkers to collect data in isolated places. Furthermore, sharing maps and data with users outside your organization is not only easy but safe. We use Amazon data centers for cloud servers, world-renowned for their security and reliability. ### **Price** GIS Cloud offers a highly flexible price that can be tailored for all budgets. Our[ **pricing plans**](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) are transparent and straightforward. You pay only for apps that you use and when you use them. Also, there is a discount for nonprofit organizations and users from the education industry. ### **Features** At GIS Cloud, we listen to our users, and we constantly work on improving and updating our platform and our apps. A steady stream of new features is regularly developed and presented on our blog and via webinars. Some of the features that we have recently released are: - [Form Translations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/form-translations-new-feature-release/) - [Single-band Raster](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/single-band-raster-new-feature-and-webinar/) - [H3 Visualization](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/h3-visualization-spotlight/) - [Multi Labels](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/multi-labels-new-feature-release/) We have recently released a new [integration between PowerApps and GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/powerapps-gis-cloud-new-integration-release/) to introduce that spatial component in the PowerApps environment. Our next upcoming feature is implementing[ 3D modeling](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-3d-in-gis/) into our software, and it will be followed by a webinar explaining how it works. Stay tuned for the upcoming release and our sneak peek webinar coming soon! Related content: Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Using 3D in GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-3d-in-gis/) **Published:** August 24, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Using 3D in GIS Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/3D-in-GIS-Cover-1200x628-1.png) Most GIS users, whether an expert or a novice, are familiar with maps and data based on two dimensions. You have your coordinates – your longitude and your latitude- the basis for your points, lines, polygons, and raster data. However, mapping the world in two dimensions doesn’t always give you the complete picture, and adding the third dimension (3D) provides a better insight into the world around you. In most cases, the third dimension represents the elevation data, but it can also illustrate concepts such as population density, building heights, the concentration of resources, plot suitability, price, and much more. While 3D is a visually impactful tool, its power lies in combining the 3D model with other vector and raster datasets such as infrastructure asset locations (roads, utilities), vegetation around utility lines, waterways, land use data, vegetation, etc. This provides an additional layer of information and helps put the location into the right context, which is why it’s often used in a wide range of industries and use cases. For example, having a geographical context is essential in transportation and urban planning in general. When building roads or planning an infrastructure network (electrical, gas, sewage, communication), it’s essential to recognize the different factors that might affect the development. Building in hilly areas is not the same as building in low flatlands, as it can not only impact the suitability but also significantly influence building and maintenance costs. In agriculture, a 3D model can provide important information about the slope of the location and its aspect, which influences which crops can be grown. In energy, understanding the terrain can assist in defining areas where solar or wind energy can provide a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. In disaster management, detailed maps that include the topography can help determine the best routes for evacuation or provide a way to understand the potential impact better. **Adding more meaning to 3D models with GIS Cloud** There are many solutions out there that enable you to view the data in 3D, but not all of them give you the option to dynamically add your own data on top of it, collaborate with in-office and field crews to enrich your 3D models, and share it with others in a real-time fashion. These are all key steps for turning your existing data and solutions into better products that improve your daily workflows and raise your understanding of physical assets through a digital world. In the end, we’re used to seeing things in 3D, so sharing your data in a way that enables a 3D view is a very intuitive method to communicate what’s going on in the field to users who don’t necessarily need to be GIS or tech experts. **So what’s new in GIS Cloud?** The great news is that 3D is soon coming to GIS Cloud! We’ve heard your feedback and are implementing a 3D view into our applications so that you can better understand your data and make more informed decisions. GIS Cloud 3D will enable you to use the predefined 3D model along with your data and any basemap you set. You’ll also be able to add your own Digital Elevation Model to provide more accurate data for your local area. We can’t wait to hear what you think, so stay tuned for the upcoming release and our sneak peek webinar coming soon! Related content: Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users Using GIS in Tourism – Tourist Map of Solta A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Become a GIS Cloud Partner **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2022](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-foss4g-2022/) **Published:** August 18, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud meet us at FOSS4G cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/GIS-Cloud-and-QGIS-cover.png) Two years ago, we presented a new plugin on our platform that allows users to transfer and edit maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud, giving you the best of both worlds. With [GIS Could publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/), you can transfer and update maps or even specific layers effortlessly, making it a single-click solution for sharing data from the most prominent open-source desktop GIS software. After transferring a map or a layer from QGIS onto GIS Cloud, our software enables you to quickly share the data privately or publicly and collect specific data from the field in real time. This creates a multi-purpose tool built on two leading GIS platforms that can easily be applied in any industry. Any information you’ll need about how to implement QGIS maps, layers, and other features in GIS Cloud you can find in this [step-by-step](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-publish-your-maps-from-qgis-to-gis-cloud/) guide. If you haven’t already tried it out, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the **GIS Cloud publisher** in **QGIS plugins** and install it for free. Also, you can sign up for a 14-day trial and learn more about other GIS Cloud apps and features. However, if you’ve already tried this plugin and have some thoughts or suggestions, don’t hesitate to contact us at hello@giscloud.com. Furthermore, we are happy to announce that the GIS Cloud team will participate in the [FOSS4G](https://2022.foss4g.org/) conference this year in Firenze, Italy. FOSS4G is the most important annual global event focused on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial, organized by OSGeo. We’re looking forward to getting in touch with anyone who wants to connect, so feel free to reach us at info@giscloud.com. Related content: GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn! Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Form Translations - New Feature Release!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/form-translations-new-feature-release/) **Published:** July 28, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Cover-1200x628-d-10.png) One of the great things about data collection projects in GIS Cloud is that you can fully customise them to suit your needs. This also means that you can **create projects in any language you want** by simply defining the field names or any preexisting values in the language of your choice! We’re excited to announce our newest feature that takes this flexibility further – **form translations**! If you want to **translate your new or existing forms**, this feature will help you quickly set this up. Form translations allow you to define the original form language and then add any number of additional translations for the same form. You no longer need to have duplicate forms in different languages or use complicated setups. The form’s language will automatically be chosen for you based on the language settings in the Mobile Data Collection app or the device itself. If you’re working in a multilingual environment, this allows you to work with users with different language preferences with more ease on the same project, so give this option a go to streamline your data collection translations! ### **Did you know that GIS Cloud apps are already translated into 15 different languages?** GIS Cloud users come from all over the world and speak a wide range of languages. We wanted to ensure everyone can easily use our applications regardless of their native language, so our desktop apps have already been translated to languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, German or Swedish, among others, and our Mobile Data Collection app to French, Croatian and Japanese, along with the standard English. We’re happy to continue expanding this ever-growing list, so if there’s a particular language you’d like to see GIS Cloud translated into, feel free to reach out to us! As always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts on our newest features so get in touch by sending us an email at , and if you haven’t already, [create your account and start your free 14-day trial!](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Related content: Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Multi Labels – New Feature Release Copy Symbology – New Feature Release Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON **Categories:** Blog --- ### [H3 Visualization Spotlight](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/h3-visualization-spotlight/) **Published:** June 14, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![H3 Visualization cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cover-1200x628-d-4.png) We are happy to announce that we have made some improvements when it comes to importing your csv/xls files to GIS Cloud. Until now, you have been able to upload only based on Lat/Long coordinate fields, and now we have brought you H3 and Well-Known-Text. **H3** If you have ever seen hexagon grids on maps, you probably asked yourself why? When it comes to data visualization, as we have already mentioned, it’s always important to consider your main goal and what you and the end-user will do with that information. Regular shapes such as squares, triangles, and hexagons are a common choice for representing spatial data in a vector format, primarily for thematic maps, as they allow you to divide the space into equal subdivisions. Hexagons are a great fit when dealing with large areas and even larger data sets – they provide better visualization because they nest together perfectly and their uniformity makes them a good choice for presenting thematic maps. At the same time, they enable you to understand your data more effectively. There are quite more benefits of using hexagons when visualizing your data, but we believe that you will try and test that out for yourself. **Well-Known-Text** For the representation of vector geometry objects until now, you have been able to work only with point data. With WKT you are now able to visualize not only points but lines and polygons as well. So if you are working with that type of data, feel free to give it a try. Check out our quick video and learn how to make your first H3 map now: For a step-by-step guide, make sure to visit our manual [**HERE**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-upload-your-csv-xls/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at [**info@giscloud.com**](mailto:info@giscloud.com), and we can help you with data visualization in your projects as well. In the meantime, try some data visualization options yourself by [**signing in**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in), or if you already haven’t, [**create your account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today. Related content: Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial) GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County Spatial Visualization with Animated Graphs Using GIS Cloud Map Portal and D3.js Copy Symbology – New Feature Release **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Educational Infrastructure Maintenance Management using GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/educational-infrastructure-maintenance-management-using-gis-cloud/) **Published:** June 8, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Educational Infrastructure Maintenance Management - cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Cover-1200x628-d-5.png) Our partner Global Code Technology from Costa Rica which also operates in other countries of the region successfully finished a field data collection of educational infrastructure for their client, Unidad Gerencial de Mantenimiento (UGM) in Peru. Unidad Gerencial de Mantenimiento (UGM) is a maintenance management unit, part of the Peruvian National Program for Educational infrastructure (Programa Nacional de Infraestructura Educativa – PRONIED), that manages public educational infrastructure for the benefit of the community, in a concerted, planned, regulates and efficient manner. Their goal is to expand, improve, replace, rehabilitate, and/or build public educational infrastructure for primary education and pedagogical, technological, and technical-productive higher education, including its maintenance and/or equipment. **PROBLEM** Global Code Technolgy crew was brought on board to improve and optimize data collection processes for UGM-PRONIED, to upgrade monitoring, evaluation of progress, and work execution processes of key educational infrastructure maintenance. UGM-PRONIED needed to upgrade the collection data methods so that locals could get involved, which would speed up the management’s decision-making time to efficiently target locations in need of infrastructure maintenance. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/School-standard_Modulo-tipo-Costa-Quilmana-para-la-web.jpg) The biggest challenge for Global Code Technology was creating a new digital form due to the size of the database previously collected and stored on paper. With around 1300 fields, they split the first project into 7 different layers, each with its own mobile data collection database, which was then downloaded on an excel spreadsheet for further processing. In the past, UGM-PRONIED had at one moment, an active map with 800 fields, which they could not edit. Their field teams would have to fill out their paper-based forms and make a report for each location, which took a lot of time. That data was then processed and analyzed and inputted into a geographical database for decision-making. So the real challenge was to design the new digital field workflow with a new digital data collection form. Another challenge was getting field crews used to mobile-based data collection apps, as not everyone has an affinity for using cell phones or tablets. To solve this, providing continuous support and training, exams, and drills were essential for this project. **SOLUTION** To solve a challenge, Global Code Technology worked on improving three key project points: – Digitalization and organization of previous paper-based forms into GIS Cloud forms – Improve database and data collection input – Data validation and report automation and optimization ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Global-code-.jpg) GIS Cloud platform was chosen as a solution of choice due to its capability of integrating data collection, editing, visualization and sharing of data on a cloud-based platform. GIS Cloud provided a paperless solution with which data can quickly be inspected, collected, and processed, giving project managers the ability to speed up decision-making time and prioritize workflow. The three key advantages of GIS Cloud solutions were: 1. Cloud based GIS Cloud platform for data collection, processing, editing, and further visualization and sharing 2. Multi-user and multi-app usage with solid support 3. Easy to use, intuitive interface The specific apps they used were the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), and [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), with a specific amounts of storage for each project, depending on the workflow and needs. **RESULTS** As a result, GIS Cloud solutions digitized and improved the UGM-PRONIED data collection process, and provided the management unit of the project the ability to make decisions faster and in real time. Having a digital data collection form was a major benefit for the project. With the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, data collection was made a lot easier and faster, with the Auto-fill option being especially beneficial. During the whole project, Global Code Technology worked on adjusting the data collection form so that data can be collected via [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) more productively and efficiently. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zona-Centro-Norte.png) The result was quicker data collection, better monitoring and evaluation of the situation in the field, and progress in the execution of infrastructure works. The management unit was able to have swift data control and gather essential feedback from the field teams, which allowed them to make quick real-time decisions. Data collection in real time in different key locations is a significant asset to the public and private sectors. Combined with a georeferenced platform for visualizing essential information for making better and quicker decisions is an innovative and efficient way to analyze database information in every area of the workflow. The [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) enabled Global Code Technology to create a customized map with the data they wanted to visualize so that the management unit of UGM-PRONIED can share it with the quality and control division via [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/). Being able to upload and send media from the field increased the speed of information circulation. Project managers were able to assess and control data in a more timely manner. The result was better monitoring and evaluation of the situation in the field, and progress in the execution of infrastructure works. The management unit was able to have swift data control and gather essential feedback from the field teams, which allowed them to make quick real-time decisions. **ABOUT** Global Code Technology has professional experience in the management of geoinformation projects, with a strong focus on applying new technologies that bring specialized solutions closer to the real needs of clients. They offer intelligent technological solutions, technical advice, and project management within a framework of the IoT. Global Code Technology diagnoses the situation and proposes a range of services designed to improve clients’ workflows and meet the project’s needs. If you want to meet the Global Code Technology team, you can do so at [**Smart Cty Expo LATAM Congress**](https://smartcityexpolatam.com/) in the city of Merida, Mexico, today and tomorrow. The seventh edition of SCELC22 will focus on ideas and projects being implemented in the cities and territories of Latin America. The goal of the SCELC22 is to find innovative solutions that can help us transform our societies and environments through the collaboration of public organizations and private companies. You can also follow congress virtually. ![Smart City Expo Latam Congress invite](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Smart-City-Expo-Latam-Congress.png) GIS Cloud is a fully scalable online platform with no desktop installation required. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud, [**sign up for the Free Premium 14-day trial.**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Also, be free to contact our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces using GIS Cloud Solutions | Nestorio, Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/management-and-monitoring-of-green-spaces-using-gis-cloud-solutions-nestorio-greece/) **Published:** May 18, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Cover.png) Our partner **[NubiGroup](https://www.nubigroup.gr/)** from Greece, helped the Nestorio Municipality, a small mountainous Municipality in Northern Greece, acknowledge the benefits of new technologies and implemented GIS Cloud solutions into its workflow to monitor and manage the municipal green spaces. **[NubiGroup](https://www.nubigroup.gr/)** is our **[partner](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-consultants-become-a-gis-cloud-partner/)** and a company that creates a new generation of geo-services, research, and products by exploiting geospatial information and cloud computing. Their focus is on **real-time, informed collaboration** between clients and their customers. **The Challenge** The municipality is responsible for maintaining the green spaces under its responsibility (parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, sidewalks, etc.). The main challenge was improving **their workflow** to be more efficient and consequently **reduce costs** (human resources and equipment). The issues they faced were the following: - Lack of spatial data in terms of green spaces, which is essential also for the budget estimation - Lack of appropriate applications for monitoring work progress – a very time-consuming process that requires data collected on the field. **The Solution** - Adaptation and utilization of GIS Cloud platform solutions in the workflow The first step comprised spatial data development, performed through **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/),** a powerful application for data creation, editing, and sharing. ![Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/map.png) With the maps and database created, a **custom form** was designed and integrated into the specific layers used for field data collection using the **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** app. The field crew then collects all the necessary information (photos, text notes, date and time of work implementation, etc.) with a smartphone. ![Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces form](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/form.png) The field data is available in real time to the municipality’s person in charge through the **Map Editor** application. Finally, all the field-collected data can be tabulated in a report format with a single “click” and saved in PDF format. ![Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces form map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/form-map.png) **The Benefits** - Workflow optimization / more efficient work management and monitoring - Documentation of the work that has been carried out - Work progress monitoring in real time - Time and cost reduction - One solution for all mapping needs - Simple and easy GUI of the applications - No investment in equipment - Cost-effective solution **Conclusion** Nowadays, the digital transformation of the Local / Regional authorities is of crucial importance since it provides a more efficient and “transparent” governance and consequently delivers better services to the citizens. GIS Cloud platform offers a cutting-edge technology that can be integrated into any organization, no matter the size, and is a cost-effective solution. [****Contact our Consultants**** ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)to help you set up a desirable GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece GIS Cloud Will be Showcased at Geomapplica in Greece Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management --- ### [Become a GIS Cloud Partner](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-consultants-become-a-gis-cloud-partner/) **Published:** May 4, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Benefits of GIS Cloud Partnership Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Partnership-Cover.png) GIS Cloud is one of the **leading cloud-based (online)** **GIS providers in the world!** We work with numerous global companies and organizations coming from different backgrounds and industries. Primarily, those industries base their data on a **location component**. We dare to say that more than 80% of their data is location-based! Across the globe, they work with GIS Cloud’s intuitive, cutting-edge data collection and mapping technology. Our GIS platform is versatile and applicable to numerous projects and case studies like: - [Local Governments](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cutting-administrative-costs-with-online-maps-for-lewis-county-case-study/) - [Water Industries](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/) - [Public Service ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/firefighters-of-chile-use-a-dynamic-gis-solution-for-strategic-planning-and-fieldwork-coordination-case-study/) - [Telecommunications](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/telecommunications-consulting-use-case-visualising-and-sharing-census-data-with-clients/) - [NGOs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-everyone-gis-for-ngos-case-study/) - [Natural Resources ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-survey-of-lake-gaston-case-study/) - [Electric Utilities ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) - [Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/) - [Agriculture](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-improving-crop-production-with-crop-inventory-and-crop-scouting-solution/) - [Road Work and Infrastructure](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/) - [Real Estate](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-estate-case-study-displaying-your-own-postgis-database-on-gis-cloud/) - [Student projects](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-hydrological-map-portal/) - [and many others](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/) We are looking for **GIS Consultants and Partners to** [**join our worldwide network**](https://www.giscloud.com/partners/) and share our vision of **real-time mapping, data collection, and visualization** of data. **Join us** in selling, integrating, and customizing GIS Cloud into local markets and industries because the need for a **modern** and **user-friendly online GIS** solution is constantly **growing.** We will help you **win tenders** and target new market segments and business opportunities across the globe bringing the **benefits of working with online GIS** to companies and organizations. *Check out this webinar recording on the benefits of the GIS Cloud platform and become one of our leading consultants in the world.* ## **What are the Benefits of working with GIS Cloud?** GIS Cloud offers useful tools for many organizations and individuals, including possibilities of [**building vertical solutions** **and white label applications** ](https://www.giscloud.com/services/)for a particular market segment. Our partners have the opportunity to spread into new market sections, offering an innovative approach to common business challenges for the local demand. Being the first to target new segments, they also have a chance to **become the leader** in offering solutions and services in a particular market niche. With GIS Cloud you can help customers create interactive smart solutions that visualize their spatial data and provide them better and wiser business decisions. Not to brag much, but GIS Cloud apps practically sell themselves! After users test our apps, the conversion rate is very high, which means that after a quick demo, you have already made a first step on the road to success. - [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) is our **flagship app**. It is a complete solution for **field data collection** and the first step of transforming every business workflow from paper to digital! - [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) is a **powerful cloud-based mapping tool** that supports vectors and raster formats with rich GIS symbology. Create your maps fast, share them, and collaborate with users in real time! - [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a **customizable** and straightforward app that provides you with a summary of your mapping effort. It is an online tool for **visualizing, exporting,** and **publishing** your geospatial data! - [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) is a **must-have** **collaborative tool** for any decision-maker and manager. Access and view the data on a map in real-time and make **fast and informed decisions**! - [**Crowdsourcing** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/)is our [**branded white-label**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/) solution for clients worldwide. Choose your **web or mobile** custom solution without investing in hardware, software, configuration, coding, etc! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-Apps-Roles.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-Apps-Roles.png) ## **It’s About The Apps, Connection, and Security!** Being one of the pioneers in the cloud GIS business we are listed as the top 14 Vendors in the GIS Market in the BRIC market from 2016-2020 by Technavio. Also, one of the key benefits of GIS Cloud is the **constant innovation** and **incredible mapping performance** thanks to one of the **fastest and robust** map engines in the market. With GIS Cloud you get world-renowned **Amazon Web Services**, secured and private cloud servers known for their reliability and security. If, however, clients prefer **private cloud solutions**, we offer customized installations behind on-premises firewall. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Amazon-Serversshadow.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Amazon-Serversshadow.png) We also have a [GIS Cloud Developers Center](https://docs.giscloud.com/) that will help you leverage the GIS Cloud platform GIS Cloud offers a **powerful API** that is open to **integrations and vertical solutions** with custom development for a particular client or industry. This also means custom branding, special features, and interface. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-Platform-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-Platform-2.png) You can also use GIS Cloud as an **out-of-the-box solution** that fits all the business needs. Configure it to [**retrieve the data directly from an external database server**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) that allows instant and straightforward integration of your existing data silos with GIS Cloud. You can also connect and view your data directly from the [**ORACLE Database**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connect-external-oracle-database-new-gis-cloud-release/) or simply connect to [**POST GIS database**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-estate-case-study-displaying-your-own-postgis-database-on-gis-cloud/) online to open up your strategic potential without connecting hardware of software in-house requirements. ## **Why Should You Become a GIS Consultant and Partner?** Working with the best in the industry, and expanding your business by partnering with us of course! If you work in the GIS consulting business, adding the **value of GIS Cloud** to the list of your propositions means that you can **increase the scope of your services** while finding the best solution for the challenges of your existing and new clients. Capitalize on the growing technology and deliver new solutions, services, and location intelligence with GIS Cloud! **GIS Cloud Partners Worldwide** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Partners-Map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Partners-Map.png) You will have the **exclusive opportunity** to suggest and try our new features before anyone else, which leaves enough time to prepare marketing and sales strategy to introduce new products. Access to our **Premium Support** is at your constant disposal, offering consulting, [additional training opportunities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-year-new-gis-cloud-monthly-crash-courses/), [learning](https://manual.giscloud.com/), technical support, and business growth. We ensure a continuous flow of new sales prospects, specific for your market segment, which makes your job easier and more rewarding, especially when it comes to increasing your reach in the local markets. ## **How can you grow with GIS Cloud?** We are looking for Individuals, Geospatial Companies, GIS consultants, Freelancers, GIS Managers, GIS professionals, or even non – GIS operatives who wish to learn the KPI’s of the GIS business and become **valuable GIS Cloud Partner!** - Build and promote new and long-lasting customer relationships with global clients! - Direct growth and sales from GIS Cloud products and services! - Build custom geospatial solutions in no time! - Giving strategic and problem solving geospatial advice in every industry using our GIS platform! - Help clients maximize their ROI with GIS Cloud! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-partner-benefits.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GIS-Cloud-partner-benefits.png) Our partners worldwide work with the GIS Cloud platform and white label solutions to **grow their brand** in the market and **optimize their business model** by **lowering** their development, hardware, and software **costs.** Integrating GIS Cloud as a part of their business solution helps them focus solely on better workflow performance. One of our partners, [**Asterra**](https://asterra.io/) revolutionized the **water industry** with [**leakage detection technology used to detect water on planet Mars!**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/satellite-based-leak-detection-solution-from-utilis-powered-by-gis-cloud-field-data-collection-and-overview-system/) They use satellite-based infrastructure intelligence and provide data-driven solutions for utilities, government agencies, and infrastructure industries. We helped them build **white label** mobile applications **U-Collect, and U-View** for field data collection, and overview of the data to empower client leak detection crews to collect, view, and record satellite informed field data. [**Smart Aqua** ](https://smartaqua.co/)is our Croatian partner in water management and consulting industry. We helped them build a **white label** **Smart Aqua app** that enabled the company to provide a [**digital transformation of field operations**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/) to numerous clients. A fully operational **mobile data collection** and **visualization system** for water and sewerage management helps local governments increase **data accuracy** and **reduce work timeframe** by eliminating paper forms. [**Spatial Partners**](https://www.spatialpartners.com.au/)**,** our Australian partners who specialize in spatial technology and data automation [**developed two interesting custom GIS Cloud solutions on their platform**](https://www.spatialpartners.com.au/our-products). The first one is the **GIS Cloud + Powerapps integration** that allows Office 365 Power Automate platform to interact with data hosted on GIS Cloud, and the second is **BusDriver** which allows users to link their GIS Cloud account to other services and fully automate tasks in GIS Cloud. [**Contact GIS Cloud**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and be the **first to target new market segments** and enjoy the benefits of our partnership! If you are interested in using GIS Cloud apps and services, [**Sign up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the **free 14-day trial.** If you want to know more about GIS Cloud platform, please [**Contact us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)! Related content: Webinar Recording: Why Become GIS Cloud Partner? A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases GIS Cloud Services GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Become a GIS Cloud Partner, Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, consultant, consultants, consulting, data collection, data visualisation, Geography expert, GIS consultants, GIS expert, GIS Partner, Partner, partner growth, Partners Program, Partnership, Partnership program, Private Cloud, private GIS, public works --- ### [A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-brief-overview-of-gis-cloud-industries-partner-use-cases/) **Published:** May 12, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![industries and use cases showcase cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Industries-Overview-and-Partner-Use-Cases-Cover.png) As we have mentioned in our previous blog post, GIS Cloud works with numerous companies and organizations worldwide, coming from different backgrounds and government bodies. With this blog post, we wanted to showcase the industries and use cases where GIS Cloud has been successfully used. *Check out this webinar recording on the benefits of the GIS Cloud platform and become one of our leading consultants in the world.* **Government** Due to a need to improve their functionality in many segments, one of the recent trends in digitalization within local government infrastructures such as city councils, governmental agencies, and departments is the growing use of cloud-based software solutions. This particularly affects the planning, public works, and services departments that need to have adequate tools for data management. GIS Cloud is used by government organizations and teams for data visualization (creating public maps with the data on infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, parks, etc.) and collaboration within various departments (roadworks, urban planning and parcelization, park infrastructure, and management…). Having all of that on a custom map in real time might be a game-changer in creating an effective future workflow. Read more about the successful collaboration between [**Lewis County**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cutting-administrative-costs-with-online-maps-for-lewis-county-case-study/) and GIS Cloud on their affordable public online mapping system. ![interactive map portal lewis county](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-map-portal-lewis-county.jpg) **Civil Engineering** The many benefits of GIS technology have been recognized by the civil engineering industry and implemented in various projects. GIS allows engineers to pair data with geographic maps, allowing them to make more accurate and efficient decisions in their projects’ planning and execution stages. Examples of civil engineering projects where GIS Cloud technology is used range from evaluating land use opportunities and visualizing the impacts of the proposed construction to inventorying and monitoring assets. Check out this interesting read about the InfraTrace project to find a simple solution for [**road damage analysis and administration**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/) in local communities in Switzerland and its integration with Microsoft Power BI. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIS-Roadwork-Wastewater-cover.png) **Vegetation Management** Vegetation management is important for arborists in forestry, urban tree management, tree inspections and maintenance, electric utilities, and other industries, to properly care for ecosystems and ensure public safety. In some regions of the world, some strict laws and guidelines require vegetation maintenance to comply with safety regulations and inspections. Managing vegetation and trees requires constant care to avoid potential utility threats and other hazards, like fires or invasive species. This has made the vegetation management industry professionals and companies move towards new technologies and solutions for vegetation management that helps them optimize their workflow, reduce business costs, and empower communication and decision making. Learn all about the [**GIS Cloud workflow for Vegetation Management**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/) in this article. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-cover.jpg) **Water Utilities** Constant urban growth is an ongoing trend in almost every city globally. Rapid urbanization leads to the increasing development of underground and ground utility networks, which requires frequent and accurate inspection and a robust monitoring system. The most significant challenge for public service providers is to acquire accurate and updated information on the location, characteristics, and the condition of water utility assets (hydrants, manholes, culverts, etc.). GIS Cloud technology makes monitoring the situation easier and managing maintenance activities for different water utility assets. This study shows how the [**Liburnian Waters**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/), a water utility company in Croatia, digitized field operations and implemented company-wide collaboration using the GIS Cloud platform. They also increased their efficiency and saved time on maintaining crucial water utility infrastructure. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Liburnijske-vode-case-cover-text-s.png) **Electric Utilities** GIS technology is essential for electric utility companies. It provides the foundational layer of technology for effective asset management and regulatory compliance. Companies use GIS Cloud for multiple purposes, from managing field operations to performing spatial analysis. For example, companies use maps to communicate their ideas, prioritize tasks, and create forms to collect the real-time status of infrastructure, energy consumption in an area, regular maintenance and reporting from the field, or potential threats to their grid such as vegetation or birds. Moreover, companies can include citizens’ input to get more information about the area’s needs and problems in energy distribution, transmission, or electric bills. Learn how Enugu Electricity Distribution Company utilized [**GIS technology to tackle electricity theft**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) in Nigeria. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Electric-Utilities2.jpg) **Roadworks** GIS technology has been enabling the Road Work Industry since its early beginnings. It is proven that the power of location enhances operational efficiency. Suppose you are a company in charge of maintaining traffic signalization, taking care of utility management, or simply a department within the company leading a field data collection project. In that case, an online GIS solution can be of great help for your workflow. Online GIS helps you obtain data from different systems into a single, easy-to-use platform and maintain your assets in the most collaborative way possible by working together with teammates in real time, no matter the location, time zone, and device. Learn more about how GIS Cloud technology for [**Road Work Management and Maintenance**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/online-gis-in-road-work-inspections-and-maintenance/) helps you improve field operations and budget planning. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Road-Works-cover.png) [**Contact GIS Cloud**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and be the first to target new market segments and enjoy the benefits of our partnership! Related content: Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Become a GIS Cloud Partner Learn about GIS Cloud Non-profit Use Cases at AidEx in Brussels (15-16 November) GIS Cloud PowerPlus – Technical Overview & Components GIS Cloud Track – Complete Feature Overview **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud PowerPlus - Technical Overview & Components](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-powerplus-technical-overview-components/) **Published:** April 20, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud PowerPlus Cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Cover-1.png) *“Power Apps is a suite of apps, services, and connectors, as well as a data platform, that provides a rapid development environment to build custom apps for your business needs.”* - [Microsoft Docs](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/powerapps-overview#:~:text=Power%20Apps%20is%20a%20suite,apps%20for%20your%20business%20needs.) In our recent blogs, we’ve written about how you can use the GIS Cloud platform to build new or extend existing business applications by implementing a spatial component into the mix. And, to enable the same functionality for the Microsoft products through the PowerApp environment gave the business community the best of both non-spatial and spatial worlds. We’ve already written about the various use cases for the integration and why the spatial component is a must-have in business applications but let’s see what exact functionality you can now get in your PowerApp application. There are two main GIS Cloud components in the PowerApps environment: GCMap and GCForm components. **GCMap Component Overview** The GCMap component integrates GISCloud’s map viewer into the PowerApps framework. Out of the box, the component allows users to: - View their GISCloud maps. - Select and display information about features and layers. - Draw geometry on the map. However, the true power of the GCMap component comes from its ability to easily integrate with other PowerApps components, such as the GCForm component or your custom components. Some example integrations are: - Rendering the GCForm to edit a feature’s data when it is selected. - Query an API using the properties of a selected feature. - Validate newly drawn geometry and display any issues found during validation. **GCForm Component Overview** The GCForm component integrates GISCloud’s mobile data collection into the PowerApps framework. Out of the box, this component allows users to: - Display and edit the properties and geometry of your features with all of the validation provided by GISCloud. - Take photos relating to your features and submit them to GISCloud. However, the true power of the GCForm component comes from its ability to easily integrate with other PowerApps components, such as the GCMap component or your custom components. Some example integrations are: - Select a feature using the GCMap component and then use the GCForm component to edit it. - Create a new feature from geometry on the GCMap component and then set the values of its properties using the GCForm component. *Check out this webinar recording on what you can create with GIS Cloud PowerPlus components and see what exact functionality you can now get in your PowerApp application.* Related content: GIS Cloud Track – Complete Feature Overview A brief overview of GIS Cloud Industries & Partner Use Cases Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system PowerApps & GIS Cloud – New Integration Release! Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Mini School: Custom Applications](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-custom-applications/) **Published:** April 27, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![custom applications cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Cover-2.png) With GIS Cloud, you can build your custom, branded GIS applications on top of our robust platform, and what’s best, you don’t need to be a developer to learn how to do it. This Mini School focuses on just that, to show you how easy it is to white label applications within the GIS Cloud platform. In this example, we will be focusing on the Map Portal customization, but do note that you can do the same for all of our apps without investing in hardware, software, configuration, coding, patching, etc. Map Portal is the best way to share your maps and data in real-time with your stakeholders or the public, and white labeling the app is the way to go. To avoid the coding, we have the App Builder that will help you create a user-friendly interface all by yourself, and what’s best, you can change it if and when that is necessary. To learn more, check out the video we have prepared for you: For step-by-step guides, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at hello@giscloud.com, and we can help you with customizing your GIS Cloud apps. In the meantime, you can try app customization yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Mini School: Data Analysis GIS Mobile Applications for Leak Detection Custom Popup Style and Grafana Integration Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API **Categories:** Blog --- ### ["Sharing Drone Data: Next Step - Collaboration" Video is Now Available Online](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-drone-data-next-step-collaboration-video-is-now-available-online/) **Published:** January 14, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![corn field with drone](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/corn-field-1-drone-plane-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/corn-field-1-drone-plane-s.jpg) We have prepared a video presentation covering the topic of “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” webinar, hosted on December 10th, 2015. This video is a separate recording that was created after the original presentation. Following topics were covered: - Reasons for a rapid expansion of a drone market - Using Drone Data – a regular mapping workflow overview - GIS Cloud – Platform and benefits of a cloud environment - The importance of Sharing and Collaboration for an efficient workflow - Utilizing Drone Mapping and GIS Cloud in different industries - GIS Cloud use cases: 3DroneMapping, Landfill Maintenance and Risk Management in Agriculture - Q&A Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** 3DroneMapping, agriculture risk management, collaboration, drone, drones, GIS, GIS Cloud, Landfill, mapping, mapping wordflow, sharing drone data, webinar --- ### [GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-foss4g-in-bonn/) **Published:** February 1, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![foss4g-logo_07-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/foss4g-logo_07-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/foss4g-logo_07-s.png) We are happy to announce that GIS Cloud will be sponsoring [FOSS4G 2016 ](http://2016.foss4g.org/)conference in Bonn (August 24-26). > FOSS4G is [OSGeo](https://www.osgeo.org/)‘s annual global event focused on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial. A FOSS4G includes talks, code sprints, bird-of-a-feather sessions, workshops, social events and lots of other attractive smaller and larger happenings. This year, main conference theme is named “Building Bridges”, highlighting the idea of an open source community building bridges between people coming from all over the world, connecting students, developers, decision makers and software providers. GIS Cloud’s team is excited to attend the conference and participate in conference events. Moreover, we”ll have our space in the exhibition area so there will be a chance to meet members of our team in person. Come and visit us! Related content: Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn! GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August FOSS4G 2016: Three days of great talks and cool hangouts Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Bonn, Cloud GIS, conference, Foss4G, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud --- ### [Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/fighting-the-snow-with-a-fleet-management-solution-a-case-study/) **Published:** February 2, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fleet-snow-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fleet-snow-cover.jpg) For city winter services, speed and efficiency are crucial when snow plowing an entire city. A more advanced planning system is necessary so the **fleet management solution** for **managing snow plow trucks** is a requirement! We bring you an example of how to make city snow plowing more efficient with simple **online GIS-based** software, featuring a story coming from the City of Zagreb. [The City of Zagreb ](https://www.zagreb.hr/)is the capital of Croatia. The climate of Zagreb is moderate continental with hot summers and cold winters, and during the winter season, snowfall causes various traffic difficulties. That’s why it was necessary for the City of Zagreb to get a solution for effective management of their snow plow truck fleet. ## **The Unique Daily Snow Plowing Challenges** The City of Zagreb wanted to replace an **outdated fleet management workflow** that was slowing the decision-making process during **snow emergencies**. They didn’t have a real-time overview of the situation on the streets and the cleaning progress. The decision-making process was complicated by the fact that the city officials needed to manage **multiple subcontractors from one account.** These challenges have an impact on finances, scheduling, safety measures, liability concerns and overall decision making. Snow removal just cannot wait! If snow starts to accumulate, it becomes a safety hazard to clients and the public, and often numerous facilities need to close off from the public because they cannot risk people getting hurt. The city wanted to have **full control** of vehicles and their expenses on a daily basis. This data should be available on a map accessible by multiple users, both in the office and in the field, using different devices. Considering the fact that mapping data consists of larger datasets and contains a lot of information, the challenge was to have a fast solution with optimal loading speed. The City of Zagreb needed to make their snow emergency response faster, better and more efficient. At the same time, they wanted to **improve their daily workflow** and reporting process and be able to create custom reports with accurate data updated in real time. ## **Fleet Winter Management Solution in the Cloud** In need of a more ‘up to date’ approach, the City of Zagreb **adopted and deployed GIS Cloud solution** for their winter fleet management. Online GIS turned out to be a necessity for the successful coordination between multiple users and contractors on multiple devices in real time. Also, online GIS helped improve their decision and reaction time with a much faster and efficient workflow. Winter services were able to track and monitor the progress of snow removal process simultaneously making decisions on-site in real time. Integration between **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** including Fleet and Workforce Management apps was required and achieved to manage the already existing city-data. The GIS Cloud mapping tool Map Editor enabled **editing, labelling and publishing** of the existing data, as well as **managing and classifying** the data in corresponding folders. The idea was to divide a given area (City of Zagreb) into multiple tasks, where each task represents a group of streets. Their mapping effort would then be connected to the GIS Cloud Fleet and Workforce Management solution, giving each unit their assigned task. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fleet-geotrag-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Fleet-geotrag-map.png) Fleet and Workforce Management app also enables an **overview of vehicle consumption**. This way the City of Zagreb has **full control** over managing different types of expenditure (i.e. salt and other means for defrosting). This **enables cost assessments** for the future, giving them information on what can be reduced and for which subcontractor in particular. Real-time coordination between drivers and dispatchers was achieved, having an overview of driver’s locations at any time. This real-time solution enabled a faster response time and more effective decision making in **critical situations**. With customization options, set of various reports could be made like mileage, fuel consumption, speed limitation etc. As a novelty, a **system for early ice detection was incorporated,** where multiple sensors are tracking different criteria like air and pavement temperature, humidity etc. Once a given threshold is crossed, this integrated system in Fleet and Workforce Management app will notify the dispatcher, giving him the necessary information for effective decision making. This was important because we all know that icy roads are the number one cause of accidents during the wintertime. ## **Effects and Results of Efficient Snow Plowing** GIS Cloud Fleet and Workforce Management Solution were ideal for the City of Zagreb, as it **accelerated the outdated workflow** by using and customizing existing GIS Cloud applications. Real-time vehicle tracking was enabled with fast and responsive maps and by making the decision process inter-operable. With **decreased response time,** severe winter conditions became much more manageable. To sum it up, these were the results: - Integration between Map Editor and Fleet and Workforce Management (overlap between fleet and their data) - Real-time vehicle tracking (monitoring of the status and path that particular vehicle has passed) - Report on every vehicle regarding beginning and the end of each drive (time, miles, fuel consumption, speed limitation, the status of the vehicle) - Real-time collaboration between the driver and the dispatcher - System for early ice detection of the pavements (17 sensors all over the city report the current status on pavement and air temperature, humidity and freezing point of the pavements in correlation with rainfall, fog and salinity) Interested in GIS Cloud’s Fleet and Workforce Management solution? [Contact us!](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) Related content: Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** City of Zagreb, emergency response, Fleet and Workforce Management Solution, Fleet Management, GIS, GIS Cloud, local governments, snow plows --- ### [Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-gis-solutions-for-smart-cities-webinar-recording/) **Published:** February 4, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Dear GIS Cloud Community, we are happy to present “GIS Solutions for Smart Cities of the 21st Century” webinar recording. A response for the webinar last Thursday (January 28) was great. We want thank to those who attended. For those who have missed an opportunity to attend, we prepared a recording. Also, some of our attendees asked for examples of City Portals hosted on GIS Cloud. Here are some of them: - [Lewis County, NY](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/111328/lewis-county-ny) For more updates from GIS Cloud, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/giscloud) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/). ### Related content: - [A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/ "A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal") - [Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/power-your-workflow-with-online-gis-apps-from-data-collection-to-collaboration-and-sharing-integrated-with-desktop-solutions-webinar-recording/ "Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording!") - [GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-for-electric-utilities-webinar-recording/ "GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording") - [GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/ "GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording)") - [‘Beyond Fieldwork’ Webinar Recording Available Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-fieldwork-webinar-recording-available-online/ "‘Beyond Fieldwork’ Webinar Recording Available Online") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** City Portal, GIS, GIS Cloud, local government, Map Portal, mapping, Smart Cities, Smart City, webinar recording --- ### [GIS Cloud Map Viewer for Mobile Released](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-map-viewer-for-mobile-released/) **Published:** February 11, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** *Take your maps and projects with you wherever you go![![Map-Viewer-for-mobile-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Map-Viewer-for-mobile-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Map-Viewer-for-mobile-s.png)* We are happy to announce that GIS Cloud Map Viewer has been released. Map Viewer for Mobile is available for Android and iOS devices on [GooglePlay](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.viewer) and [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gis-cloud-map-viewer/id1059431691). Application offers an easy way to access private, shared or public maps and data from your mobile and tablet devices at any time. Non professionals can use the app as a great collaboration tool. GIS Cloud Map Viewer allows accessing different maps depending on user permissions in synchronization with other parts of the GIS Cloud system. It is important to mention that Map Viewer enables viewing large maps rich with features quickly, with unmatched rendering speed. What is new? GIS Cloud Map Viewer brings a whole new experience with maps hosted on GIS Cloud for mobile users. Its viewing functionalities are similar to those of Mobile Data Collection app. This means that you don’t have to access your maps with mobile browser, because they are easily launched within the application. If you don’t need the data collection feature, this is a perfect way to access your maps via mobile devices. Map Viewer enables you to easily select any point on the map and view the attributes in a sidebar. Also, when multiple points (close to each other) are selected, you can go through a list of datasets and view the attributes in a sidebar – with just one touch of a fingertip. With the Map Viewer app you can: - log in with your GIS Cloud account or sign up for a new one - access all public and shared private maps - tap on the map to view feature data - see the list of layers in the map and their symbology - show or hide layers or groups of layers - see your location on the map (accuracy depending on the GPS capabilities of a tablet/smartphone) Get the app on the [Google Play ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.viewer)for Android, and [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gis-cloud-map-viewer/id1059431691) for iOS devices. Related content: Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Map Viewer GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! Mobile Data Collection **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Android, GIS, GIS Cloud, iOS, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, release GIS Cloud viewer, Viewer for Mobile --- ### [A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities - City Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/) **Published:** February 18, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Dear GIS Cloud Community! Last week you had an opportunity to attend our webinar “GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal”, the first one from a series of Smart City short webinars we plan to host in the future. For those of you who couldn’t attend we prepared a video recording: City Portal is a great way to provide an immense amount of information on various topics all in one place, thus enabling the community to engage, give feedback to local governments and by extension help their governments to create an environment they want to live in. **Following Topics Were Covered:** - Why City Map Portal is a great way to make your city (organization) smarter - How to use Map Portal to drive citizen engagement - Various possibilities of Map Portal for numerous departments - Using Map Portal for [federal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-publishing-use-case-gis-solutions-for-government/) and [local](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/exploring-the-city-of-darwin-map-portal/) governments, [consult](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/environmental-consulting-use-case-watching-over-natural-hazards-with-the-help-of-gis/)[ants](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/environmental-consulting-use-case-watching-over-natural-hazards-with-the-help-of-gis/) and anyone who wants to show their data to larger public - Real-Life Examples: City of Canton, City of Darwin, … For more updates from GIS Cloud, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GisCloud) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/). ### Related content: - [Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-gis-solutions-for-smart-cities-webinar-recording/ "Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording") - [Smart City Apps for Utilities ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/smart-city-apps-for-utilities/ "Smart City Apps for Utilities") - [Exploring the City of Darwin Map Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/exploring-the-city-of-darwin-map-portal/ "Exploring the City of Darwin Map Portal") - [Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management/ "Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management") - [Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-in-the-railroad-industry/ "Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** City Map Portal, City Portal, cloud, Cloud GIS, consulting, GIS, GIS Cloud, local governments, map, Smart Cities, webinar, X Citizen Engagement --- ### [NEW Developer Documentation Released](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-developer-documentation-released/) **Published:** March 30, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Developer Documentation cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NEW-Developer-Documentation-Released-Cover.jpg) Building custom spatially-aware applications has never been easier with the GIS Cloud platform, especially because you don’t even need to know how to code, as explained [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/). That said, there’s a whole new world available for organizations and individuals who want to leverage Javascript and REST API for extra control and customization. GIS Cloud or other developers developed many completely custom applications on top of the GIS Cloud platform, leveraging one of the [fastest map engines](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-super-fast-high-definition-maps/) available today. With the new documentation released, the information needed for the organizations to build custom apps or integrate with other 3rd party tools is a click away. The new site contains introductory texts, HOWTOs, examples, API documentation, and we’re constantly adding to it as we develop new features and add new functionality. Visit our new documentation [here](https://docs.giscloud.com/), or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) directly if you’d like our help with building your custom application! ![gis cloud platform diagram](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/gis-cloud-platform.png) Related content: GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released GIS Cloud Map Viewer for Mobile Released GIS Cloud Services **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Multi Labels – New Feature Release](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/multi-labels-new-feature-release/) **Published:** March 23, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![new feature multiple labels](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Multi-Labels-New-Feature-Release-Cover.png) We are continuing with improvements related to data visualization, and we wanted to introduce the latest new feature that will enable having multiple labels activated for your data. Sometimes, when it comes to data visualization, you need to add an extra value that will provide your users with direct information without even clicking on a map. It can be any information you hold, and you can decide what to show. With the Multiple Label option, you can now use two or more attributes in your table for labeling features on the map which greatly improves the way you’re presenting your information to the audience. We have prepared a quick video so you can learn how to improve your mapping skills now: For a step-by-step guide, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-add-labels-to-your-map/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at info@giscloud.com, and we can help you with data visualization in your projects as well. In the meantime, try to add some additional labels to your maps by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Copy Symbology – New Feature Release Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Exploring the City of Darwin Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/exploring-the-city-of-darwin-map-portal/) **Published:** September 30, 2015 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** Geographic information system tools increased popularity in local government projects toward its citizens demonstrates this premise, and City of Darwin took advantage of this insight creating an admirable City Portal for its residents. City of Darwin map portal, powered by GIS Cloud, was conceived as a web map on which City of Darwin citizens could find the information on city infrastructure and facilities. **Content:** [![City of Darwin map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/City-of-Darwin-map-portal-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/City-of-Darwin-map-portal.png) We present you a case study with a great story about **public map implementation** in a local government workflow. Local governments, as well as different commercial and noncommercial organizations interested in placing their data on public maps, are just discovering the benefits of informing and engaging people and communities in various activities with the help of geospatial technology. > “The time, cost and resources required to deliver these projects were considerably less with GIS Cloud than would have been using previous systems.” – Josh Forner, City of Darwin ## **The City Portal Project** The city of Darwin is an exquisite example of a well-elaborated approach of a local government toward informing and **engaging its community** with the help of cloud infrastructure. One of many means for ensuring the successful implementation of democratic principles such as information transparency and citizen participation in the community lies in a smart deployment of various software solutions. Making the data about various projects, happenings and infrastructure – pools, playgrounds, schools or waste disposal facilities publicly available on a map can help the citizens to find all relevant info in one place so they could have **easier access** to everything their city offers them. Finding the right playground, clinic or even local government office on city portal increases the overall number of visits to the official city website and this not only helps the citizens with their needs but also creates a new channel for communication where the city officials could inform and engage their citizens about public projects, roadworks or local elections process. Geographic information system tools increased popularity in local government projects toward its citizens demonstrates this premise, and the City of Darwin took advantage of this insight creating an admirable City Portal for its residents. City of Darwin portal was conceived as a web map on which the City of Darwin citizens could find the information on city infrastructure and facilities. ## **Scraping the Old Workflow for the City Portal** Although they knew they need a way of engaging their citizens through a map, they needed a simple way of **publishing all their data** without having a dedicated in-house server. Also, some of the data had to be collected in the field first, which presented an issue within their existing software solutions because they used desktop programs which required having data collected with smartphones and tablets downloaded and merged back in the office. City of Darwin’s staff wanted to be able to update the data on infrastructure such as photos, links and working hours for facilities directly to the project. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wra-1024x670.png)Example of types of data collected by field crews: playground photo ## **The GIS Cloud Map Portal** City of Darwin’s staff used GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) to provide their community with rich and detailed information on public facilities and infrastructure. They have included information such as the location of childcare centers, the opening hours of public swimming pools and photographs of all of their community playgrounds so that people visiting their website can find location, photos and other information. Also they have included infrastructure data such as stormwater pipes, roads and footpaths on their web maps which are quite useful for field crews who are working on infrastructure maintenance and easily accessible through smartphones and tablets on the site. All this information was added to publicly available branded map portal under City of Darwin’s logo and adjusted to their specific needs. Aside from the Map Portal, they have also used the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app to collect and update some of this data. ![wra2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wra2-1024x585.png)Info on library working hours is also available through City of Darwin Map Portal GIS Cloud’s Map Portal together with Mobile Data Collection was an optimal solution for City of Darwin map portal and data collection projects. Mobile Data Collection application helped City of Darwin’s staff to make their workflows more efficient because it enabled them to collect and update data on the web map in real-time and with multiple users. Therefore they avoided having to work in offline conditions. Now they can collect data that is immediately visible on their GIS Cloud Map Portal. Summed up by Josh Forner: > **“Portal has allowed me to create very detailed and information-rich web mapping application with limited resources. Mobile Data Collection has allowed me to quickly deploy data collection projects that are user-friendly for field staff.”** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/wra3-1024x621.png)Infrastructure overview **The key points for which they would recommend GIS Cloud were:** - GIS Cloud is very easy to set up. Many data formats are supported and web maps can be created in minutes. - The Mobile Data Collection application allows you to collect or update data in real time using customizable data fields. - Deploying web maps is quick and easy either by embedding a map or using the more advanced features of the portal. Want to find out more about City Map Portal? Check out this [webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/). Related content: A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases **Tags:** citizens, city, City of Darwin, community, geospatial, GIS, government gis, infrastructure, Map Portal, mapping --- ### [Environmental Consulting Case Study: Watching Over Natural Hazards with the help of GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/environmental-consulting-use-case-watching-over-natural-hazards-with-the-help-of-gis/) **Published:** September 16, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![environmental consulting](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/shutterstock_113062828-1024x681.jpg) A lot of environmental issues are regularly addressed and solved by [environmental consulting companies](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/consulting-solution-environmental-management-case-study/). Their scope of influence spreads within the range of environmental management, assessment, dealing with environmental crisis and strategic planning for both governments and commercial clients. Air, land and water contamination and assessment are in their area of expertise, and this is especially emphasized in the case of natural disasters. Learn more about Ubyrisk Consultants web based GIS project. ## Natural hazards consultants As an engineering consulting firm, Ubyrisk Consultants are proposing a large number of services in the field of **natural hazards**, such as stakes and vulnerability studies, spatial analysis dedicated to natural risks using GIS, professional training, advice and expertise relative to natural risks and their management, together with statistical data supply and processing. The company manages the website Catnat.net **– the first French language website dedicated to global natural disasters news.** The site is daily updated with the most recent news about possible natural hazards. You can explore a detailed georeferenced database about dangerous natural events that occurred throughout the world since 2001. They wanted to use their database to build map layers with various types of natural events which could be shared with their subscribers. [![1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1-1024x641.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/1.png)Natural hazard risk Index by country in 2014. This map shows the global exposition level to natural hazards for every country in the world ## The Project In 2014, Ubyrisk Consultants had a project in which they wanted a tool that would have made possible for their clients to **cross their own data** (site localisation for example) with the **natural hazard layer** they would be provided with. For example, if you are an insurance company and want to assess the possibility of drought in a certain area, you would select the coordinates to have an instant overview of potential risks. Or, if you are a governmental agency conducting a statewide project on emergency preparedness, you would be instantly equipped with an overview of potential threats like tornadoes or tsunamis using various map layers as a tool for visualization of risk assessment. The goal of Ubyrisk Consultants, viewing themselves primarily as a service provider, was to optimize their workflow and focus on producing the quality content on natural hazards risk. Therefore, not having to worry about software maintenance was one of the prerequisites of having an unobstructed workflow. In the words of **Yorik Baunay**: > *“We needed a cross-platform map tool that could be displayed on PC, Mac, tablet and smartphone and from any location.”* It was also important that this platform had a user friendly interface that can be handled even by a non-specialist, so that their staff could maintain their usual working schedules and tasks without extra effort in mastering complex GIS software. In abstract, the key prerequisites for the project were: - having a collaborative platform for sharing mapping data with clients - web solution compatible with any device and accessible from any location - not having to worry about the software maintenance which includes hiring extra IT staff - easy-to-use interface which could be used by people with no previous experience in GIS [![2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2-1024x638.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2.png)Tropical cyclone hazard : Probable maximum intensity for a tropical cyclone with a returning period of 50 years ## Selecting the right GIS platform They chose GIS Cloud platform as an answer to their needs for successful execution of the project. Yorik Baunay, Ubyrisk Consultants: > *“The main challenge that we overcame with GIS Cloud apps was to have a single online system that allowed us to display in a same map a lot of structured layers (our layers and our customers layers) in order to get a powerful “geodecisional” tool understandable by everyone (everybody can read a map !)”* Choosing an online platform like GIS Cloud for data management purposes meant that their data didn’t have to stay on their servers and that they didn’t have to worry about storage and maintenance. Their maps would be easily accessed and edited from anywhere using a platform which at the same time provides both space & tools needed for managing large datasets regardless of computer performance or user proficiency. > *“Using GIS Cloud apps made our mapping workflow easier, because we directly produce standardized data layer that can be imported under GIS Cloud. For that we work with QGIS software, create our layer ready to import it to GIS Cloud.”* Considering the fact that georeferenced data on natural hazards is rare to find, Ubyrisk Consultants made use of GIS Cloud’s platform to promote their expert service built on layers of data quality. It improved their communication with the clients, making a data sharing process easier and secured on a cloud. [![3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/3-1024x632.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/3.png)Earthquake hazard : Probable maximum intensity ( Mercalli Scale) for a 475 years period return earthquake ## Recommendation (Yorik Baunay) - the relative simplicity of handling the system (for administrators as well as for final user) - the price that makes the tool affordable compared to others solutions, especially for a small company like us - the fact that the platform is evolutive and is continually improved Interested in GIS Cloud solutions? [Sign up here to begin your free trial.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Related content: Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** data publishing, data visualisation, environment, Environmental Consulting, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Portal, mapping, Natural Hazards, web maps --- ### [GIS Solutions for Government - Data Publishing Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-publishing-use-case-gis-solutions-for-government/) **Published:** August 25, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![shutterstock_226350037](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/shutterstock_226350037-1024x683.jpg) Many governmental departments just recently started to discover how to benefit fully from **geospatial technologies.** This particularly affects the planning, public works, and services departments that need to have adequate tools for data visualization. Having all of that on a **custom map in real time** might be a game-changer in terms of creating an effective future workflow. This regards sharing the data on current projects such as infrastructure maintenance and development between the departments, sub-departments, ministries, and other smaller and larger organizational units. In conducting the project on a larger scale, it is also important to have **good infrastructure for making the information publicly available, completing a data flow circle with the best possible outcome.** An example coming from the Secretariat of Public Works, a department of the Argentine Ministry of Federal Planning, Public Investment and Services shows how the needs in the public sector can easily be met with a **simple government mapping solution.** ## **Delivering Online Access For 45.000 Federal Public Works** The imperative coming from the department was to have **a reliable, fast, and cost-efficient data sharing and publishing solution**. What the Secretariat of Public Works had in mind was to unlock access to information to their citizens on more than 45 000 federal public works. The projects which were to be shown on the map were the result of GIS local government programs conducted in the last 12 years, as a collaboration from different departments throughout Argentina. All that information, concerning various works in the healthcare, education, transportation, residential and other parts of infrastructure should be **easily accessed and managed** by both **administrative staff** and the **citizens** of Argentina. ### [![Obras Publicas Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gsop-1024x576.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/gsop.png) In the process of finding the perfect solution for sharing and publishing the data, ***the biggest challenge was to find a way to escape from the ‘inertia’ of having the GIS data limited to desktop solutions.*** The centralization of the data storage on individual computers had its faults. It was difficult to share the vast amount of collected data in various formats and on different devices with other people, and there were even more challenges in the distribution of data to the broader public. A unique methodology and a **platform for data sharing and management** was the essential requirement for this project. ## **Using The Custom Online GIS App Portal To Process The Data** The answer was simple. What the Department of Public Works needed was a **cloud solution**. They needed a platform for which the only requirement was to have a browser and Internet access. The department was recommended to use the GIS Cloud applications, which met all the requirements for the Argentine government data publishing project. In the first phase of the project, the expected platform needed to have the possibility to and share the data in collaboration with different users. Also, information about the particular education, health, or transportation facility had to be stored online. GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) helped them execute the first phase of the project smoothly. Data was uploaded directly in the cloud and stored safely. Map Editor is rich in GIS symbology and it has built-in collaboration capabilities which allows real-time editing and sharing. This made the second phase of the project accomplishment even easier. With [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), information on the map was clearly shared with particular users coming from different departments. Map Viewer is optimized for non-professionals and enables you to access shared or public maps on any device in real time. ## **The Online Public Map Portal** Finally, when data was prepared and ready for public access, the GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) was a perfect publishing solution. It is a simple and easy custom GIS application that gives you an overview of your mapping effort. It is fully branded for the department’s needs. You can see the results in [this video presentation](https://vimeo.com/138115029). [![GSOP1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GSOP1-1024x576.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GSOP1.jpg)The Final Result **Marcelo Alejandro Portela,** a consulting specialist, sums up the main benefits of the successful integration of the GIS Cloud solution in three points: - **the excellent performance gained by html5** - **easy navigation through various map layers using the “search” feature** - **the simplicity of use.** The main advantages of using the **GIS in government**, attested by Mr. Alejandro Portela are: > the fact that the **user interface is easy to use even for the non-GIS experts** (commonly represented in the administrative staff), at the same time, offering the **fast and high-quality data visualization solution, easily accessible anytime, from any device.** If you want to know more about the GIS Cloud solution for Government, [Contact our Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Government **Tags:** Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, custom app, Custom GIS, Custom Portal, data collection, data publishing solution, data visualisation, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, gis collaboration, gis goverment, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, online GIS, Smart Cities, Smart City, Spatial Vision --- ### [Land Administration And Parcel Management in the State of New York (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/land-administration-and-parcel-management-case-study-new-york-state/) **Published:** August 13, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** Data visualization makes our lives easy and simple. It is not a new thing, but the way we do it improves and upgrades daily. Just recently we were still drawing maps, filling forms manually and collecting GPS locations as a single point, with no media associated. [![Land administration and parcel administartion2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Land-administration-and-parcel-administartion2-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Land-administration-and-parcel-administartion2.png) With the boom of free data that is now available to a large audience for free or at a low cost, the ways of visualization had to keep up. The list of data formats prolonged, data volume exploded, and new ways of visualization emerged. We are no longer locked to our desktop computer, to a single location or to a single person. Our appetites got bigger for the speed and performance of our maps. We now depend on it, but also enjoy the ways of visualization at all scales that increase the precision of our decision making and collaboration. This is an example of a data visualization solution that Systems Development Group, Inc. needed for their client, [New York State land administration and parcel management](https://sdg.giscloud.com/map/311797/columbia). ## **Background** [Systems Development Group Inc.](https://sdgnys.com/) creates software for working with New York State real property and county clerk information. Many municipalities throughout New York have chosen to use their software to organize and distribute their data. [![snip3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snip3-1024x487.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snip3.png) ## **Making large datasets easily accessible** SDG needed an application that can show different data like aerial photos, parcel and soil data in large volume and that is accessible to their clients in a form of web maps. Not having to worry about servers and internet speed greatly reduced their worry for creating many online maps for clients to utilize. Without the cloud component, that wouldn’t have been possible. The most challenging thing for them was to find a solution that wouldn’t require IT staff and that they can run a cloud solution in a user friendly way on their own. The cost was another bonus as it was dramatically less than if they had attempted to do it on their own. Adding URL-s to their parcel data was another requirement. ## **Online Solution for Parcel Management** The combination of GIS Cloud apps proved to be a perfect solution for their needs. [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) enabled them to make ‘big data’ maps in various formats. It has the media integration option, so the URL links were very easily added to their data. Once the maps were ready, they published them in a form of a white labeled [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). This app is a great solution for data visualization as it has search, interactive, export, switch map options and many more. [ ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snip3.png) [![snip2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snip2-1024x411.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/snip2.png) For instance when you click on a parcel you are shown a clickable link that opens a popup window showing all the parcel information from the municipalities SDG ImageMate Online (IMO) website. If you were to click on the “Pin Property on GIS Map”, then you are taken back to the GIS Cloud map. There is a link for it on every parcel on the IMO website. Click on it and it zooms you into the parcel and highlights it. ## **The Results** With GIS Cloud, SDG was able to get a cost effective parcel management solution without installing any software. In their own words: ‘They helped us to shed the behemoth that is ESRI. Their costs were getting astronomical. GIS Cloud has allowed for an online viewer presence without the previously needed IT expertise’. If you are interested in this type of a solution for parcel management, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases --- ### [Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/benchmark-surveying-case-study-monument-inventory-in-orange-county-ca/) **Published:** July 31, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** We did an interview with the [Orange County Public Works](https://ocpublicworks.com/) about their Monument Inventory project. Their Geodetic Unit is responsible for maintenance of the Horizontal and Vertical control networks. Responsibilities include updating, revising and distributing the most accurate and current data available. **Background** **GC:** Can you tell us some basic information about the project you are doing and why was there a need for a cloud GIS based solution? **OC:** We are capturing photos of control survey monuments that our field crews use for their surveys. Having access to these photos in the cloud greatly benefits our surveyors in identifying the correct monument as well as its location. [![Benchmarking](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Benchmarking.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Benchmarking.png)**Challenges** **GC:** What were some of the challenges that your project had and that you overcame with GIS Cloud apps? **OC:** Verifying whether a monument exist or not has always been a challenge. These monuments can be very unique and require proper character descriptions. A detailed photo is worth a thousand words. What you see is what you get. **Solution** **GC:** Is your project workflow more efficient with GIS Cloud apps and how? **OC:** GIS Cloud adds another layer of verification data that is essential to our work. For instance having the editing option of the data from the field, as well as collecting the data in remote areas makes a great difference. **GC:** How has GIS Cloud specifically helped you given your industry and area of expertise? **OC:** It has given us a better way to collect and manage data. [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and its Forms Manager make our collection projects really easy. App is very user friendly so there is no tame waste in terms of long and expensive team training. [![OC Monument Inventory1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OC-Monument-Inventory1-1024x556.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OC-Monument-Inventory1.png) **Recommendation** **GC:** What would be 3 key features in your opinion that you would recommend GIS Cloud for? **OC:** - Real time posting of photos to website - Ease of MDC smartphone application - Public access to view photos Related content: Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece - Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-case-study-using-drones-and-gis-cloud-for-precision-farming-in-greece/) **Published:** July 28, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![agriculture](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Precision-Agriculture-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Precision-Agriculture-cover.png) [**NubiGroup**](https://www.nubigroup.gr/) is our [**partner**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-consultants-become-a-gis-cloud-partner/) and a company that creates a new generation of **geo-services, research, and products** by exploiting geospatial information and cloud computing. Their focus is on **real-time, informed collaboration** between clients and their customers. In this particular pilot project, they dealt with precision agriculture and farming in Greece. More specifically, they were using **NIR (Near Infrared) images** acquired by a drone (eBee, Geosense company Greece) in order to **monitor cornfields** and to compare **different spectral transformations** with crop growth and crop yield. Furthermore, they were also able to investigate the performance of different cultivars under different fertilization treatments. Since this was a small-scale pilot project and the spatial data had to be shared with different groups of interests in a short period of time, NubiGroup started to explore [**GIS Cloud Apps**](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) and [**Services**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/)**.** They needed **scalable and flexible**, ready-to-go apps that would allow them to create **custom maps** and **track the collected data** fo**r real-time map analysis**! **Collaboration** and the **exchange** of spatial and attribute data were also important parts of this project because NubiGroup needed to connect different teams of people like agriculture professionals and farmers through an **interactive map!** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-NDVI.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-NDVI.png) *NDVI image – Quick assessment of the crop condition. Light blue pixels denote bare soil and light green pixels depicts low crop growth, in contrast with yellow and red pixels* In this project’s structure, the main challenge was to optimize and track **field data collection.** With the [**Mobile Data Collection app (MDC)**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) were able to record the crop data on custom form templates where they would precisely mark and locate field information, in **online or offline** mode! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-NIR.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-NIR.png) *NIR drone image (6cm pixel size), false-color composite (RGB: NIR/R/G). Light blue pixels denote low crop growth* With [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) they established a **direct connection and collaboration** between the groups of people who were involved in this project and **weren’t located in the same region**. They were able to create a map to **track collection progress** with the possibility of **importing** and **editing** new data for **analysis**! Analyzing and understanding the data in real-time is crucial for **smarter responses** in precision agriculture and farming. NubiGroup overcame the challenge of regular in-person meetings and the hardcopy jobs of printing maps, photos, and paper surveys for field work. They transformed the **entire workflow from paper to digital within minutes!** > *GC apps provide an easy-to-use interface that can be used even by non -“GIS experts”.* > *For example, the MDC with predefined forms can be used easily by farmers in order to provide us with accurate field data.* > > *Konstantinos Ntouros – NubiGroup* Generally, these types of projects require the involvement of people with different expertise. Spatial data exchange between them is absolutely critical! With the help of GIS Cloud apps and Services, NubiGroup managed to achieve team collaboration from a distance, **within their budget,** and without investing in **hardware, software and maintenance.** They were able to search, visualize and explore the data with adequate information and make **essential decisions**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-field-photo.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Kostas-field-photo.png) *Kostas field photoField survey crop field photo – Corn plantation Recommendation* > *With GIS Cloud applications and services we got great performance, affordable cost, and ease of use for our clients!* > > *Konstantinos Ntouros – NubiGroup* [**Contact our Consultants** ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)to help you set up a desirable, GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Showcasing the GIS Cloud solution for precision agriculture at AgTechDay-Brazil Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Risk Management in Agriculture (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Case Study, collaboration, crop image, data collection, data visualisation, drone farming, drone image, Drone imagery, drone images, farming, GIS agriculture, GIS Cloud partner, GIS Farming, GIS Partner, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, NDVI, NIR, precision agriculture --- ### [Connecting GIS Cloud with SFTP Clients](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connecting-gis-cloud-with-sftp-clients/) **Published:** July 6, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** In this video we show you how to upload and export your data by connecting to GIS Cloud with Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) clients. ### Related content: - [Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-3d-drone-mapping-imagery-with-clients-a-report-from-south-africa/ "Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa") - [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis-released/ "GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released!") - [Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attach-media-files-documents-and-much-more-to-your-map-data-in-gis-cloud/ "Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud") - [GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-fusion-tables/ "GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables") - [QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-plugin-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/ "QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar)") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cloud-solutions-for-your-local-government-gis/) **Published:** July 7, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![city map-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/city-map-s.jpg) Using GIS in Governments, whether local, State, or Federal, has become a must. It helps departments work together much faster; it improves the decision-making process, engages the community, and improves day-to-day operations and long-term planning. Local Government incorporates a lot of different departments, that all use GIS in a different but also similar way at the same time. From Public Works, Land Administration, Planning and Development, Fire Risk and Management, Emergency Management and Response to Water Management all have following geospatial needs: - Data Uploading - Creating and collecting - Sharing projects - Collaborating inside and out of organization - Analyzing - Achieving effective and accurate results Yet, each and every department has their own custom way of applying these needs to an actual workflow. GIS Cloud has been used for that exact purpose, by many different government agencies, organizations and companies. Focus of GIS Cloud solutions is to bring in the Cloud component to your workflow. Cloud enables the freedom to tailor your workflow to your exact preferences as you are no longer locked to your workplace. Collaborate with your team on smartphones, tablets and iPads while being on different locations, simultaneously in real time. Collaborative approach that GIS Cloud solutions are based on, makes an irreplaceable addition to your GIS needs. It enables all the departments to work together in a cloud environment by sharing, creating and analyzing new and existing projects. It doesn’t replace your current solution but extends it to the next level. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sunrise-skyscrapers-landscape-free-desktop-wallpaper-1920x1080-e1436264190395-1024x458.jpg) **[Land Administration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-gis-cloud-case-study/)** Manage your land data in an accurate and interactive way. Engage communities in exploring the parcel data from a web environment accessible on multiple devices, from taxes, location to parcel value. **[Public Works](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-management-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/)** Get the most accurate data on parks, traffic and road infrastructure. Maintain your assets in the most collaborative way possible by working together with teammates in real time no matter the location, time zone and device. **[Planning and Development](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/city-of-milwaukee-case-study-using-mdc-to-identify-homeless-population/)** Create, develop and plan new web based and field projects by involving the community in inventories, cleanup events and surveying. Make your decision making accurate and effective as possible. **[Fire Risk and Management](https://www.bomberos.cl/)** Put your fire departments in the office and in the field in sync and improve firefighter safety. Perform fire hazard, danger and risk mapping, plan and implement the fire control and fire use activities. **Watershed and Water Management** Maintain water utility assets by improving their infrastructure and optimizing field operations. Enhance and create the sustainable water management that benefit you, residents and environment. **[Emergency Management and Response](https://catnat.net/)** Organize, coordinate and direct your resources by sharing your response plans in order to bring the emergency under control. Map hot spots of the locations of the emergency events and create public maps for the community. **[Cloud-enable your entire Organization](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)** Bring in the Cloud to your GIS workflow by using the tools you need to make your organization collaboration easy, fast and accurate. Have a question? [Send us an email](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Stay tuned for more industries and use cases. Related content: GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Importance of Open Data for Local Governments Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece Cloud Mapping (Rev)Solutions continue… GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Getting Started with Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/) **Published:** June 16, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** In this video, we show you three basic steps to start using mobile data collection. From creating a custom form in MDC Portal, sharing your project with your coworkers and collecting data using your mobile device. GIS Cloud solution for the field data collection makes your workflow sync across all the devices in real-time and among multiple users simultaneously. Create projects specific to your needs, location and industry. The data collection adventure continues… ### Related content: - [Getting Started with Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-gis-cloud/ "Getting Started with Map Editor") - [New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-release-collect-lines-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection/ "New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection!") - [Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/ "Mobile Data Collection") - [Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-maps-for-mobile-data-collection-and-map-viewer-released/ "Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released") - [How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-data-collection-tools-for-soil-sampling-in-agriculture/ "How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Getting Started with Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** June 10, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** We present you a short video that contains all the needed info and steps on how to get started with GIS Cloud Map Editor. Check out the 4 basic steps to start your GIS Cloud mapping adventure: - Create a map - Upload (drag and drop) your data - Style your data (classify, change colors, set your transparency) - Share and publish your maps and projects (with coworkers, users, public) The focus with GIS Cloud apps is that we want you to do your mapping in the easiest way, with only couple of steps, while achieving maximum effective results for your clients and your organization. The mapping adventure continues… ### Related content: - [Getting Started with Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/ "Getting Started with Mobile Data Collection") - [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/ "Map Editor") - [GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-on-codeacross-and-opendataday-in-zagreb/ "GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb") - [QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-plugin-gis-cloud-publisher-why-we-made-it-and-what-can-you-do-with-it-webinar-recording/ "QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar)") - [Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-information-and-collaborating-across-the-organization-introduction/ "Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Geotagging Photos in GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geotagging-photos-in-gis-cloud/) **Published:** May 26, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud has implemented the possibility of adding geotagged photos to your point data, where the latitude and longitude attributes (metadata) automatically create a point and zoom into the location of the photos taken. We invite you to take advantage of this cool feature and create many awesome and interesting maps filled with images and cool stories behind them. Check out the video to get more info! ### Related content: - [Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cool-maps-by-gis-cloud-users/ "Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users") - [Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attach-media-files-documents-and-much-more-to-your-map-data-in-gis-cloud/ "Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud") - [Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/meet-the-people-of-gis-cloud-an-interview-with-antonija-netolicki-sales-manager-at-gis-cloud/ "Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud") - [Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/manage-your-geospatial-data-live-with-gis-cloud-and-desktop-integration/ "Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration") - [Collect data in only 5 steps! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/collect-data-in-only-5-steps/ "Collect data in only 5 steps!") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Geomobiliti Inc. Interview - Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geomobility-interview-using-gis-cloud-in-railroad-industry/) **Published:** April 24, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** We did an interview about Railroad GIS with Tomy Brown, owner of [Geomobiliti Inc.](http://geomobiliti.com/) and a Railroad GIS expert. What are the trends in the Railroad Industry from the GIS perspective, and his experience in using GIS Cloud are all covered in this interview. **GC:** Tomy, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what do you specialize in. **TB:** I am the owner of Geomobiliti Inc. We are located in Florida and we specialize in GIS for short lined railroads and we provide GIS services to companies in general. **GC:** What is the background of your clients in terms of industries? **TB:** For instance, some of our clients come from Telecommunications industry. We provide TIS (Technological Innovation System) Analysis to identify candidate parcels for terrasse and as an example we have to take into a consideration how property is zoned. **GC:** How did your workflow look like prior to GIS implementation? **TB:** We have used GIS from the very beginning, but I can tell you how it looked like In the Railroad Industry before. Majority of work was done manually, so paper maps were used, documents were stored and things like that. So with the GIS introduction, a lot of the data was now cataloged and stored in a data repository and attached to features in a GIS map allowing people to very easily pull up and print the information using the GIS. There is a particular example of an old school user who wouldn’t use GIS. He had a situation where he had a potential client calling about 2 pieces of property that the railroad owned. So by using the GIS technology and some simple operations like intersection he was able to get results super-fast and was able to go and check the locations of his results in the field. Had he have done it the old fashioned way, he would have had to go and look through the maps looking for those intersections and what took him 5 minutes with GIS would have taken him 2 hours. So I don’t need to tell you that that, sold him to start using GIS. **GC:** What would be the main components of a GIS Railroad industry? **TB:** Railroad GIS is usually created for the Real-estate Department. It’s to help record all the real estate transactions that take place, not only with the land but also that include license agreements with utility companies. There is a considerate amount of revenues generated from utility companies’ crossing over railroad property which is especially important in US because the railroads are not nationalized. Private railroad companies have transactions that take place with utility companies and adjacent land owners to lease land that the railroad owns. All of that data is captured in an affirmative agreement and we were able to map that on GIS. When we gather all that data and put it in a database, which is stored on a server, users can access the data online as supposed to going to a file cabinet and look for it manually. You can click on a feature on a map and retrieve not only attributes but also attached documents like PDF-s. It is so much easier now that you can for instance see an aerial image of the location and associated document to it. It allows a user to do actions in 5 minutes what would have taken them couple of hours usually. **GC:** You use both Desktop and GIS Cloud. How has that been for you in terms of combining both to create a perfect workflow for your company? **TB:** We use Desktop for doing analysis and then creating maps. Once we have maps done and ready at a point where we are ready to publish them, we then publish the maps using GIS Cloud [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/). Once the maps are published to GIS Cloud, we prepare the map for client. We set the layers so they are easily identifiable, we color code it so the features stand out and then we attach documents to the layers and features. We have tried different options of map publishing for our clients to keep their cost down. Once I found GIS Cloud, we found that the performance of the map and functionality of the apps outweighs far anything else we have come across. **GC:** Are your clients satisfied with GIS Cloud apps, and do they find them user friendly to use? **TB:** When I suggest to my client’s different solutions that we offer, and show them the GIS Cloud option and its capabilities along with its price, the decision has been very easy for them thus far. **GC:** Is there a need for prior knowledge of GIS before using GIS Cloud? **TB:** The interface has been designed very user friendly, it is very straight forward, so it has been one of the main advantages of the apps for our clients. Some other solutions, while they may have similar tools, they are not very inviting to amateur users. So that is why I think some of the older users in Railroad companies, who are resistant to change, are willing to go GIS Cloud once they try it out. In other words GIS Cloud makes it inviting for everybody to be able to use GIS. **GC:** When you could point our features to recommend GIS Cloud to other users, what would those be? **TB:** I would definitely start with map performance which is probably one of the biggest selling points. We recently had a client swap over using an ESRI product to use GIS Cloud. One of the biggest compliments coming from them is how fast the map display is. With GIS Cloud you can create attractive maps that are easy to use, and then everyone wants to use them. So when we present our clients different solutions, and when they see how fast and how beautiful their maps are using their data, they are easily converted to GIS Cloud. And then the search tool that GIS Cloud apps have, is such an awesome and life saver feature. The other big selling point for GIS Cloud for Railroads is [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). The ability to record data about their assets and to record property and drainage issues, so to collect that information is very valuable for them to understand patterns, trends and the issues that they are dealing with on a daily basis. GIS is also a great way to make departments collaborate and work together. To put all the data in one repository, so that everyone can access it and work simultaneously. **GC:** Special thank you to Tomy Brown who was kind as always to find the time and do an interview with us. ### Related content: - [Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-in-the-railroad-industry/ "Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry") - [GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-oil-gas-industry-sharing-oil-field-maps-online/ "GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study)") - [Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/meet-the-people-of-gis-cloud-an-interview-with-antonija-netolicki-sales-manager-at-gis-cloud/ "Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud") - [Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/rabine-paving-use-case-efficiently-managing-operations-in-construction-industry/ "Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry") - [Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-interview-fighting-droughts-and-watershed-monitoring/ "Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Supporting raster data in .ECW, .IMG, .SID, .JP2 formats](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-raster-data-in-ecw-img-sid-jp2-formats/) **Published:** May 11, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** Rasters are getting to be equally important as vectors. So naturally we strive to support as many raster formats and constantly work on getting that list bigger and wider. Another important part about both vector and raster data is the map performance when dealing with large data sets and large data volume. We are covering how to add ECW raster data that is 3GB large. Check out the video below to see GIS Cloud’s fast map performance and how it handles both rasters (ECW) and vectors. Rasters are now available in these formats as well so be sure to give them a try: .img, .ecw, .sid, .jp2 ### Related content: - [Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/watch-the-sharing-large-raster-data-with-gis-cloud-webinar-recording/ "Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording") - [Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-large-raster-maps-and-drone-imagery-with-gis-cloud/ "Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud") - [Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-a-swim-marathon-with-an-interactive-map-portal/ "Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal") - [Single-band Raster – New Feature and Webinar! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/single-band-raster-new-feature-and-webinar/ "Single-band Raster – New Feature and Webinar!") - [Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-the-mining-activity-in-chile-through-interactive-thematic-maps/ "Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS For Real Estate - Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-estate-case-study-displaying-your-own-postgis-database-on-gis-cloud/) **Published:** April 29, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GIS-for-Real-Estate-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/GIS-for-Real-Estate-cover.jpg) Over the years, **GIS rapidly changed the Real Estate Industry** with advanced and accurate information of assets. Real estate companies are aware that successful problem solving is connected with a detailed understanding of their spatial information. GIS provides an **accurate and visual representation** of properties that real estate professionals or clients wish to invest in or sell. This particular case study covers a scenario where our clients, the [Providence Group](https://www.providencegroup.com/), explained how **online GIS helped them utilize their everyday workflow**. Now, they have a better sense of all of their **commercial real estate services,** including brokerage, property management, development, and corporate services. With a primary focus on retail, the company actively represents clients throughout the Carolinas and strives to provide an efficient, dedicated and innovative level of service and support to all of its customers. ## **Real Estate Spatial Data Challenges** One of the biggest challenges Providence Group had was to **display their own PostGIS database and file geodatabase** in the cloud. This helped their clients **make the most of their every location** with great online mapping power and data research with all of the valuable information and data visualized in one place. GIS and Real Estate business **revolves around location,** and having that property location **accessible in real-time** is one of the key aspects of finding land or property for the clients. Analyzing geographic information and spatial data is an everyday challenge for many real estate agencies. Having a **PostGIS database** online opens up a **strategic potential** without any need of connecting hardware or software in-house requirements. You can even connect an external [ORACLE database](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connect-external-oracle-database-new-gis-cloud-release/) in GIS Cloud if needed. Also, having **Google Maps Tile Map Service** (TMS) as a feature was essential for their client’s workflow. [![Traffic Counts](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Traffic-Counts-e1430318994425.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Traffic-Counts-e1430318994425.jpg)*Traffic Count Viewer: showing how many cars pass a given site a day* ## **Implementation of Online GIS Is The Future Of Real Estate** Implementing the GIS Cloud solution helped the Providence Group successfully display their own **PostGIS database and file geodatabase** they have built over the years. Instead of constantly updating static maps, they can now **create their maps** with the [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application. Different types of data can be presented in distinguished layers with appropriate custom symbology and color-coding, like: - Soil type - Topography - Land size - Ownership - Zoning - Value - Flood zones, - Municipal boundaries, - Traffic - and much more Additionally, competition, demographics, and different data analysis types like buffering, heat maps, trade areas, drive times, etc., are used for site selection and location analytics in commercial real estate. - Filter your locations by popularity - Locate new areas of interest and opportunity - Compare sites that have the best return on capital investments Using white labelled, branded [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) applications, with a custom interface as a **go-to solution** for **data visualisation and decision making** improved many aspects of data sharing and reporting privately and publicly. With just a couple of clicks, they were able to present crucial data and information to clients, subcontractors and management. With the GIS Cloud solution for Real Estate, you can develop **marketing strategy and plans**, develop a **deeper understanding** of factors that impact property value and **optimize** your real estate services. [![Retailer Database](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Retailer-Database-e1430319056387.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Retailer-Database-e1430319056387.jpg)*PostGIS Retailer Database: used for competition maps and research* ## **Map Collaboration and Data Understanding Provide Better Opportunities** Providence Group showed us that successful real estate companies know how to utilize online GIS to **improve their business model** and form a **detailed understanding** of their assets. GIS Cloud apps are great for any data comparison, analyzing the pros and cons of real estate investments, land evaluation property development or new business decisions. **Key features** that helped Providence Group focus more on the property selling value rather than spending hours behind the desk were: - Fast Database Connectivity - Numerous Symbology Options - You can upload your custom icons - GIS Cloud plugin [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) saves symbology from your ESRI shapefiles when publishing maps to GIS Cloud - Tile Map Services (TMS) Transform your **tedious spreadsheets** into **beautiful data-driven maps** with adequate **custom reports** that will help your clients **understand their property’s value**. **Improve communication** with your clients and team members, quickly utilize market opportunities and capitalize on them. [![MHHI](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MHHI-e1430319439657.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/MHHI-e1430319439657.jpg)*Median Household Income overlaid on the Norfolk-Virginia Beach area* GIS Cloud is **fully scalable,** **pay for what you use** online platform with no desktop installation required. White label GIS apps are enormous opportunities to grow your brand reputation in the market. GIS Cloud can provide you with your personalized [custom-tailored white label GIS application!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/) You can **easily scale** your app **subscriptions** at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for real estate projects,[ Sign up for the free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)**.** You can also [contact our Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Case Study, Cloud GIS, collaboration, Cool Maps, data collection, Geoportal, GIS, GIS Cloud, gis for real estate, gis real estate, Google Maps TMS, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, Oracle, oracle database, postGIS, real estate, TMS --- ### [Data Collection & Crew Tracking in a Single Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-collection-crew-tracking-in-a-single-solution-webinar-invite/) **Published:** February 24, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Data Collection & Crew Tracking in a Single Solution + Webinar Invite](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover-4.png) We can all agree that one of the most significant improvements you can make for your projects is to **go digital with your data collection**. Having a tool that will save you time by removing the step of transferring data from paper to digital while also enabling you to **get real-time feedback** from the field is a no-brainer. Add to that an easy setup and the ability to ensure data quality, and you’ve got a complete solution right there. Well, almost. Crew safety is one of the most common concerns we hear from our users – their collectors are often working in challenging environments, whether that’s on the side of a busy road or in a remote area responding to emergencies. **Knowing where your field crews are at all times is simply a must.** And while setting up a fleet management solution would work, there are additional costs, often significant, that you have to include. Wouldn’t it be easier if your data collection app also provided the tracking functionality? Our **Mobile Data Collection** app does just that – and so much more! Check out this live webinar where we discuss how to: - Create easy-to-use, but powerful data collection projects - Enable easy access to real-time data for both field and office crew - Ensure field crew safety and manage operational costs with the newly added tracking feature In the meantime, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), explore data collection and register for [GIS Cloud Track early access](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/)! Related content: GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Field Data Collection: Best Practices Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** crew tracking, data collection, Fleet Management, GIS Cloud Track, Mobile Data Collection, Operational Costs, real-time, tracking, webinar --- ### [Mobile Data Collection Update Release](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-data-collection-update-release/) **Published:** June 4, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** We have updated the Mobile Data Collection app with a bunch of cool things that are now available for iOS and Android devices. #### **What’s new with this release:** - High quality photos – collect high resolution photos - Log in with Google, Twitter, Facebook or Salesforce - Improved queue management - Feature ID visible within the app - Switch projects directly from the form screen - Slick new user interface [![pic4](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/pic4.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/pic4.png) #### **To recap, some of the great things you can do with MDC:** - Real time collection of current and accurate data - Create custom forms using MDC Portal or Map Editor - Review and edit possibilities of attributes and media collected right from the MDC application - Offline mode data collection – for areas without internet connection - Add and populate as many fields as you need: text, numbers, radio buttons, select lists, photos, audio recordings, barcodes and QR codes - Pinpoint tool which enables manual placement of point data in case of low GPS accuracy - Offline maps coming up Related content: New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Mobile Data Collection Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-and-watersheds-monitoring-rainfall-in-orange-county-california/) **Published:** February 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Managing Water Resources GIS Cloud in Orange County Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Watersheds1.jpg) Rainfall and watersheds monitoring can be quite demanding. It includes various tasks and challenges, from having updated information on the amounts of water at any given time, to organizing teams acquiring the data and integrating new online GIS solutions with existing desktop GIS tools. Read a case study on how Orange County **transformed their previously paper-based workflow** to a completely digital solution, which not only made their jobs easier and more efficient, but also saved time and money. Online GIS plays an important role in managing natural resources, environmental monitoring as well as **fighting droughts and Watersheds monitoring**. Some time ago, we published [an interview](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-interview-fighting-droughts-and-watershed-monitoring/) with Grant Sharp who is the Environmental Monitoring Section Manager with the OC Watersheds Division of OC Public Works in Orange County, California. His main focus is collecting information about the environment and using that information to protect the environment in a better way. ## Water shortages in Orange County As water shortages are a common problem in California during summertime, environmental monitoring plays a crucial role in planning and executing strategies for water conservation, alleviating pollution, and changing the behavior of residents. Some of those strategies include planning volunteer watershed cleanup events as well as informing citizens on the effects of water pollution, resulting in a more sustainable behavior. In Orange County, who have adopted our solutions in 2013, **GIS Cloud helps in monitoring rainfall** amounts on a monthly basis. Because of serious droughts in past years, residents of the county had to rely more on the stormwater/rainwater as a resource. The real-time rainfall totals are available for the citizens online. This information was gathered, visualized and organized with the help of GIS Cloud. Let’s see what were the main challenges in setting up the Watersheds Monitoring system in Orange County. ## OC Watersheds division needed a better way to collect rainfall data The main challenge in monitoring rainfall amounts and having a clear overview of the real-time situation in the field was in finding a more efficient way to collect and enter the data necessary for visualization on a map. The key was in **replacing a paper-based workflow** with a user-friendly and fast data collection method in the field. So, instead of recording data on a piece of paper and adding it manually in a database in the office, they wanted to have an option for a real-time data collection in the field, where watersheds data, such as data collected on the volunteer watersheds cleanup events, would be added instantly on a map while still in the field. ## Challenge of integrating all data in one place Another important thing was to **integrate existing desktop tools with the cloud** so that they could share the data locked on individual computers, to collaborate with the entire team, as well as open it for public use. Also, the system needed to be customized so that the real-time data coming from OC Watersheds Remote Sensing equipment, that collects rainfall and water level data, is pushed on the map in real time. This data needed to be accessible through custom reports showing historical records, that is exportable in different formats. ## Online GIS solution for the entire workflow Orange County Watersheds Department used GIS Cloud [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)to visualize existing data on a map, add different layers of data, separate different regions, and adjust symbology. They used GIS Cloud [ArcMap Publisher](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) to convert existing data in shapefiles, in only a couple of clicks. This makes integration with desktop GIS fast and simple, preserving all your data and symbology. Access the map [here](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/143453/oc-watersheds). [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) entirely replaced their paper-based workflow, providing a solution for real-time data collection in the field, using smartphones or tablets. In the words of Grant Sharp: > *“In terms of being able to collect data from the field, GIS Cloud has provided a major benefit to our organization. It allows us to be more efficient and productive in terms of how we go into the environment and collect the information. We are able to record and document data in real time. It has helped us streamline our workflow and processes. We were able to convert what used to be done largely on paper and can now be done electronically with mobile devices.”* ## Solution tailored for watershed monitoring and management **Adjusting GIS Cloud’s REST API resulted in a customized solution**, where the map was easily adjusted to push the data from over 80 stations that measure water level data throughout the country. Also, this enabled custom reports important for the users who wanted to have an insight into the rainfall data: > “*Our users are able to pull out charts and graphs of the historical data and export the data in various formats. So we are providing our customers with the current information they need… They have a lot of interest in where it’s raining and so on, and can get that information but also historical data as well.*” – Grant Sharp Also, the important benefit of using GIS Cloud was the **simplicity of use** as well as the tools that can be used for data analysis. Summed up by Grant Sharp, these are the main benefits and a recommendation for GIS Cloud as a perfect solution for Watersheds monitoring and management: > *“There are several things what makes GIS Cloud unique compared to other providers. First and foremost is the relative* ***ease and simplicity of the platform****. It doesn’t require a lot of training, you can literally jump in day one and be able to develop content and collect data from the field.* > > *I would also like to emphasize that while these things are an advantage, I don’t want to understate the fact that you can use GIS Cloud to do* ***powerful analysis on large amounts of data.*** *We have used GIS Cloud for integrating a lot of different databases, data sources and datasets so that we can do powerful analysis by using the tools and features GIS Cloud provides.* > > *It helped us in decision making and how we manage our assets, so that is another thing that sets GIS Cloud apart from other providers. And the* ***ability to integrate GIS Cloud with other desktop solutions*** *has been a tremendous feature when it comes to collaboration throughout our organization.”* Interested in GIS Cloud Solutions for managing water resources? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Grant Sharp, Managing water resources, Mobile Data Collection, Orange County, Orange County Watersheds, rainfall monitoring map --- ### [Video Blog: Adding WMTS To Your Maps and Projects](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wmts-to-your-maps-and-projects/) **Published:** April 9, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** A Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) is a standard protocol for serving pre-rendered georeferenced map tiles over the internet or in other words WMTS provides a standard based solution to serve digital maps using predefined image tiles. In the video below we are showing you steps on how to add WMTS to your maps in Map Editor and use them in your GIS projects. ### Related content: - [Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wfs-to-your-maps-and-projects/ "Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects") - [Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-mdc-dependent-fields/ "Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields") - [GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-offers-technology-and-support-for-free-to-projects-fighting-to-contain-coronavirus/ "GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus") - [Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/ "Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort") - [“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-drone-data-next-step-collaboration-video-is-now-available-online/ "“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wfs-to-your-maps-and-projects/) **Published:** March 31, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** What is WFS? The Open Geospatial Consortium Web Feature Service Interface Standard (WFS) provides an interface allowing requests for geographical features (points, lines, and polygons) across the web using platform-independent calls. As we are covering how to use the OGC standards in GIS Cloud, in this video we are showing you how to add a Web Feature Service to your maps and projects in Map Editor. Also, what do you do in a scenario where your WFS doesn’t match your other data like a base map? Not to worry, we covered that in the video as well. ### Related content: - [Video Blog: Adding WMTS To Your Maps and Projects ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wmts-to-your-maps-and-projects/ "Video Blog: Adding WMTS To Your Maps and Projects") - [Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-mdc-dependent-fields/ "Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields") - [GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-offers-technology-and-support-for-free-to-projects-fighting-to-contain-coronavirus/ "GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus") - [Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/ "Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort") - [“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-drone-data-next-step-collaboration-video-is-now-available-online/ "“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Oil and Gas Case Study: Providing Client Mapping Data Online](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/oil-and-gas-case-study-providing-client-mapping-data-online/) **Published:** March 16, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** With the upcoming webinar, where we will show you some of the GIS Cloud user success stories, we wanted to present you a Consulting success story from the Oil and Gas industry. We did a short interview with CORE Geomatics, asking them to describe what their projects are about and how has GIS Cloud helped them in achieving their goals. **Background** [CORE Geomatics](https://www.coregeomatics.com/) is a service company that inventively delivers Geomatics Solutions; leveraging a virtual structure to reduce costs, access the best people, and minimize our environmental impact. In the oil and gas industry of Western Canada, mapping is a vital tool in the planning and implementation of industry projects. **Challenge** **GC:** What was the biggest challenge when it came to achieving your projects? **CORE:** A request was made by one of our clients to provide access to their mapping data for planning and visualization purposes and as a company that works entirely in a cloud environment we needed a web based GIS solution that did not require the implementation of in‐office servers. We chose GIS Cloud as it allowed us to host our GIS system and the mapping data entirely on the cloud. [![2015-03-08 09_44_54-CORE Geomatics Map Portal - Map 'Brion Web Map - Desktop'](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-09_44_54-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426510014750.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-09_44_54-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426510014750.png) *An overview of the project area in GIS Cloud.***Solution** **GC:** Can you describe us your project workflow once you deployed GC apps: **CORE:** Maps are typically data rich with many layers in different formats so one of the prerequisites was to find an app that will support large data sets in formats like geotiff and shapefile. Our clients can also provide custom datasets to us that we can upload and style for their specific use using **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**‘s powerful simbology tool set. [![2015-03-08 10_08_12-CORE Geomatics Map Portal - Map 'Brion Web Map - Desktop'](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-10_08_12-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426509782622.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-10_08_12-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426509782622.png) *One of the most important features a good map should have, when displaying vast amount of data is fast performance*Next stage of our workflow was to have a way to deliver the data to our clients based on their requests. Given the volume of the data we use on a daily basis, GIS Cloud developed a custom search tool for us to help us perform search queries. With [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app we managed to deliver our results to our clients, while having the full control of privacy settings and time that users are being able to access the results. [![2015-03-08 09_57_59-CORE Geomatics Map Portal - Map 'Brion Web Map - Desktop'](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-09_57_59-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426509943802.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-08-09_57_59-CORE-Geomatics-Map-Portal-Map-Brion-Web-Map-Desktop-e1426509943802.png) *Working together with CORE Geomatics, a custom search application was developed for their maps***Recommendation** **GC:** Can you sum in one sentence, how had GIS Cloud specifically helped your company? **Core:** As a company that works in a “virtual office” environment, GIS Cloud has helped us to successfully provide an online mapping application to our client without the need of servers. **GC:** What would be 3 key features in your opinion that you would recommend GIS Cloud for? **CORE:** - Cloud based system - Customizable environment - Support from GIS Cloud staff is exceptional Related content: GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other --- ### [Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-mdc-dependent-fields/) **Published:** March 9, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** The new [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) version introduces Dependent Fields, available for android and iOS devices. Once you are in [MDC Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/), you can set up your custom forms with the brand new Dependency menu. To get more information on how to use Dependent Fields, click [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-dependent-fields-in-your-form/) or watch the video below. ### Related content: - [Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wfs-to-your-maps-and-projects/ "Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects") - [Video Blog: Adding WMTS To Your Maps and Projects ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-blog-adding-wmts-to-your-maps-and-projects/ "Video Blog: Adding WMTS To Your Maps and Projects") - [New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-mdc-features-read-only-fields-navigate-to-feature-and-manual-audio-recorder/ "New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder") - [Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/ "Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort") - [“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-drone-data-next-step-collaboration-video-is-now-available-online/ "“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Public and Private Access?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/public-and-private-access/) **Published:** December 29, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Public or private maps? Which way to go? Why not both?** If you have a need to have either public or private maps we’ve got you covered. The possibilities that GIS Cloud’s permission and role management offers you are endless. Here are some of the frequent questions our users ask us about what having private and public access enables them. If my map is private does that mean only I can see it? You can share your private map with as many users/clients you want. What about my data? If I have a private map, but want someone to edit the data, can I do that? You can specify your data to be editable by giving specific users edit permission. [![FloridaTrafficShare](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FloridaTrafficShare-1024x523.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FloridaTrafficShare.png) Can I have a public map but have the data only be view-able for public? For each layer in your maps weather the map is private or public, you can specify permissions. Can I have only specific layers to be exportable in public maps? In public as well in private maps, you can specify per each layer if you want the public or specific users to be able to export the data. In which formats can public/my users export the data? You can export both vector and raster data in various formats (.shp, .kml, .csv, Mapinfo, geotiff…) Related content: How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps? Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/lewis-county-case-study-small-community-cloud-solution/) **Published:** December 17, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** With the ongoing discussion on the topic of cloud computing phenomena and what it means for the GIS industry, we wanted to give an overview of just how wide the spectra of cloud dimensions is. The big players are well endowed in the Cloud and cloud solutions, but what about the small players and small communities? How to have the best from what the novelty of cloud technology brings but in an affordable yet still high quality way? Lewis County is a small budgeted community located in the State of New York. One of the tasks that Lewis County had was to create a mapping system online so that public and businesses can have an easy access to public data for their projects and inquiries. The idea was to try and find a cloud solution that would be both affordable and high quality at the same time. Both of these values they found in GIS Cloud along with the WOW factor for the public who now utilize their online mapping system. [![lc1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lc1-1024x503.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lc1.png) We did a short interview with Lewis County, asking them their take on the cloud solutions and how has their workflow benefited since using GIS Cloud? **GC:** What were some challenges that in your opinion you overcame with GIS Cloud apps? **LC:** The ability to display and collect data for county employees and ease of public use. For instance we wanted an online map displaying different and multiple layers like zoning, wetlands, mobile railways and so on that you can overlay. With GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), public can customize their own maps by a mouse click. County employees can utilize the private maps and data collecting to streamline their daily routines. We have replicated an outdated mapping software with GIS Cloud and not only does GIS Cloud have up to date aerial imagery and many formats to choose from but you can also bring your own data and in large volume as well. **GC:** Is your project workflow more efficient with GIS Cloud apps and how? **LC:** We started using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app and data is automatically uploaded into the cloud. This makes it very easy to add data points onsite and provides us with a continuous workflow in the field and office. Also using the [GIS Cloud Publisher extension](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) is an easy way to maintain the Lewis County NY cloud map when editing on other software platforms. Another great thing is collaborating and sharing private maps in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) with others before they are published to a public map for everyone to view. It makes it efficient when we don’t have to print out a dozen maps for each person. [![lc2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lc2-1024x513.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/lc2.png) **GC:** What would be 3 key features in your opinion that you would recommend GIS Cloud for? **LC: 1.** Streamlining data collection using GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection app makes it easy to go from data collector to any private or public map. **2.** The power to share and collaborate on maps before they are sent to the public, customer or our public map. **3.** Displaying map data to the public at no charge. This is important to us because the public expects to have public data at their fingertips. No longer do tax payers have to go to our office and gather data for their property, or pay for a tax map that is not customized for their needs. Related content: Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Using Maps to Identify Homeless Population in Milwaukee (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/city-of-milwaukee-case-study-using-mdc-to-identify-homeless-population/) **Published:** December 9, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/MILWAUKEE-case-study-cover-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/MILWAUKEE-case-study-cover.png) Over 100 million people around the world have no shelter whatsoever. With the turbulence in the global economy, homelessness is becoming an increasing problem all over the world. The growing rate of the homeless population especially concerns American society. One of the ways to begin resolving this problem is to create a specifically designed population study. That exactly was the idea of Milwaukee Continuum of Care (CoC) and the State of Wisconsin. The City of Milwaukee, the largest city in the State of Wisconsin, is the 31st most populous city in the United States. On any given day there are more than 1,500 homeless men, women, and families in the Milwaukee area. Because of that, they decided to measure progress toward ending homelessness and identifying unmet needs of the homeless through the bi-annual Point in Time Count. This survey would capture the number of individuals who are homeless and living in emergency shelters, safe havens, and transitional housing as well as persons on the street or another place unfit for human habitation. ## How could we help? GIS Cloud provided a mapping tool which would serve as an enhanced counting mechanism for identifying the homeless population in Milwaukee City/County. It needed to be an application which would, among other things, help to track locations in the given period, track the number of people who took the survey, the ones who refused, or who stated they were not homeless, and finally, to use the data gathered for further data tracking. So, within the options which would enable to optimize workflow (for example, to be able to communicate about the locations other outreach teams have already visited), project managers from Milwaukee asked for a **solution which would help with the data collection, data manipulation and also with map creation**. ## What were the main challenges to be resolved? - a need for **real-time data collection** based on a custom form specified for City of Milwaukee’s project - a possibility of having **multiple users** collecting data simultaneously - to be able to upload and use previously obtained data in different **vector and raster formats** - to have a tool for reviewing and editing of existing data from both **field and office** - to enable the production of **custom maps** used in field data collection as well as in office analysis - to have a tool for exporting all the data in different formats and using it later on in different **desktop solutions** [![gis for analyzing homeless populations](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/gis-for-analyzing-homeless-populations-1024x546.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/gis-for-analyzing-homeless-populations.png) ## The Mapping Solution During the bi-annual Point in Time Count, for which we provided the set of tools, local Milwaukee shelter agencies, numerous advocates and volunteers conducted interviews with homeless individuals to obtain different types of feedback. They used the[ **Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. Before going to the field, a custom form was created using Mobile Data Collection Portal so that all the data collectors would have the same map configuration, simplifying and unifying the process. Using the Mobile Data Collection application, real-time information was obtained on how or why a person becomes homeless, the current length of homelessness, recidivism, and chronic homelessness. Data was able to be reviewed directly from the field and also cross-referenced with data from previous collections. The collectors used **the** **notes option** for tracking the number of people who took or refused to take the survey. [![gis for analyzing homeless populations 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/gis-for-analyzing-homeless-populations-2-1024x532.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/gis-for-analyzing-homeless-populations-2.png) The collected data was instantly available in[ **Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), along with other types of data like streets, police station locations, parks, food banks, meal sites, etc. Adding these different types of data made the map more intuitive, which was of great help later on when it was necessary to identify and analyze different contexts in which homelessness occurs, such as crime rates, general demographics and types of neighborhoods. Using GIS Cloud applications along with the Point In Time method makes the workflow much faster and more effective for the City of Milwaukee. It is a collaboration which, in a way, revolutionized data collection process – with GC apps more is accomplished in one day than what might usually take several months. Related content: Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases --- ### [The Future of Your GIS Workflow](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/the-future-of-your-gis-workflow/) **Published:** October 30, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** ##### **Then…** Not so long time ago, we were still manually drawing maps, populating survey forms in the field with a pen and inputting collected data manually in Excel as a part of an extensive paper based workflow. And what about if ‘heavens forbid’ we had to review the data…off we go back to the field with more paper forms. Then back to the office to cross-reference the data then and now, but only after we inputted the new data in excel. Hmmm… and then we printed out a map with administrative areas and did some massive coloring. ##### **Desktop** Then came the Desktop GIS and man did ‘coloring’ get better. Now we had an option to spatially have all the data on a map on a computer that had the data associated to each location we collected with a GPS device. We could join Excel tables and review data all in one place, overlaying multiple layers on top of each other and geospatial analysis suddenly got faster and better. It’s just… we became inpatient to wait for the team to bring back the data from the field with their GPS units. Especially considering we had all these meetings we had to attend across the country. Common now, we want it faster if not instantly… like in real time please! ##### **…and now** So now we sit in our very minimalistically decorated office as we don’t have tables covered in papers nor big desktop computers that require massive storage units. Even better, now we can be in Orange County on a meeting while our crew collects data in Florida and sends it to you. You receive it instantly, data is updated in real time and you can automatically show the progress to your colleagues. Quickly filter the data based on an attribute (same city let’s say) click on locations and get info associated to it like photos, lat, long, GPS accuracy, notes from the field… the list continues. Done in your browser… in the Cloud. ##### **Future** As GIS practitioners we can say the progress has been fast and mind blowing so far. Making GIS more integrated in various industries and simplifying workflows than ever before. So what has changed so much? At GIS Cloud, we believe that GIS is a concept that you customize to you and your needs rather than customizing and adapting yourself to the GIS standards. Future is in: **Integration** **Real Time Mobility** **High Accuracy** **Fast Performance** **Non GIS Expert user friendly solutions** ##### [**Simplify your workflow today!**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) [![actionable](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/actionable-1024x703.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/actionable.png) Related content: Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine Mapping Your Workflow – GIS for Roadworks Live Demo Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Mobile Data Collection **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud at INTERGEO Conference](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-intergeo-conference/) **Published:** September 30, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** ##### We are happy to announce that GIS Cloud is attending [INTERGEO conference](https://www.intergeo.de/en/) in Berlin from 7th to 9th of October. INTERGEO is the world’s leading conference trade fair for Geodesy, Geoinformation and Land Management. With over half a million event website users and over 16,000 visitors from 92 countries at INTERGEO itself, it is one of the key platforms for industry dialogue around the world. Conference celebrates its 20th anniversary by ‘Showcasing the very best Europe has to offer’ which is the key guiding principle of the conference. The defining focus is to highlight Europe’s best examples of the use and role of Geographic Information and Geo-technologies in a variety of thematic fields. Be sure to [**ping us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and see you there! ### Related content: - [GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-exhibiting-at-the-intergeo-2017-in-berlin/ "GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin") - [INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/intergeo-2017-cutting-edge-technologies-fueling-the-growth-of-geospatial-industry/ "INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry") - [FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/fida-co-studios-presenting-gis-cloud-at-the-intelligent-cities-exhibition-conference/ "FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference") - [UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/urbangis-presenting-gis-cloud-solutions-at-kortdage-conference-in-denmark/ "UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark") - [Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/virtual-conference-power-ops-security-nigeria-presenting-a-case-on-fighting-electricity-theft-with-gis-cloud/ "Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud”") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Cloud Mapping (Rev)Solutions continue...](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cloud-mapping-revsolutions-continue/) **Published:** October 1, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** At GIS Cloud, we were always inspired to push online mapping to the next level, beyond its borders. There is a reason why there is the Cloud in GIS Cloud…the Cloud is said to make your life easier, and then…so can GIS Cloud. Benefits that Cloud offers are growing more and more, and Cloud related features that were perhaps uncertain couple of years ago like data volume and format, map performance and control of your data privacy is now pure practice. When asking yourself what GIS is and how it could help you in your business or a project, one might think of a ‘school definition’ of what GIS represents…but GIS has become so much more. It infiltrates in so many spheres that were impossible before and so there is no simple GIS definition any more. Cloud has enabled a whole new dimension of GIS, continues to do so and from that perspective GIS definition is now versatile and adaptive depending on what you do. So where is GIS Cloud in Cloud GIS and how can it be adapted to you? #### [Handling the ‘Big Data’](https://www.giscloud.com/how-it-works/) Let’s start with the fact that GIS Cloud team has developed the fastest mapping technology available today. Besides being able to produce raster map tiles it is able to produce vector tiles as well which means even faster performance. Even if your map has thousands or millions of features, you can experience it with high user experience right in your browsers. But why would you limit yourself to the desktop only, when you can use smartphones, tablets and iPads, making your GIS an effective and interactive solution. [City of Fort Collins Big Data – Raster](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/298581/city-of-fort-collins-big-data-raster) #### [Effective solutions in Real Time](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) When working with maps and data in a system like GIS, user usually needs to create maps and projects and see results fast. Communication with the application, sending and retrieving data to your projects and maps is done in real time through GIS Cloud’s REST API. Real time data handling gives the possibility of immediate response to different departments which means optimization of your work process. [Seattle Big Data – Vector](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/292968/seattle-big-data-vector) #### [Control your Data](https://www.giscloud.com/how-it-works/) Many barriers have been broken by moving GIS into the Cloud, making decision making, collaboration and data sharing fast, effective and safe. Exchange and contribution of information as well as data collection between departments is crucial for the goals to be achieved. GIS Cloud platform enables your entire organization to collaborate by using the same apps while having different levels of access. With defining different permissions for users within your organization you have a full control of privacy authoring for your data. Curious about how your projects or your business solution would look like in GIS Cloud? **[Try it out](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)** for free or **[Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)** to get even more information. [**Check out 100 awesome uses of vector and raster data!**](https://gisgeography.com/remote-sensing-applications/) ### Related content: - [GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-mapping-and-benefits-of-online-solutions/ "GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions") - [Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cloud-solutions-for-your-local-government-gis/ "Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS") - [Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces using GIS Cloud Solutions | Nestorio, Greece ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/management-and-monitoring-of-green-spaces-using-gis-cloud-solutions-nestorio-greece/ "Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces using GIS Cloud Solutions | Nestorio, Greece") - [GIS Cloud Solutions in Telecom Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-in-telecom-industry/ "GIS Cloud Solutions in Telecom Industry") - [Manage Water Resources Using GIS Cloud Solutions ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/manage-water-resources-using-gis-cloud-solutions/ "Manage Water Resources Using GIS Cloud Solutions") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/consulting-solution-environmental-management-case-study/) **Published:** May 20, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** Tracking changes over time has become a necessity in various fields in environmental management. By keeping track of data records, different patterns can be distinguished which can be relevant for decision making. For instance by displaying annual data for fire activity on a map, patterns can be observed as to which locations are more distressed, which land use type and areas of protection fires attain. By adding this spatial component to your data, different types of analysis can be made that will improve your decision making process. [![envi22](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/envi22-e1401287693950.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/envi22-e1401287693950.png) *Heatmap results of fire activity in 2 given years showing different hotspots (2012 on the left and 2013 on the right)* **Challenges:** In order to put the data to best possible use and get the most effective results, different aspects of collaboration between various departments like Agriculture, Water, Traffic etc. need to be considered. Working together in real time, from different locations like office and field becomes a much needed workflow. Once the results are ready, there is the need to share them in and outside the organization with GIS and non-GIS experts. - Work together with departments specified for different areas to answer questions like: – which locations are distressed – which land type and areas of protection do fires attain – which administration units are assigned to which areas - Manage levels of access and permissions that allow different stages of collaboration - Possibility of a multi user simultaneous work environment from different locations - Collect new data from the field with the possibility of instant update - Implement existing data to ongoing projects in various formats - Share your results, maps and data with users outside your organization through a user friendly interface (for non-GIS experts as well) [![Envi2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Envi2-e1401287488706.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Envi2-e1401287488706.png) *Zoomed in hot spot area from 2012, showing different types of environmental data overlaid with fire activity data* **Solution:** GIS Cloud apps enable you to take the collaborating approach a step further. With its permissions and Manager app, you can now administer the entire collaborating and sharing process to the fullest. By adding spatial component to your data, different types of analysis can be made such as heat map analysis and overlay which will show hotspots of high-risk areas. Heat map analysis can be done in Map Editor on any point data you have or that you collect in the field by using Mobile Data Collection. You can have multiple coworkers working on maps and data at the same time while having different permissions like view/edit/export or even collect/update for data collection. With Map Viewer you can share your maps with users that are even outside your organization, through an intuitive user interface. **Results:** - Set of collaborative tools and permissions for data editing and updating applicable for using in and out of the organization - Management tools for different levels of access throughout your organization and different departments - Sharing tools for visualization of results, intuitive, easy to use and in real time - Tools for using the existing projects and data, one click plug-in for ArcGIS for Desktop Related content: Environmental Consulting Case Study: Watching Over Natural Hazards with the help of GIS Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Using GIS In Pest Control And Management - Tulare County CA (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/trapping-solution-tulare-county-ca-case-study/) **Published:** April 23, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![pest control](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pest-control-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pest-control-cover.png) Online GIS is becoming an essential platform for **pest control and management** worldwide. Collecting data, creating maps, and conducting geospatial analysis on a large scale helps prevent the spread of pest disease. It is used to **interpret and analyze patterns** to understand spatial interaction between pests, soil, and vegetation affected by the disease. GIS is also used to **track monitoring actions**, such as spraying programs, trapping solutions, treatment, etc., by providing accurate location information that helps with **pest management decisions.** Based on the acquired data, GIS can help you predict risk assessment models for pest control and management. Identify critical intervention areas to combat the disease spread with appropriate solutions. In California, USA, **Tulare County** had immense problems with Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), an invasive species of grave concern to the agriculture community. It can carry the disease named Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as **Citrus Greening**. All citrus and closely related species are susceptible hosts for both the insect and the disease. **There is no cure once a tree becomes infected**. The diseased tree will decline in health until it dies. Find out how our old clients Tulare County fought this invasive species with the help of **online GIS.** **Table of contents:** - Data Collection and GPS Challenges - Custom Map For Monitoring Pest And Insect Traps - Benefits Of Online GIS In Pest Control ## Data Collection and GPS Challenges Methodology and data collection that Tulare County used for the ACP survey was **paper-based.** This was overwhelming for field data collectors because visits to potential host trees required **continuous document data entry** for monitoring activities. As **GPS location** in this project is a **requirement,** any inaccurate GPS collected data requires several trips back to the site for overview and correction. The biggest challenge was slow and **inefficient editing and updating** of the collected data. Tulare County needed a fast and accurate software solution that would enable them to gather data quickly and reliably. The solution needed to have: - Option to use statewide trapping grid (STG) for coordinating trapping projects - Easy to use data collection solution for non – GIS users - A tool that enables collecting and reviewing of the data on each potential host (trap type, activity action, address, tree species, multiple photos, latitude, longitude, etc.) - A mapping tool that has the possibility of editing, labeling, and classifying the collected data - A mapping tool that gives an overview of locations of the potential hosts with the associated information on a map ## Custom Map For Monitoring Pest And Insect Traps Survey methods and inspections for ACP include the placement of **yellow panels**, commonly known as **“sticky traps“**, to catch and monitor pests and insects. Instead of using old and outdated paper surveys, the team that collected and inspected the citrus trees by state and county could now do this with the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **app.** With the statewide trapping grid system created in [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and divided into quints, subgrids of areas were distinctly **labeled and color-coded** to find the field locations quickly. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pest-Control-Map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pest-Control-Map.png) With the help of [Forms Manager](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/forms-manager/) in Map Editor, a **custom survey** (form) was created for ACP trapping methodology. The custom survey helped them set up an **accurate and relevant** arrangement for each potential host’s data collection with the associated “sticky trap.” There is also a neat **photo database** to follow up the location on hosts. If there was a **weak GPS** signal in the area, they used the mobile app’s **pinpoint tool**. Pinpoint allows you to retain great accuracy by pinpointing the location on the map. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Tulare-County-Trapping-solution-workflow.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Tulare-County-Trapping-solution-workflow.png) The Mobile Data Collection app **works** **offline** in case you lose internet connection. The collected data waits in the queue for the mobile phone to connect to the internet and then pulls the data back online. The project was [shared with different field collectors, ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-share-a-map-in-map-editor-2/)who could then simultaneously collect data in one map. Once the users were in the field, they accessed the map with the connected form on their mobile phones or tablets. Collected data was sent in **real time** to the lead account in the office. The lead project officer could keep track of the users and the data and make informed decisions on the spot. This interactive **collaboration and communication** helps with accessible control interventions and prevents pests from happening in the future. Additionally, Tulare County[ customized their map in Map Editor, ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-classify-data-in-a-map/)where they classified the collected data based on the project’s activity action. Each **point on the map** was presented with a different color, indicating that the action was completed or needed further activity action or surveillance. ## Benefits Of Online GIS In Pest Control Using Online GIS as pest control and management platform provides **descriptive and accurate,** easy-to-use data for any given operations. It is a comprehensive solution. You can create custom surveys, share them with different permissions to the team and collect field data **online and offline**. Options to **analyze, review and update** the collected data in-office and share the results with your team or stakeholders privately or publicly in your map will help you make **better financial decisions.** GIS Cloud is a powerful mapping platform that supports different data formats (statewide trapping grid), enables classification, labeling, and editing in real time! Be more effective, **optimize your pest control response and management**. Contact our[ Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Also, [Sign up for the [14-day Free Premium Trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)! Related content: Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** bugs trapping, Case Study, collaboration, data collection, GIS, GIS in Agriculture, GIS in Pest Control, GIS Trapping solution, insect trapping, insects, inspecting and overseeing, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS, pest, pest control, pest management, trapping, trapping solution, trapping solutions, vegetation managment --- ### [Collect data in only 5 steps!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/collect-data-in-only-5-steps/) **Published:** March 31, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Hey GIS Cloud Community,** As Spring has just started and with the field season coming up for many, it is time to focus on what GIS Cloud can do better for you while being outside the office. This month we would like you to start enjoying the advantages of our apps in the field, create projects and collect data. Additionally, keep a close eye on our blog as we will be releasing different case studies, special offers and muuch more. Do you wonder how easy it is to start using our mobile app and create your field data collection project? We say it is easier than one, two, three…but we will let you be the judge of that. **Challenge:** Create a project for field data collection *Side fact: remote areas are more prone to have no or very limited internet connectivity, so how cool it is that we have an offline mode for data collection (and offline maps coming up!).* **The Dare:** Make it happen in only 5 steps, while drinking your first coffee of the day *Fun fact: first cup always tastes better than the second one.* **Solution:** **[MDC Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** + **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** - First of all **[sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)**! (if you haven’t already) *Cool fact: all of our apps are cloud based so you can use them from any location in the world – it’s the cloud revolution!* - [**Log in to Mobile Data Collection Portal**](https://mdc.giscloud.com/). *Cool fact: MDC Portal is free of charge!* - Click Create new project and start designing a custom form specific to your needs *Cool fact: your form can have as many fields as you want, and the variety of field types from which you can choose from is constantly upgrading based on your feedback.* - Download the Mobile Data Collection app to your **[Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.mdc)** or **[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gis-cloud-mobile-data-collection/id640535923)** device. - Log into Mobile Data Collection app on your device, select the project you created with the form associated, and start collecting! *Cool fact: you can edit the data while being in the field and improve your GPS accuracy with pinpoint tool.* - This is just to tell you how awesome you did in previous steps. Take a moment and imagine how efficient and great your upcoming field season and data collection projects will be. **(Introducing) Perks:** - Export all of your data in a .csv format that contains the links to your photos (enables you to have all of your data in one place, save a hard copy of your data and print it out). - Create a report and save it to your desktop (ctrl + s) in a form of a folder that contains all of your data and photos (zip your folder, save your collected data or send it to various clients) **More info about MDC:** Mobile Data Collection is a tool for iOS and Android devices which allow you to collect data from the field in real time, populate custom forms and work even in an offline mode. This app gives you the possibility of collecting accurate and timely information which increases productivity and reduces response time. **Key features:** - Real time data collection - Review and edit possibilities of attributes and media collected within the app itself - View and explore maps in the field - Create custom forms with as many fields as you need (Photos, Audio, QR/Barcodes, GPS Headings…) using Map Editor or Mobile Data Collection Portal - Enhance your GPS accuracy with Pinpoint tool - Collect your data by having multiple users collect simultaneously - Manage your data collection with different permissions - Offline maps ### Related content: - [How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-lines-in-the-field-using-mobile-data-collection-app/ "How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app") - [New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-release-collect-lines-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection/ "New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection!") - [How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-polygon-features-with-mobile-data-collection-app/ "How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app") - [Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/why-offline-maps/ "Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps") - [Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/ "Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Roadworks Solution: Damage and Maintenance Reports for the City of Amsterdam](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadworks-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/) **Published:** April 9, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** The city of Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands. It is considered to be an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) study group. With ranking 3rd in innovation by 2thinknow in the Innovation Cities Index in 2009, search for cloud computing solutions took its momentum in the Netherlands. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Roadworks-Amsterdam-cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Roadworks-Amsterdam-cover.jpg) In their search for an easy cloud-based solution for the road workers to complete a comprehensive list of small maintenance works in district East, City of Amsterdam came across GIS Cloud. After getting to know the software, they found GIS Cloud solutions to be ‘exactly what they needed.’ ## **The problems with the old workflow** The usual workflow for City of Amsterdam road workers consisted of a couple of steps. Their work would be plotted and mapped on PDF maps, one for each neighborhood. These maps in PDF format would then be viewed on Toughbook laptops. While this workflow worked fine, they noticed the maps were getting to be too big and clunky and registering the points in excel did not feel intuitive. The City of Amsterdam needed: - Ability to customize maps and forms from any device - Possibility to access the maps on tablets (Android and iOS) - Have all the features visible in one map - Ability to follow the progress of road workers in real time from the office ## **The cloud-based GIS solution** The possibility of having highly customizable maps and forms allowed the City of Amsterdam to design a new online workflow. All the maintenance works could be viewed and analyzed in a single map created in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and was accessible on different devices. When work would be completed, with [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app they could adjust the status, while the progress of their work could be followed online from the office. It also allowed Team manager to monitor the situation and present it to various stakeholders. In the words of City of Amsterdam: > *GIS Cloud provided us with a flexible package and the possibility to create all new workflows in an easy to use interface. The perfect solution.* [![223001_Roadworks Amsterdam District East_1523_793_1395840424](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/223001_Roadworks-Amsterdam-District-East_1523_793_1395840424.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/223001_Roadworks-Amsterdam-District-East_1523_793_1395840424.png) *Overview of damage reports (wholes, tree root damage, damage by subsidence) done in the field and office, indicating the stage of each of the roadworks: not seen (red dot), seen (green dot) and not found (orange dot)* ## **The Results** - Accurate and current information about roadworks that can be accessed from any device from the field or office in real time - Set of customizable cloud tools for creating an online workflow for small maintenance works - An interactive and user-friendly solution that allows road workers to be more efficient in their maintenance tasks - Accessible online maps with interactive points for roadworks, viewable on tablets (Android and iOS) and phones *\* Note that all the maps used for the last couple of case studies have been created using our **upgraded Export Tool.*** Related content: Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil) **Categories:** Blog, Roadworks, Use Cases **Tags:** City Public Works, GIS For Roadworks, infrastructure maintenance, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/road-infrastructure-and-maintenance-solution-odsherred-kommune-case-study/) **Published:** April 7, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** Odsherred is a peninsula in the north-western part of the island Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark, stretching from the Sjællands Odde in the north-west to the now drained fjord Lammefjord in the south. It covers an area with a wide range of the most typical Danish landscapes such as long sandy beaches, small rolling hills and much farming. Odsherred Kommune started a search for more innovative mapping solutions that would help them to start two separate projects at the same time: 1. **Road Infrastructure Collection and Maintenance project** 2. **Data Publishing project** [![Picture2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Picture21.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Picture21.png) *Different levels of maintenance that needs to be done upon collected data from the field from left to right: overgrown (overvokset), damaged (skadet), good (god)* With the first project they wanted to be able to collect data about road infrastructure with tablets and smartphones in real time. Additionally they wanted to have an option to revisit the area/asset and update its current condition on the spot. With the second project they wanted to find a way to show green areas in the Kommune to private companies who would then have an insight of the location and size of the green area. This way they could make an estimate cost of landscaping that needed to be done for the given area. *“We have chosen the GIS Cloud platform for its unparalleled speed and performance. The variety of tools, mobile and online data publishing possibilities makes it a standout among GIS solutions and again with an unparalleled pricing and customer support. The platform is light, fast and in rapid and continuous evolvement.”* Peter Hagesø- Road Engineer and Budget Officer Although these are 2 separate projects, the idea was to have a solution that would make decision making interactive and interoperable between various departments and companies. **Challenges** - Possibility to collect data about road infrastructure with tablets and smartphones - Option to revisit existing road assets and update its current condition - Simple, fast and intuitive portal to give accurate and relevant information about the green areas to their contractors and citizens - Must be able to use already existing data such as Mapinfo and Geomedia file formats **Solution** **[GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** was the first tool Odsherred Kommune found to suit their needs. With the option of having multiple users collect and edit the data simultaneously in the field, the progress could be seen in real time in the office. Creation of custom forms made the data collection process faster and automated, having all the data consolidated in one repository. **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** enabled them to edit, style and enrich (different types of media) the collected data, as well as upload existing data in Mapinfo and Geomedia formats. Next step was to have their data published and publicly accessible. By having a public, white labeled and custom **[Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)**, multiple layers could be displayed, showing different types of information, making their everyday workflow faster and interactive. [![221170_Odsherred Areal Data 21.03.2014_1352_763_1395678123](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/221170_Odsherred-Areal-Data-21.03.2014_1352_763_1395678123.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/221170_Odsherred-Areal-Data-21.03.2014_1352_763_1395678123.png) **Results** - Real time data collection with the ability of editing data in field and work in an offline mode - Customization of data collection forms - Possibility to render maps with millions of features - Possibility to import and export data in various vector and raster formats like Mapinfo and Geomedia files - Option to associate media files to location data Click [**here**](http://odsherred.giscloud.com/) to see the Odsherred Map Portal! Related content: Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog, Roadworks --- ### [Map Export: High Resolution Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-export-high-resolution-maps/) **Published:** March 10, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Export map function has been upgraded and improved!** Maps are one of the most informative ways to share the information about how our world works. Let’s say you want to **share your map** for a project with your colleges, prepare a map for your upcoming monthly report, or you need your maps ready for printing and publishing of tomorrow’s newspaper. With a **new layout and new options**, mapping is now a game of endless outputs. Export the map in different formats, print it and share the knowledge. [![high-resolution-maps-export-gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Map-Export-cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Map-Export-cover.jpg) ## Export Map as an image With upgraded [Map Export tool](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-export-a-map/), you can customize the scale, area extent and the size of your map and export it as a **high-resolution PNG image**. Follow this guide to export and share your map from GIS Cloud. 1\. Open the map from the homepage in Map Editor or Map Viewer. 2\. Under the Map tab select Map Export tool. 3\. Select the **area** you want to export in your map. – Automatically set the map area extent to display the area currently visible on a map. – Modify the map area extent to fit different Paper formats and sizes such as standard A4, A3, A2 and A1 or US paper sizes Letter, Legal and Tabloid formats. – Adjust the map area extent manually by drawing a custom sized polygon. – Choose between Portrait or Landscape orientation. 4\. Define the **output settings**. Choose the scale you want to use for your map, from metric scale, imperial scale, screen sizes and custom scale. The scale you choose will define the image size that will be exported. 5\. In Export Options you can choose if you want to include a **graphic scale** and a **legend** in your exported map. Only the layers with visibility turned on in layer list will be displayed in the legend. 6\. Click on ‘Get Image’ to generate your map. Preview your map by clicking on ‘ Show image’ button. **Share the map simply** by copy & paste URL in the browser or download the map in PNG format for offline use. ## Map export result **Click on the map below to see the magic of high resolution maps!** [![high definition high quality map gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Map-Export-result-2-1006x1024.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Map-Export-result-2.jpg) **EXTRA TIP**: Make sure that browser pop-up blocker is disabled. Like what you see? [Try out the GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) free trial and start your mapping adventure. Related content: Map Engine: Super-fast High Definition Maps! New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Sharing Maps: Best Practices for Web & Mobile Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-publishing-solution-case-study-city-of-canton/) **Published:** January 29, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** **City of Canton** is the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia in Unites States. With the increasing population and development of the city, the need for fast, efficient and affordable GIS solutions have emerged. The majority of spatial data City of Canton has is in the form of ESRI shapefiles, so the idea was to find an easy way to publish existing ArcMap projects to cloud in a public map portal under their own logo and domain. Prerequisites were to have custom options for a search tool, possibility to export maps and pack that all up in a form of a simple user interface suitable for larger audiences. **Challenges** - Need for a fast and cost effective GIS solution - Possibility to publish existing ArcMap projects and shapefiles to cloud - Easily available and accessible way to display data to large audience - Custom option to export map and data - Custom search tool for searching queries - Publish data under their own logo and domain - Supported media enriched data (photos, video, URL-s…) - Allow access on web & mobile devices **Solution** [![camille1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/camille1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/camille1.png)*Publish existing projects from ArcMap to cloud* In the need of a more affordable and efficient solution, City of Canton adopted and deployed GIS Cloud **Data Publishing Solution** in matter of minutes. By using **[ArcMap Publisher Extension](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/)**, previously created projects in ArcMap were easily published to cloud. A map containing now published data from ArcMap along with the new data and base maps was created in **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**. With the possibility of our map wizard and powerful label management, City of Canton was able to create visually attractive, fast and responsive maps. In order to publish the map to larger audience, a City of Canton **[Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)** was created. With the addition of customizing options (white labeling, search tool and export map…), map portal became an interactive tool for their users who are now able to visualize, export and publish geospatial data. **Results** [![Data Publishing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/canton-map-portal.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/canton-map-portal.jpg) *City of Canton interactive Map Portal* GIS Cloud Data Publishing Solution was ideal for City of Canton, as it provided a fast of the shelf solution, utilizing existing GIS Cloud extensions and applications. By using our fastest vector based engine in the world, customizing options and premium support, the result was ready in matter of minutes. You can deploy your public or private map portal today! **[Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/).** Related content: Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica) Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Government --- ### [Sharing Maps: Best Practices for Web & Mobile](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-maps-best-practices-for-web-mobile/) **Published:** March 10, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![sharing maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cover.png) When sharing your maps with other people and looking for the right tool for the job, it’s important to define who the end-user will be and how they access the map. Do you plan on making your maps available to the general public? Are you sharing critical information with stakeholders and require their feedback? What’s the information you’re looking to communicate? **Who are you sharing your maps with?** Knowing who’s looking at your maps is the first step when making them – for example, preparing a map for public use might require you to consider the visual aspect and how to keep a user’s attention. One thing to keep in mind, public maps have a diverse viewership, and you should make sure that *anyone* can understand what you’re showing. The simplest way to do that is making sure your map is easy to use, and your symbology is as straightforward as possible. A business user, on the other hand, will have different requirements. They understand the data and know what to expect, but they might need more control over what’s visible on the map or will want to provide you with their feedback. In that regard, access control should be one of the main focuses, especially as in a business setting, we’re usually talking about private data. You should also ensure that what they’re seeing is always the most recent iteration by providing a single point of truth for your data. Giving the user additional tools to help them in their decision-making process is a bonus. In short, the content of your maps won’t always be the same, the users’ requirements can be dramatically different, and you might want to replace one functionality with another based on the project you’re working on. **Ditch the paper** We mentioned that defining *who* is viewing your maps is essential. Still, you should also take into consideration *how* they’re accessing it. Paper maps used to be the standard back in the day, and while they look great, there’s much less use for them in today’s environment. Making your map digital should be your first step. It goes without saying, but unless you want to keep printing new maps day in and day out, going digital is how you will reach the most people, make sure that what you’re sharing is relevant and up to date, and share your maps the fastest. Unlike paper maps, digital ones give you more flexibility not just in the content you’re sharing but also in the way they’re being shared. **Web map vs Mobile map** When sharing digital maps, it’s important to think about what device the person accessing the map will be using. This should also play a role in your map optimization process. There are two main categories we can single out here – web maps and mobile maps, and taking this into consideration will help you provide a better experience to your map viewers. A web map is intended to be viewed on a larger screen. This extra real estate allows you to include more information, not just in terms of the different layers you’d like to show. If you want to make your maps stand out and help the user understand your data better, consider creating a portal or custom dashboard that uses interactive maps and charts, graphs, filters, or any other content. maps For a mobile map, on the other hand, simpler is better. You can still give the option to include more (see our list of map essentials below), but don’t have that be the starting point (you don’t want to crash someone’s phone just because your map is ‘too heavy’). Decide what the most important piece of information you’re showing is, and make sure that it is as clear as possible – the rest is up to the map viewer. And while an online environment enables you to push any new changes directly to the viewer, the situation is not the same for mobile users. They might find themselves in remote areas with poor reception, so make sure the map will work just as well for them offline. **Map essentials** You’ve defined who your end-user is, you know how they’re accessing the map you would like to share with them – so what are the tools or features you need to make this happen? We’ve highlighted a couple of essentials that make a difference: - **Don’t be limited with the format** Data is the first step in map-making. Suppose you’re working with spatial data regularly. In that case, you’ll know that data comes in all different formats – from a humble Excel spreadsheet to a pretty standard Shapefile, to a more complex and custom PostGIS database. For any given project, you might be using just one of these or all of them, and it’s important that whatever tool you’re using allows you to do just that. While a simple static map (where data doesn’t change often) will be just as good whether you create it from a CSV file or Shapefile, in order to achieve a single source of truth environment for projects where it’s of utmost importance that all of the data is up-to-date (and not a version of a copy from a dataset from two weeks ago), using sources like Web Feature Service or external databases is key. Supporting different data source types is simply a GIS necessity. - **Make sure your symbology is spot on** The first thing that the person you’re sharing your map with will see is how you’ve presented your data. It’s the most significant difference between having easy-to-understand data and a mess. Make sure that the platform you’re using has a robust way to change the symbology of your data. This can be done automatically for you or through complex expressions that define your categories based on different values. Ideally, you’d have the option to do both. We can talk about data visualization methods all day, but if you don’t have that long, just take a look at our [Mini School series](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-map-data-visualization-guide/). We’ll guide you through best practices and show you how to achieve the look you’re going for. - **White-label it** Setting up a clear and understandable symbology is the first step in ensuring your message is delivered, so why stop there. Make your maps a part of a custom experience and add your branding to the platform you’re using. A good solution will allow you to do that quickly and easily, without the need to learn to code (or hire a developer). Consider adding custom features such as filtering tools, additional data in the form of charts and graphs (a dashboard), or simply link to your main webpage. - **Layer list – leave the decision to the map viewer** Regardless of who you’re sharing maps with, you’ll likely have plenty of data that you’d like them to see. There’s a point to be made here about not overcrowding your map to make sure the key data you’re bringing to light is not lost. However, instead of trying to find that thin line between ‘just right’ and ‘too much’, you can simply give the person the option to choose what they’d like to see by giving them the opportunity to turn on (or off) layers of interest. Having a layer list on your map will allow you to better organize your data (that’s why we have folders) and enable the person with who you’re sharing your map to create their own unique view with the data they’re looking for. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by numerous layers on the small screen of your phone, so having a layer list is especially important in mobile map sharing. Less is more in this case, and being able to turn the layers on and off at will is how you make your map useful. - **Allow feedback, but don’t sacrifice control** It’s not just about sharing the maps – think about whether you need to receive any feedback in return. Do you want public opinion on the newly proposed residential area? Do you need to give the client a way to comment on specific data you’re sharing with them? Defining what kind of access a user has is crucial, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive data. Is it view-only? Do you want someone to download this data? Either way, you want to make sure that you have full control over giving access permission and be flexible in the way you’re getting the feedback you need. This is true both for web and mobile apps. - **Go across platforms** One way to ensure you can get feedback from different users is to make your map accessible across platforms. Plenty of tools will lock you within their own ecosystem, but the reality is that there are so many to choose from you’ll have a difficult time ensuring that absolutely everyone you’re working with is using the same platform. A simple solution is to use Web Map Service or Web Feature Service, so make sure the tool you’re using can easily generate them. This list might seem like a lot to ask, but these features are simply the basics, so the platform you use should tick all the boxes. Luckily, we’ve you covered – our cloud-based apps ensure you can easily create maps optimized for web and mobile sharing. Not only that, you still have the option to go the extra mile and fully customize the experience. Maps are at the core of what we do, so we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to discuss ways in which your maps can be optimized for sharing. And if you’re ready to take these tips and implement them in your next project, get started by [creating your free trial account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Field Data Collection: Best Practices Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Field Maps with GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** best practices, maps, sharing, tips and tricks, web maps --- ### [Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/) **Published:** February 15, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** In industries like utilities and insurance, the project workflow demands both a solution with high precision capabilities as well as a solution for attribute data collection. To get rid of paper forms and keep the high-precision you can combine the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) with your **high-precision GPS device**. ![GPS reciever with MDC GISCloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GPS-ToolsMDC2.png) When performing field data collection, accuracy is the number one requirement when it comes to assuring the quality and reliability of the location data. Most specialized industries are using expensive technical solutions for mapping, which require further investment of time and money for educating the field workers. Due to high costs, many companies are turning to new technologies for cost-efficient yet accurate solutions. ## **Doing it the old way** When collecting data in the field using only a high-precision GPS, it’s necessary to post-process the data in the office for further analysis. The data needs to be set in the right GIS format (SHP, KML.. ), the coordinates may need to be translated, and the data needs to be stored in a GIS database to perform the analysis. It is a lot of work that you can automate with the right combination of tools. ## **The new project workflow** Combining the Mobile Data Collection App with high-accuracy GPS receivers you can improve fieldwork efficiency while maintaining high precision. There is no need for paper forms or post-processing, the workflow is entirely automated. Learn how to set up the workflow and connect the MDC app to your GPS receiver. ### **1. Create custom forms** The MDC app administrator [**creates a custom form**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/), which is a structured **GIS database** where alphanumeric and numeric data is stored. When you’re collecting data using only GPS receiver, the data may need to be transformed, translated and then stored in the database. With MDC, you can create a form in a matter of minutes, without having to format the data manually. ### **2. Define attribute settings** When you create a form, you can define different settings for [form fields](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/). You can set up the **dependent fields** that only show if a specific rule is satisfied. Defining **default and persistent values** can significantly increase the efficiency of field workers. For example, if a user is approaching an electric pole, using the [Autofill option](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-autofill-option-in-gis-cloud/) allows the field collector to fetch whichever attribute details are appropriate without reentering the same values again. ### **3. Set up the GPS receiver?** Here is a step by step guide and a list of **GPS receivers compatible with Mobile Data Collection app** (supported on Android and iOS devices). Procedure for device setup: - Download and install Bluetooth GPS app on your device. - Enable Developer settings in General settings. Enabling developer settings is described [here.](https://www.greenbot.com/article/2457986/how-to-enable-developer-options-on-your-android-phone-or-tablet.html) - Enter Developer settings and turn on the Allow mock locations option. - In the Bluetooth GPS app enable the Allow mock locations option and connect to the external GPS device. It might take a few moments. - When connected you are ready to start collecting field data with the MDC app. ### **List of compatible GPS devices with MDC** - [Juniper systems Geode Submeter Receiver](https://junipersys.com/products/geode) - [GNSS Systems from Trimble](https://geospatial.trimble.com/products-and-solutions/gnss-systems) - [Eos Positioning Systems](https://eos-gnss.com/) - [Bad Elf GNSS Surveyor](https://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-3300-detail) - [Trimble Catalyst](https://geospatial.trimble.com/products-and-solutions/trimble-catalyst) - [Stonex](https://www.stonex.it/) If you want to try out this setup, [download the Mobile Data Collection for free](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and connect your GPS receiver. Related content: New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Mobile Data Collection **Categories:** Blog, Construction, Electric Utilities, Utilities - Other, Water Utilities **Tags:** accuracy, assets, attribute collection, autofill, bad elf, custom forms, data collection, Database, Eos Positioning, GIS, GIS Cloud, GPS, GPS receiver, Juniper systems, mapping, MDC, Mobile Data Collection, precision, Stonex, Trimble, Utilities --- ### [Malaria Risk Map: Using GIS to Combat Malaria Disease in Nigeria](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/malaria-risk-map-using-gis-to-combat-malaria-disease-in-nigeria/) **Published:** November 15, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Malaria risk map case study](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-risk-map-case-study-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-risk-map-case-study.png) The case study is based on the project “Geospatial modeling of malaria risk areas and vulnerability (severity) using environmental, climatic and socio-economic factors” and it’s an example of using GIS technology as a tool to combat the malaria disease. The project was created by Ayodele Adeyemo, a geogeek looking for ways to leverage geospatial technologies as solutions for human, social and environmental challenges. Ayademo and his team – Ojumu Tijesu, a full-stack web developer Eyo O Eyo and Ogunbanwo Olumide, specialized in electronics, won the 1st prize in GIS Day Contest 2016, awarding project ideas focused on doing valuable work in local communities with the help of geospatial technologies. ## **The Malaria Epidemic in Nigeria** In the last 15 years malaria mortality rates **decreased by 60%**. Despite the successes made in defeating malaria, there is still a lot of work to do – over the last century, there have been dozens of resurgences of malaria in countries around the world. Many of this cases are directly linked to decreases in funding to fight the disease. Knowing that **35% of malaria deaths** occur in just two countries – Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the potential impact of their efforts can be a valuable part of the worldwide fight in ending malaria for good. This case study demonstrates how to use GIS technology as a tool for solving global health problems, like the problem of the malaria epidemic. ## **The Project: Malaria Risk Map** The initiative for the project was drawn from a number of ideas that arose in collaboration between Ayodele Adeyemo and his geogeek partner Tijesu, during their internship at the National Space Agency of Nigeria. Tijesu continued to work on the idea for his final year project, and this helped us to understand the dynamics of GIS in the public health. [![Malaria Risk Map in Nigeria](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-Risk-Map-s-1024x611.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-Risk-Map-s.png) Malaria risk map. Looking at the concrete problem – Malaria, we can say that it is a big challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa, based on the percentage of people that have fallen victim as well as the number of lives that are being claimed by malaria across African communities. It was important finding out the number of intervention programmes focused on malaria as well as the number of grants that have been pushed into the system. On the project side, a plan was developed to help people across communities find out about the malaria risk areas. It was accomplished through an [interactive malaria risk map](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/622506/spatial-model-of-malaria-risk-in-osogbo-osun-state-nigeria), and also with the help of the internet and SMS for people without an internet connection. For intervention programmes, a dashboard was created so they can know where, when and what type of intervention is needed. The team is still working on the project and are trying out different models for integration while looking for sustainable partnerships that would help them to make the project a greater success. ## **Challenges in Completing the Project** The main challenges were **data acquisition** and **finding funds** to provide incentives for the volunteers involved in the programme as well as covering a part of the operational costs. The partnership with GIS Cloud has alleviated over 60% of the software licenses costs. The primary challenge was getting enough funds to bootstrap the project. In the later phases of the project, the team made a **call for** **volunteers** to gather the data. But it is worth noting that, at the start, they had to scale down the project to a small geographic area, so a pilot project was done with limited resources to prove the concept. The team later engaged a few partners who helped with the funding. ## **Project Impact and the Role of GIS technology** Individuals across communities got access to real-time information about the **risk of contracting malaria**, so they can protect themselves more efficiently by knowing the best time to use the anti-malaria drugs. The platform also helps intervention teams by providing information about the best places to focus their aid (based on the malaria risk indices of the communities). This goes a long way when trying to increase the accuracy of interventions per time. > The relevance of GIS for public health, in this case, cannot be overemphasized because it provides us with the ability to conceptualize and visualize public health data while having a tool for us to understand the spatial trends and patterns of diseases and epidemics. Ayodele Adeyemo [![Malaria risk map zoom in](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-risk-Map-zoom-1024x611.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Malaria-risk-Map-zoom.png) Malaria risk map zoom in. For instance, GIS was used by [Médecins Sans Frontières](https://www.msf.org/) (MSF) International during the Ebola case in Africa in 2014. Also, by using [GIS Cloud tools](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) health officers can now gather field data efficiently. In the malaria case, GIS provides us with a platform that enables combining different thematic layers and also creating visualizations together with running predictive model algorithms that will help build an informed health community. ## **Future Plans in Combating Malaria** Malaria is still epidemic in Nigeria, especially in the rural communities due to many factors ranging from socioeconomic situation to climate, etc. There are a number of NGOs, civil societies and health communities that are focused on providing aid for areas prone to malaria. Nevertheless, most of the interventions are not data-driven, these organizations have a schedule of operations and they mostly focus on distributing treated mosquito nets to individuals across communities. On the other hand, there are some organizations that support operations that use a **data-driven approach** like [Ehealth Africa](https://www.ehealthafrica.org/). > If organizations will start looking into a data-driven approach for solving health problems and partnering with tech startups with solutions focused on the social processes, then we can have a more efficient and effective public health system around the world. Ayodele Adeyemo Related content: Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria Using GIS to strategically treat contaminated water and prevent disease outbreaks (Chennai, India) Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit, Use Cases **Tags:** dashboard, data, data collection, data driven, data visualisation, field data collection, GIS Day Contest, GIS visualization, interactive map, Malaria, public health --- ### [Cool maps by GIS Cloud Users](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cool-maps-by-gis-cloud-users/) **Published:** June 29, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** In GIS Cloud Map Editor, you can often stumble upon interesting public maps created by our users who utilize GIS Cloud apps for a wide variety of purposes. So, we made a selection of a few cool maps that caught our eye. There will be more interesting maps to come – **don’t hesitate to[ drop us an e-mail](mailto:marketing@giscloud.com "undefined") if you have a cool map to share with our community**. [![maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Cool-Maps-1024x630.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Cool-Maps.jpg) ## **1. Map of Utilities in Honolulu** This sample map of utilities in Honolulu shows the locations of Utilities, Sewer Fittings, Main Sewers and Lateral Sewers. It is an excellent example of using the line feature in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/ "undefined") app and rendering a large amount of data in a map. When you click on a line, you can get additional information that can also be updated directly from the field using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/ "undefined") app. [View in a separate window](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/587736/map/587736/sample-honolulu-utilities). ## **2. Map of Brazil** This awesome Map of Brazil shows a large amount of data on urbanization, points of interest (parks, zoos, bars & restaurants, bookshops, nursing homes, police stations, post offices…), population in different areas, female/male ratio and various buildings. There’s also a land use layer with different categories; commercial, forest, industrial, military, nature reserves, roads, and railways; natural inventory (beaches, trees, volcanoes); vegetation layers as well as waterways. Even though this beautiful map contains many features, you can see that the data renders quickly. [View in a separate window](https://editor.giscloud.com/rest/1/maps/704444/render.iframe?bound=-5267810.678329481,-2750357.151757207,-5122656.76161593,-2671244.8274820484&popups=true). ## **3. Map of London City Infrastructure** Map of London in GIS Cloud contains various datasets, from points of interest (automotive, eating & drinking, healthcare, leisure, nightlife, shopping, sports, tourism) to Nature (Forest, Park, Water), roads and allotment gardens (community gardens). Here you can see how to combine GIS Cloud symbology with cool dark basemap. [View in a separate window](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/729998/london-city-infrastructure). Related content: FOSS4G 2016: Three days of great talks and cool hangouts Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine Field Maps with GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other **Tags:** Cool Maps, users, web mapping --- ### [Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-a-swim-marathon-with-an-interactive-map-portal/) **Published:** July 10, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![RokOtok-cover1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-cover1-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-cover1.png) Our partners Smart Cloud are supporting a swim marathon by tracking activities via an interactive map portal. The marathon is taking place around the archipelago in southern Croatia. Read more about the project and the maps we created. The marathon is organized by Domagoj Jakopović ‘Ribafish’, known to the public as a gourmand, journalist, professor, traveler, entertainer, editor, swimmer, and and many other things. In his long and rich career, he worked for a number of media outlets. Despite his successful career, in 2018 he has lost the most important thing in his life – his only child Rok. As a dedication to the recently deceased son, he decided to launch the project [RokOtok](https://www.rokotok.hr/), with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles and encouraging lasting and fruitful communication between children and parents. [![Rokotok photo 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Rokotok-photo-2-1024x474.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Rokotok-photo-2.jpg) [![RokOtok photo 1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-photo-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-photo-1.jpg) The main objective of the project is to connect all of the 50 Croatian inhabited islands with a swim marathon that will last for three seasons. The marathon started on Saturday, July 6, 2019. The project gathered 35 kids at the start line in Lopud. Initial conquest was 1000 meters long, and it took about 19 minutes for the group to swim across. Kids received presents and had a lot of fun, as well a great experience in nature. The next route started at Koločep. Check out the map to see how far they got until this moment. Here’s a video of Ribafish conquering the island Mljet: To support the project, we teamed up with our Croatian partners [Smart Cloud](https://smartcloud.hr/) to create an interactive online map portal. The portal features all the routes of the swimming marathon with a description of the project where important notices can be added. [Explore the map portal here >](https://rokotok.giscloud.com/) [![RokOtok-won-islands](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-won-islands-1024x580.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RokOtok-won-islands.png) The green icon indicates the start from the Lapad bay, and by clicking on the route lines, you can find details of each swimming route, such as the date of crossing the route, the duration of swimming and mileage. We plan to add photos of Ribafish and other participants and update the map in real-time. The project was created with the [GIS Cloud Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), a user-friendly application that gives you an overview of your mapping effort and is a friendly way of displaying data to the public. It is an affordable solution as it reduces time, effort, paperwork and support costs. Publish interactive maps and allow your viewers to search, visualize and explore media enriched data. Here’s how it looks when creating a GIS Cloud Map Portal with the App Builder: [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/rokotok-gif-4.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/rokotok-gif-4.gif) Interested in trying out the Map Portal? [Send us a message](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps Supporting raster data in .ECW, .IMG, .SID, .JP2 formats Conquering the South Pole: Davor Rostuhar’s Interactive Map Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Map Portal **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Mini School: Data Analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-data-analysis/) **Published:** March 2, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Mini-School-Series-Data-Analysis-Cover.png) There is more to GIS than just visualizing the data you are working with. The real power lies in the ability to perform analysis and how to interpret the results for better planning and work optimization. In the past, that kind of analysis was better off left to the specialists to work on. But, with GIS Cloud we wanted to show you how simple it is to get started with this and that you don’t need to be a GIS expert to manage your spatial data. The only important thing is understanding your data and what you want to achieve with it. In this video, we put ourselves in the position of the analyst that was trying to optimize the data required by field workers to have better operational visibility. For that reason, we had to reduce the clutter of information residing on a map and only keep the relevant ones so that the field crew could manage their daily activities more efficiently. For step-by-step guides, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-selection-tools/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at hello@giscloud.com, and we can help you with data visualization in your projects as well. In the meantime, try some data visualization options yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Mini School: Custom Applications Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid AI Meets GIS: Reshaping Data Analysis Telecom Digitization, Service Coverage and Gap Analysis **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data analysis, data visualization, operational visibility, work optimization --- ### [Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-of-business-structure-and-activity-in-city-districts-of-zagreb/) **Published:** January 25, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** This is a case study about mapping business units in the city district of Dubrava in the City of Zagreb. The project was made by a Geography student, **Stipica Šarčević**, who also wrote this blog report. He explained the process of data collection, visualization, and publishing, done by using GIS Cloud apps. ![Map of Business in Zagreb made by Stipica Šarčević](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Business-project-stipica-1024x680.jpg) Over the last three decades, spatial planning became one of the most important areas of municipal government. A lot of new models, such as cellular automata or land use analysis with GIS systems, are used in modern urban and spatial planning. When we talk about neighborhood-level spatial planning, one of the most important factors are local business subjects, often the main drivers of development and economic activity in the city district. City District Dubrava is a large district in the east part of Zagreb, administratively made up of two city districts, Gornja Dubrava and Donja Dubrava. According to the census from 2011, Gornja and Donja Dubrava together have around 100.000 inhabitants. Because of the large-scale rural exodus in the mid-1960s, Gornja Dubrava was developed according to the spatial development plan. But, Donja Dubrava was never developed according to any plan, and today there are a lot of problems in public transportation, service delivery, and also the local businesses. Most business units opened their doors without knowing if they were even needed in the district. The main idea behind this project was to enable access to business units for all inhabitants of Dubrava and to provide access to this information for all interested investors and local government officials. Two things we wanted to show were – *How many business units are there in Dubrava? How are those units placed in space and what is their structure?* ## **The Challenges of Residential Areas Mapping** As Dubrava was growing, new business units opened every day. After some of them had closed, they were replaced with new ones. The main challenge was to find out how many business units there are currently in Dubrava. The basic way of collecting data would mean using paper reports and manually adding points to a map in the office. This process would take a lot more time, so the challenge was to find a **more efficient way of collecting data**. With GIS desktop apps it is harder to get correct GPS coordinate. Most of these units can’t be found online, and most Dubrava inhabitants don’t know they even exist. Another challenge was to show in which neighborhoods business units are more present. The goal was to see which parts of Dubrava are used as residential space and which are used as commercial space. Here was important to **have a simple visualization tool** that could answer that question. With a simple visualization, it would be easier to resolve different types of land use. Resolving these challenges could help future urban planning in Dubrava. It will be easier for local governments to resolve some problems with infrastructure and traffic, which are problems important to every potential future investor. The third challenge was to make an online **database of all free and empty business units**. The criteria for choosing units for displaying on a map was that they could be rented or purchased. The idea is to make it easier to find a business unit in the area where you want to open your firm. The old way of doing this would mean creating an online database without spatial reference, such as an excel table. That is why it was important to find an app that would enable spatial visualization and be **easily shareable with the public**. Also, future investors should be able to see what the advantages and disadvantages of a particular location are. ## **Collecting Data and Creating a Map Portal** As has been stated, the idea was to show every business unit in Dubrava and to create an online database that shows empty business units on an interactive map. After mapping every street, the final number was **1145 business units**. GIS Cloud applications supported the whole workflow, which consisted of data collection, visualization, and publishing. GIS Cloud is a cloud-based platform that enables the users to collect data in real-time with Mobile Data Collection. With [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) data is **instantly visible** in a layer in GIS Cloud Map Editor. It is way easier than relying solely on GIS desktop software and doing collection using paper reports. For example, before using Mobile Data Collection, collecting that amount of data would probably take weeks, even months. With Mobile Data Collection, the work was done in two weeks, leaving more time for analysis. [The map of Dubrava business units](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/683099/business-units-in-dubrava-county) was made by using GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). Business units were classified in fourteen groups according to Croatian National Classification of Businesses Activities. After the map was finished, GIS Clouds mapping experts took upon themselves to make the best out of data visualization possibilities in Map Editor by creating custom icons and a stylish background vector map. Visit the portal that has a detailed layer list [here](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/683099/map/683099/business-units-in-dubrava-county). Map Editor was used for doing basic analysis after collecting all the data. One analysis that was used for the project is Heat Map analysis. Heat Map analysis is a fast way to see in which part of the district business units are more present. It is a good tool to see in which part what type of businesses are missing or where there are too many of the same type, providing useful information for all future investors. The final phase was data publishing. [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) was used to make all data accessible to all interested users. Local district government and potential investors can get access to every business unit in one place. Also, it is easy for local people to find something they are looking for. For example, through Map Portal, they can find the nearest beauty salon, grocery store, etc. Also, you can customize your Map Portal by changing the logo, viewable layers, and other features. Map data can also be edited on any device such as mobile phones, tablets or laptops. If someone were to open a new business, they would be able to put its location online in a couple of minutes. That data would contain precise GPS coordinates, street address, type of business unit and its working time. Business in Dubrava is changing from day to day and having an interactive map enables an easy update of new business units. Having this kind of online database is also important for future investors. Using the interactive map, any business investor can see where the best places for opening a new business unit are. In the future, this map could be used as a database for more advanced analysis. While the City of Zagreb is still growing, this map can be used as a base for similar projects in other districts of Zagreb. Interested in creating your project in GIS Cloud? [Sign up here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases **Tags:** Business in Dubrava, data business, data collection, field data collection, geo portal, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, Smart Cities, Smart City, spatial, Spatial Vision, Stipica Šarčević, urban planning, use case, Zagreb --- ### [Importance of Open Data for Local Governments](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/importance-of-open-data-for-local-goverments/) **Published:** March 8, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** *How can local and federal governments contribute to the digital transformation, citizen engagement and information transparency?* [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CodeAcross-Zagreb.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CodeAcross-Zagreb.png)Conference panelists. Photo: Marta Reljanović, KSET fotosekcija Some of these questions were in focus last weekend (4.-6. of March), when [CodeAcross and OpenDataDay ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-on-codeacross-and-opendataday-in-zagreb/)events were held in Zagreb. Events included different panels focusing on information science curriculums and the importance of open data for governments and communities. Weekend [hackaton](https://github.com/codeforcroatia/opendataday) that followed panel discussions motivated projects focused on public education infrastructure such as **public schools geocoding** project. Another related project was connecting and comparing available study programs and corresponding **student quotas with available jobs** currently listed in National Employment Bureau. These events emphasized the importance of open data and information transparency for governments in general, especially local. Knowing that the idea of a smart city and smart government relies on data and data collection process, used for **simplifying and improving the lives of individuals** together with **managing public services more efficiently**, we could say that open data plays a significant role in creating smarter and more sustainable communities for the future. [![photo: Andrea Radmanić, KSET fotosekcija](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/naslovna.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/naslovna.png)photo: Andrea Radmanić, KSET fotosekcija Open data could serve government officials in different departments for highlighting the value of **information transparency** in maintaining a good relationship towards the citizens they serve. Open data also enables citizens to engage and improve their communities in correspondence with local government bodies. Disclosing government-held data to the public can help enhance services to citizens applying not only to different citizen initiatives such as CodeAcross and OpenDataDay, but also by improving coordination among agencies, internal and external stakeholders. For example [City of Canton portal](http://canton.giscloud.com/) includes information about various services, ranging from public transportation and infrastructure to road closure applications. This enables various departments to visualise their data in a single map portal and at the same time helping citizens and other stakeholders to stay informed about city zoning or available properties. Having this in mind, one other thing not to be forgotten is that local government’s dedication towards open data can also bring **economic benefits** to the community. 2013 [McKinsey report](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/how-government-can-promote-open-data) stated that making open data has the potential to create $3 trillion in value worldwide. Releasing public data in exportable formats inspires developers like those who attended last week’s hackathon to create different software applications that may also serve to start-up new businesses and initiatives, opening new jobs and returning back through tax money to the local economy. [![Hackaton. Photo: Josipa Vragolov, KSET fotosekcija](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Open-Data-Days-3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Open-Data-Days-3.png)Hackaton. Photo: Josipa Vragolov, KSET fotosekcija This was recognized in the highest political circles of american government, when in the same year of the McKinsley report prediction, president Barack Obama stated that: > Openness in government strengthens our democracy, promotes the delivery of efficient and effective services to the public, and contributes to economic growth. The same goes for the UK Government investing a £1.5 million to support open data initiatives, its Cabinet Office Minister stating: > We know that it creates a more accountable, efficient and effective government. Open Data is a raw material for economic growth, supporting the creation of new markets, business and jobs and helping us compete in the global race. We could say that there is no time left to waste when we talk about local government initiatives towards opening the data for public use. Geospatial data, especially, is a key for a smart, sustainable and successful communities, revealing crime rates in neighborhoods, road closures, potholes or nearest health facilities. Data can be used in preventing diseases, [sanitation planning](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/chennai-silver-lining-a-community-sanitation-planning-using-gis/) in case of floods, managing [district heating](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/engaging-the-citizens-in-district-heating-management-a-case-study/) needs or helping the [homeless population](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/city-of-milwaukee-case-study-using-mdc-to-identify-homeless-population/). Geospatial data is a crucial source for predicting which areas of the city are at risk during a flooding or a heat wave. Open data enables citizens to be more involved with different governmental decisions, at the same time increasing **accountability and transparency**. It is the transforming agent of change, creating a whole new approach on the ways of communication between the citizens and their governments. Looking for a way to involve citizens and make a first steps towards being a smart city? Check out a recording of[ GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/) webinar. Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece 4 Main Reasons Why Governments Choose Cloud Based GIS Cloud Solutions for your Local Government GIS GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government **Tags:** CodeAcross, GIS, GIS Cloud, Information Transparency, local government, open data, OpenDataDay, Smart City, Smart Government, Zagreb --- ### [Firefighters of Chile Used a Dynamic GIS Solution for Strategic Planning and Fieldwork Coordination (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/firefighters-of-chile-use-a-dynamic-gis-solution-for-strategic-planning-and-fieldwork-coordination-case-study/) **Published:** October 7, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Bomberos de Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-Map-Cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-Map-Cover.jpg) [Firefighters of Chile](https://www.bomberos.cl/) are an admirable organization, always investing in education and technology to provide the best possible service to their community. In 2017 they faced **massive fires across the country, in many distant locations at the same time**. To coordinate teams and respond as quickly as possible, they decided to implement a **GIS solution** which provides real-time information on the closest and active firefighters, as well as the status and location of necessary equipment to handle the fire events. ## How Firefighters of Chile became the most trustworthy organization in the country According to the [ICREO study](https://www.bomberos.cl/contenidos/home-noticias/bomberos-de-chile-es-la-marca-mas-confiable-de-2018) ‘Trust – the challenge of humanizing businesses and brands’, **Firefighters of Chile** (Bomberos de Chile) were chosen in 2018 as the **most trusted brand in the country** for the fourth consecutive year. The study measures the level of trust that citizens and consumers have in companies and institutions in the country, based on five dimensions: honesty-transparency, responsibility, empathy, support, and closeness. [![Bomberos de Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-de-Chile-ekipa-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-de-Chile-ekipa.jpg) ###### *Photo credits:* [*https://www.bomberos.cl/*](https://www.bomberos.cl/) **The National Fire Chief** of Chilean Fire department, Raúl Bustos Zavala, stated on the occasion: > The trust has been gained in the 167 years of service to the community, provided through our national territory. It has been won on the street, in direct contact with our people, in the work of each emergency or catastrophe. Today this is visible in the fact that the Republic of Chile and its citizens entrust the protection of their lives and property to an institution of voluntary service, which seeks to increase their professional quality at all times, through adequate training and investment in equipment, in order to provide a professional and efficient service. ## ## Fire Departments restructured their organization to coordinate firefighters on a national level At end of the 1960s in Chile, the financial situation of most fire departments in the state was critical. They were lacking in vehicles and equipment, which resulted in low motivation and hindered the recruitment of new volunteers. Superintendent of the Fire Department of Santiago at the time, Guillermo Morales Beltramí, initiated the idea of giving Fire Departments of Chile a **national structure to coordinate their efforts**. In 1970 the so-called Coordinating Board emerged, which later adopted the name of the National Board of Firefighters of Chile, known today as **Firefighters of Chile (Bomberos de Chile)**. [![bomberos-fire](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-fire-1024x344.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-fire.jpg) ###### *Photo credits:* [*https://www.bomberos.cl/*](https://www.bomberos.cl/) The objective of the institution, together with the departments, is to **develop an efficient firefighter volunteer service across the country,** which guarantees the safety of lives and property of the citizens in the event of fires, natural disasters, traffic accidents, emergencies with dangerous substances and other situations. To achieve their goals and continue being an innovative and disciplined organization, Firefighters of Chile are organizing permanent training in the form of the National Firefighters Academy, with regional headquarters dedicated to teaching, research and training. ## Map as a means for effective strategic planning and execution Chilean Firefighters put a lot of effort into strategic planning in order to facilitate the fulfillment of the mission of this organization. In 2013 they started working on creating a strategic map in a form of charts, which would allow an overview of the results the institution was trying to achieve, as well as to be up-to-date with internal processes and competencies which allow to achieve them. They also designed a set of actions, each one associated with a different aspect of the organization, to improve internal processes and increase efficiency. The project was important for coordinating firefighters in case of major disasters. ## ## How firefighters resolved challenges in handling multiple simultaneous fires across the country Faced with **massive** **forest fires** which devastated Chile during January and February of 2017 in many locations across the country, firefighters were **struggling to handle many disparate large fire events which erupted at the same time**. [![chilefires_2-21-2017](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ChileFires_2-21-2017.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ChileFires_2-21-2017.jpg) ###### *Photo: The red dots on the image represent heat at fires in Chile and Argentina detected by a satellite January 21, 2017. NASA photo, taken from* [*wildfiretoday.com/fires-in-chile*](https://wildfiretoday.com/2017/01/22/worst-wildfires-in-chile-in-a-decade/)***.*** Fires took place in the central and southern zones of the country, between the regions of Coquimbo and Los Lagos, with greater intensity in the regions of O’Higgins, Maule, and Biobío. They also flared up across distant centers in the region of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic (southern area of the country). To obtain an insightful visualization of the territorial distribution of large fires they needed a reliable GIS software. At the same time, the solution had to help firefighters to establish a precise workflow. The right **geospatial system** would allow fire departments to **quickly estimate the closest manpower with necessary equipment** ready for an emergency response. It was also necessary to generate automated reports of used resources. [![Bomberos de Chile Public Map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-3-1024x579.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-3.png) ## Implementing GIS Cloud mapping system to organize workflow in the field To be able to respond to emergencies in multiple localities at once, coordinate teams, and have an **instant access to real-time data** regarding human resources and equipment, Firefighters of Chile decided to start a **GIS project.** The main goal was to implement a dynamic GIS solution that provides real-time information on the status and location of the majority of equipment and firefighters, shown on a map. [![Firefighters of Chile departments - Map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-3-1024x580.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-3.jpg) That is why it was essential to integrate their existing system with GIS Cloud, which sends the most recent data back to the firefighter’s system using PostGIS. This integration was crucial to create a dynamic platform which is always up-to-date, equipped with **current information on the available material and equipment**, as well as on **active firefighters** who can immediately attend major incendiary catastrophes. This solution was named GIS Cloud Fire. ## Benefits of using GIS solutions to fight fire emergencies Firefighters of Chile stated that with **GIS Cloud Fire**, they were “able to georeference their information and centralize the data. It allowed them to work with the geographic information system in the cloud, obtaining benefits such as speed, simplicity, and safety”. [![Fire departments on a map of Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-2-1024x578.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Bomberos-2.jpg) To have **relevant data at their disposal in one place**, they used [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to create a map with all the static information about firefighters, such as bodies, companies, police units and acts of services in previous years. Since it is important that institution, as well as all fire departments, have access to the information at all times, the map was made into [a public Map Portal of Firefighters of Chile](https://app105874.giscloud.com/), branded with their colors and logo. This is a simple GIS Cloud app deployed within 30 minutes ([learn more](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)), which is available not only to the firefighters but also to citizens of Chile and other interested parties. Due to the [climate change](https://www.dw.com/en/how-climate-change-is-increasing-forest-fires-around-the-world/a-19465490), periods of the fire seasons increased, as well as the number of wildfires, which raised the need for territorial management. GIS Cloud provided Firefighters with tools which bring real benefits when facing big emergencies in large territories. The system allows a quick emergency response, security, and has a great performance in data deployment. Stay tuned for a story about firefighters in Croatia, who also use GIS Cloud Fleet to track all their fire trucks and manpower in the field. If you want to know more about GIS Cloud solutions for emergency response and learn about all the possible options for your organization, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your workflow. Related content: Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases **Tags:** bomberos, Case Study, Chile, emergency response, Firefighters, map, Map Editor, Map Portal, strategic planning, use case --- ### [Webinar Recording - GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management/) **Published:** March 4, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Vegetation-Webinar-Recording-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Vegetation-Webinar-Recording-cover.png) Dear Vegetation Management Specialists, we are happy to announce that the recording of our highly anticipated webinar on **Online Solution for Vegetation Management** is here! In this webinar, our Growth Department team touched upon some of the **critical pain points** in everyday vegetation management workflow like**:** - **Work scheduling, prioritization and coordination** - **Tree maintenance, disease and growth monitoring** - **Survey creation and field data collection** - **Site identification, navigation and orientation** - **Permits, work orders and work progress** - **Analysis of the collected data** - **Future planning and job assessment** - **Custom reporting and budgeting** - **Damage reduction and risk assessment** Through the course of this recording, you will learn that GIS Cloud has been **involved in the workflow of Vegetation Management for over a decade,** and you’ll get to see all the key value propositions and workflow examples from **our own Vegetation Management users.** In the recording, you will find out answers to work programs like: - **Tree Registration, condition assessment and maintenance** - **Field workforce visibility and coordination** - **Greenspace analysis** - **Budgeting and custom reporting** - **Ordering, reviewing and reporting** In the Live Demo, our team covered some **crucial** vegetation management workflows, so you will learn how to: Create and set up custom forms to eliminate paper, achieve fast project deployment with real-time insight into your field data - Share the project with clients and stakeholders - Plan and budget your project in real-time - Organise and prioritize jobs - Create a custom branded application and custom reports - Build a cloud-based vegetation inventory accessible from anywhere - Visualise and analyse data with color coding and custom symbology - Share project with your crew for data collection and collaboration GIS Cloud is a **versatile platform** that will help you get a clear overview of your project issues, **save time and money with unique features, fast onboarding, excellent services and tailored support.** Let us **guide you through your workflow** and help you **win tenders in the future!** If you are interested in using GIS Cloud apps and services, [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the **free 14-day trial.** If you want to know more about GIS Cloud platform, please [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)! Related content: GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case GIS For Vegetation Management Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** analysis, arborists, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, custom report, damage reduction, field data collection, forests, forrestry, GIS, GIS Cloud, growth monitoring, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, recording, risk assessment, survey, tree, Tree Inventory, Tree Maintenance, Utilities, vegetation, webinar, webinar recording, work orders --- ### [GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-for-electric-utilities-webinar-recording/) **Published:** November 6, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Learn how to harness the power of real-time insight into your electricity network infrastructure, distribution lines, and daily maintenance and management. ![Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Webinar-Utilities-Rec.png) On **October 26th**, we held a webinar on how to create a more efficient workflow, make better decisions, and save time and money using **GIS Cloud solutions for electric utilities**. To access the webinar recording, please fill in the form below. GIS Cloud solution for electric utilities combines various steps that make your daily workflow in Electric Utilities, from asset data collection to data visualization, analysis, sharing, and collaboration with your colleagues on a map. For example, you can use maps to communicate your ideas and prioritize tasks and create forms to collect the real-time status of your infrastructure, energy consumption in an area, regular maintenance and reporting from the field or potential threats to your grid such as vegetation or birds. Moreover, with GIS Cloud you can include citizens’ input to get more information about the needs and problems in energy distribution, transmission or electric bills in the area. In the “GIS Cloud for Electric Utilities” webinar, you will learn how to set up the most efficient workflow you can have with smart solutions built on cutting-edge technology. The webinar includes a demo of GIS Cloud solutions, an overview of its benefits, as well as a real-life success story from our clients, and a Q&A session. Related content: Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities GIS for Electric Utilities Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities --- ### [Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/collecting-all-property-data-in-zarcero-canton-in-less-than-2-months-case-study-from-costa-rica/) **Published:** April 11, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-1-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-1.png) The crew from [Global Code Technology](https://www.globalcodetechnology.com/) successfully finished the field data collection of infrastructure, land use and property in less than two months. It was a project for the Zarcero Canton that needed to get their housing census database in order. The housing census enabled the canton to **plan infrastructure projects more efficiently**, like bringing electric utilities to each resident or fixing the damaged public property. Learn about the field workflow and the GIS tools they used to finish the data collection before the deadline. **Table of contents:** • [About the Zarcero Canton](#about-zarcero) • [Census Data Mapping – field workflow](#census-mapping) • [Deploy licenses to the field crew](#deploy-licences) • [Create project in Mobile Data Collection Portal (MDCP)](#create-mdcp-project) • [Field data collection](#field-data) • [Overseeing the progress of the survey](#survey-progress) • [Creating cartographic products with QGIS and Map Editor](#products) • [Global Code Technology explains why they used the GIS Cloud platform](#platform) ## **About the Zarcero Canton** The Zarcero Canton is situated in a lush region in continental Costa Rica some 44 km North-West of San José, the country’s capital. The canton rests on an altitude of 1740 meters with hills rising from and streams cutting through the green landscape. The settlements stretch across the hills as you can see on the picture. [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-7.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-7.jpg)Flickr.com The landscapes aren’t the only thing in Zarcero worth mentioning. There is also a dinosaurs bush in the center of the city. The best kind of bush if you ask us. [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-5-1024x624.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-5.jpg)Flickr.com Seeing all of this, It’s no wonder the surveying team from Global Code Technology (GIS Cloud partner for Costa Rica and Panama) had a great time while mapping the Zarcero Canton. Now let’s take a look at their field workflow and the GIS Cloud apps they used. ## **Census Data Mapping – field workflow** The Zarcero municipality wanted to know what kind of access do citizens have to public services like electricity, lighting and drinking water among others. They decided to create an agile and reliable database that could help them respond to the needs of their citizens with adequate public policies. Essentially, they needed to carry out a **new housing census and update the municipality database**. This type of project entails collecting all of the information about population, property, public services, infrastructure and land use. The team from Global Code Technologies had two months to complete the project with a field crew of only seven people. Not an easy project if you also account for the hilly terrain. Nonetheless, the crew managed to finish the field data collection before the deadline. Finishing the work this fast was a result of an amazing field crew equipped with the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). The app allowed the field crew to collect data with custom mobile forms even when offline. Here are a few pictures of the field crew using the app. [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-2-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-2.jpg) [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-9-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-9.jpg) The app is really simple to use and a lot more user-friendly than a field GPS controller. It’s also easy to deploy to a large number of field surveyors. The user can quickly download the app, choose the project and immediately start collecting field data. Now let’s get to the exact field workflow: ### 1. Deploy licenses to the field crew The project manager [assigns the MDC licenses](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/users-groups-2/) to all surveyors. They download the app and login with their username and password. ### 2. Create project in Mobile Data Collection Portal (MDCP) The project manager uses the MDCP web app to create the collection form. There are many field types to choose from when building forms, like read-only fields, lists, dependency fields, photos, voice recordings and many more. Get more details about collection forms [here.](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/) [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-4-1024x599.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-4.png)Mobile Data Collection form ### 3. Field data collection When the form is completed the field crew can start to collect data. Note that the MDC app works online, offline and in bad GPS reception areas, where you can tag the location with the [pinpoint tool](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/form-option/). For projects that require higher precision there’s always an option to [combine the MDC app with a GPS receiver](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/). [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-3-1024x631.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-3.jpg) ### 4. Overseeing the progress of the survey As soon as the GCT team collect the field data, it populates a map in the Map Editor. This way a supervisor can track how the survey is progressing. [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-6-1024x486.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-6.png)Map view in MDC app and Map Editor The MDC form that GCT designed had more than 35 fields. The form allowed the field crew to have preloaded information, so they just had to check the answers given by the landowner. The form was designed to be as user friendly as possible to minimize potential mistakes. One example of the data the Global Code Technology team gathered was legal and physical information about the status of the buildings, construction materials, and the existence of various amenities like pools, soccer fields, playgrounds, etc. A complete list of the data the Zacero municipality needed: - the states of the properties, - road access, - topography, - the ground level, - use of the land: - commercial use, - recreational use, - agricultural use or - private use After two months of fieldwork, it was time for the next part of the project. They needed to create several cartographic products and reports that the Zacero municipality requested. ## **Creating cartographic products with QGIS and Map Editor** To create cartographic products like map reports and housing census files, the GCT team used QGIS, an open source desktop GIS software. First, they needed to export the field data collected with the MDC app using the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) web app. It allowed them to export maps with no effort and upload them to QGIS. The further data editing and analysis were all done with QGIS. Note that it’s possible to edit maps with the GIS Cloud Map Editor. [![census data mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-8-942x1024.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/census-data-mapping-8.png)The housing census map in Map Editor They also could have uploaded the data to an interactive and customizable online [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). It would allow them to present the housing census data to the municipality without the need to create multiple maps and products. Uploading maps from QGIS to Map Portal is easy if you use **GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS plugin**. Currently in beta, the plugin will be released soon for general use, allowing QGIS users to publish their maps online. The plugin basically syncs your QGIS map with the map published on the Map Portal or Map Editor. There’s also a [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) you can download for free. ## **Global Code Technology explains why they used the GIS Cloud platform** The complete GIS Cloud solution that GCT used for collaborative mapping covered all the needs and requirements of the municipality. > The GIS Cloud platform is agile, dynamic, secure and intuitive. The apps have all the tools anyone can need to explore maps in the field like Search, Layer list, Zoom in, Zoom out, Area selection, Zoom to current, Google Street View, Measuring tools, Jump to Coordinates, etc. > > – Global Code Technology team Also, the pricing and the convenience of the Map Editor, Map Viewer and Map Portal enabled the Municipality to **significantly lower the cost** of the whole project. All in all, the data collected will help the decision makers to understand the needs of the Zarcero Canton citizens. They’ll use the information gathered to distinguish the relevant priorities and distribute resources in a much more efficient way and obtain a better and more proactive municipal management. Having trouble with your mapping project? Try out the [GIS Cloud Free Trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). You’ll have 30 days to test the apps and see if they fit your field workflow. If you want someone to show you around and propose a possible GIS solution contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton Accessibility Map of Zagreb for Persons in Wheelchairs (Collecting Lines Case Study) Collecting Field Data For A Water Distribution System In California Visualizing Customer and Census Data for Telecommunication Providers (Consulting Case Study) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Electric Utilities, Government, Use Cases --- ### [Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-management-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/) **Published:** March 19, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Traffic Management: Maintaining cyclists infrastructure in Amsterdam](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Amsterdam-city-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Amsterdam-city.jpg) The City of Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world and is a center of bicycle culture with a good cyclist infrastructure. Therefore there is a **pressing need for a** **quality maintenance** of bike lanes, racks, poles and different types of bike infrastructure on regular basis. Learn how they **implemented a GIS solution to track real-time pole statuses** directly on a map. ## Challenges in maintaining and managing safety bike poles As District East has many bike lanes, in order to prevent cars from entering these lanes, specific poles are used to block access. After a specific time, these **poles need to be checked and possibly replaced** to conform to the latest standards. The workflow would start by checking the poles manually and assigning a status to them. To do that the City of Amsterdam turned to GIS Cloud and its solutions for asset management. Key challenges in maintaining bike poles. - A need to map out many bike poles in the district and assign them a status - Possibility to display all the bike poles in one map - Ability to assign monitoring statuses to each of the bike poles **[![amsterdam1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/amsterdam1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/amsterdam1.png)** ## How to map infrastructure assets with real-time data **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** was an ideal solution for the City of Amsterdam as it provided them an intuitive tool for collecting information on bike poles around the city using mobile devices. They created an **interactive map of bike poles** in **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** with a map layer that had an associated custom survey form to it. Accessing the mobile app, workers in the field could populate the predefined survey form with required data (including photos) on each pole, making their workflow a simple and user-friendly process. This easy to use solution completely eliminated the need for any unnecessary paper and allowed the monitoring staff to quickly and effectively resolve their tasks. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/221264_Poles-bicycle-lanes-City-of-Amsterdam_1612_843_1395415772-1024x535.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/221264_Poles-bicycle-lanes-City-of-Amsterdam_1612_843_1395415772.png) *Mapping overview of maintenance work that needs to be done has been classified as: removable (red dots), sinkable (blue dots) and non – removable (green dots) bike poles in Distric East.* ## Results after mapping of the city infrastructure Once all the data was collected, the City of Amsterdam managers had an **interactive overview of all the bike poles in one map**, with the ability to **assign (monitoring) statuses** to each pole. This enabled them to make decisions on needed repairs and to assign tasks to teams in the field. A possibility to create custom forms with as many fields as needed (including different types of media like photos and audio) facilitates the data collecting process. As the survey forms can be **updated and synced across devices** at any moment, workflow and data management was faster and more efficient. Mapping solution is user friendly and doesn’t require any additional knowledge, thus saving time as well as money usually spent on training staff. Would you like to try GIS Cloud solution for traffic management? [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and we will help you find the right solution. Related content: Roadworks Solution: Damage and Maintenance Reports for the City of Amsterdam Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton Consulting Solution: Environmental Management Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Roadworks, Use Cases --- ### [Archive and Restore Maps - New GIS Cloud Release!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/archive-and-restore-maps-new-gis-cloud-release/) **Published:** May 26, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** We have great news regarding our Map Editor and Mobile Data Collection Portal web applications: From now on you can **archive** and **restore** your maps and projects! [![archive and restore](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Archive-Cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Archive-Cover.png) Instead of the **“Delete Map**”, you will find a new “**Archive Map**” option. The idea is to give users the option and possibility to archive their maps and restore them later with all of their data and symbology. Let’s go through this new awesome feature and all of its advantages! - **Archive Maps in Map Editor** - **Archive Maps in Mobile Data Collection Portal** - **Archived Projects in Mobile Data Collection** ## **Archive Maps in Map Editor** This concept is developed so that GIS Cloud users can archive their **maps and projects**, which are later located in a new “**Archived Maps**” tab, from where they can finally permanently delete the unwanted map or restore it. It’s all about the ability to change your mind on the project choices and minimize mistakes. When the user clicks on the ‘**Archive Map**‘ a modal window will pop up saying: *“If you archive your map, you will be able to restore it in the ‘Archived Maps’ tab. Your data will remain safely stored.*” The map will now be available in a new tab titled “**Archived Maps**”. Once archived, the map won’t be visible in [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) or [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Restore-Maps.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Restore-Maps.png) Each action in the Archive tab is preceded by a message to **confirm** the selected action: - **Delete Map** – this action will delete the map without possibility to restore it back, but your data will be still available in the database [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Delete-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Delete-map.png) - **Restore Map** – this action will restore the map which will be again available in the Map tab (My Maps, Maps Shared With Me..) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Restore-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Restore-map.png) Please note that only **the owner** of the map will have permission to archive, delete or restore the map. Archive action is possible in the [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)and [MDCP](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) app, but restore and delete action is possible only in Map Editor. The project can be restored or deleted only if the owner has a **Map Editor subscription** If the user to whom the map was shared tries to archive or delete the map, he won’t be able to. A message will appear saying that he does not have that permission. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Not-possible-to-archive.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Not-possible-to-archive.png) However, he will see who is the owner of the map. Also, holding the cursor over the delete button or restore button pops up a message indicating the map owner who can delete or restore the map. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Shared-maps.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Shared-maps.png) ## **Archive Maps in Mobile Data Collection Portal** Inside Mobile Data Collection Portal, the “**Delete”** button has been **replaced** with the “**Archive”** button. Archiving is possible within the “**Form Preview**”: [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MDCP-Form-Preview.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MDCP-Form-Preview.png) and “**Edit Project**” window: [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MDCP-Form-Edit.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MDCP-Form-Edit.png) When a project is Archived, it disappears from the list of projects in MDCP. However, it’s still visible in the “Archived Maps” tab inside Map Editor, where it can be deleted or restored. ## **What happens with archived projects in Mobile Data Collection?** If the project is archived while the user is working on it, he can continue collecting the data, which will be saved even if the project is archived. If he quits the **Survey form** or uses the “**Refresh**” option, the archived project will disappear from the list of projects in the Mobile Data Collection app. The project needs to be restored inside the Map Editor app by the owner to reappear in the MDC app. The possibility to archive and restore your maps and projects will help you to organize your **dashboard** and **workflow** to prevent errors such as accidentally deleting a map. It will also allow you to restore needed maps and projects with custom styling you have set prior to archiving a map. Want to try this new feature? [Log in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/) or [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and create a GIS Cloud account! As usual, for any additional questions or information, you can contact our customer service at . Related content: New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, map, Map Editor, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part II.)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/university-in-the-clouds-gis-for-academic-and-educational-purposes-part-ii/) **Published:** September 7, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ### ***Why use cloud-based applications in your institutional workflows?*** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/shutterstock_85800154-e1441621654695.jpg) We opened the [first part](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/university-in-the-clouds-gis-for-academic-and-educational-purposes-part-i/) of the discussion on GIS for Academic Purposes with an overview of basic usages of geospatial technologies at institutions primarily engaged in education and research. The merit of **interdisciplinary research projects** at universities and research centers is a **successful collaboration** between departments and individual researchers. Collaboration practices improve with the technological development, as supporting tools are becoming faster, easier to use and more accessible. This is especially highlighted within the advancement of geospatial technologies. The value of efficient collaboration is also known to **educators** as well as to **makers of educational policies**. There is a significant number of researchers, educators and policymakers who are using geospatial tools as a supplement to their projects. Most of them, except maybe geographers, are not necessarily experts in managing large amounts of data generated with the help of mapping tools. Mapping tools are commonly used in the form of desktop-based programs which are dependent on the performance of computers, often not too friendly to end-users and, finally, definitely not the collaboration tool of choice. **So, what’s the alternative, suited for use in research, education and educational policies?** Cloud GIS solutions offer by definition a great collaboration ability. *What is Cloud GIS?* > *“Cloud GIS is often defined as a next generation on-demand GIS technology that uses a virtual platform and infrastructure in a scalable elastic environment.“* While traditional GIS is installed on your desktop or server, **Cloud GIS** makes use of the flexibility of the cloud environment for **data collection, visualization, analysis, sharing** and **publishing**. If you upload a great amount of data on the cloud, you have not only solved a problem of relying on one particular desktop computer, but also opened yourself to a real-time collaboration with your colleagues and research partners. For example, if you are mapping a particular area collecting the data on dangerous pathogens, you can easily access the map from your smartphone or tablet and update it in real time. It is also possible to attach various types of data such as photos, notes, audio records etc. to a specific location on a map, together with the detailed instruction on action to be performed and a list of tasks. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Pathomap-1024x569.png)Patho Map – an example from a project coming from Weill Cornell Medical College You can also manage the data from any location on any device which allows you to browse the internet, while the map performance depends solely on the application, and not the device you are using. More and more people are relying on the cloud-based solutions essential for their workflows and efficient project execution. Cloud based solutions are not only cost-efficient, but also more functional when it comes to projects which include many people. Work conditions at universities, schools and research centers are highly collaborative and this is the reason why cloud-based software is perfect in academic environment. Project managers often have to rely on tight budgets reserved primarily for expensive equipment. This doesn’t have to be the case with the software tools which support the workflow efficiency. Cloud GIS solutions are reliable, **easy to use on any device** and also **cost efficient in comparison with desktop solutions**, which complicate the workflow mainly in the aspect of sharing large data sets, and in case when fieldwork is required, investing in field devices can be quite expensive. Also, if a project requires some kind of community engagement, the easiest way to create publicly available information is having it already settled on a cloud. **Public maps** in this instance are just few clicks away and a matter of assigning a licence. Let’s summarize some of the benefits of working in the cloud environment, applicable to work conditions in science, education and educational planning: - The best environment for data sharing and real time collaboration with other users who can create, edit, manage and update the maps - It enables managing large volumes of data, application management and geospatial analytic tools - Managed services prevent data and work loss from frequent outages, minimizing financial risks, while increasing efficiency - Offers a competitive advantage – it is faster to share and publish maps, with always on always available maps Related content: University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part I.) GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Why Go GIS Cloud? Alternative for GME or Simply a Better Solution? Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring **Categories:** Blog --- ### [University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part I.)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/university-in-the-clouds-gis-for-academic-and-educational-purposes-part-i/) **Published:** August 20, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ## ***How to research, collaborate, educate and optimize institutional workflows with the help of mapping technology?*** [![shutterstock_288631919](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/shutterstock_288631919.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/shutterstock_288631919.jpg) Interdisciplinarity is a common word in the world of contemporary education. At the institutional level, it highlights one of the most important facets of increased flow of information and ideas – collaboration. Literally, interdisciplinarity signifies working between diverse academic disciplines, while the main goal is to combine subjects together in new ways to achieve a specific purpose. That kind of prospect asks for intensification of networking and features collaboration between people with different academic and practical background. Most of all, a need for an interdisciplinary approach is visibly present in sciences such as geography, definition of which strongly implies the notion of interdisciplinarity. GIS, Geographic Information System merges cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology, with the purpose of storing, analyzing, and displaying geographical information. This data can be used later on for the purposes of projects, decision-making, lectures and for other purposes. Using GIS software for academic needs magnificently serves the notion of interdisciplinarity in academic terms. The spatial dimension of research is important for disciplines in the range from [environmental research](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/consulting-solution-environmental-management-case-study/), to archaeology or [population genetics](http://admixturemap.paintmychromosomes.com/). All of these fields of study often require a help from mapping technology to display, interpret and analyze the data. [![An example from Patho Map project : Displaying the pathogen map or “PathoMap” of New York City and surrounding areas](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Picture2patho-300x164.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Picture2patho.png)An example from Patho Map project : Displaying the pathogen map or “PathoMap” of New York City and surrounding areas **So, the first, most obvious use of GIS for academic projects in a wider sense is for the uses of collaboration on various projects between different disciplines.** In a more direct and narrower sense, GIS is widely used in educating the generations of geographers and GIS experts. But, we shouldn’t stop at educating only in the area of geographical research and theory. GIS software can also be used in teaching various subjects such as environmental studies, earth science, history, mathematics, chemistry, biology, languages, arts, etc. We can say that GIS technology is present on all levels of education, from elementary schools to higher education, where most of its academic usage is concentrated, unifying its purpose as a research tool together with instructive quality. For example, it is a very commonly used tool for undergraduate and graduate research projects. Observing widely, we can see GIS software used in schools, at technical colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and other educational institutions. *So, what would be the basic reason for such a wide application of mapping software?* **As an instructional tool, GIS serves its purpose as a great way of encouraging students to employ critical thinking, engage in projects and surveys, and boost their problem-solving skills.** This technology gives the students a good perspective in the visualization of spatial patterns, linkages, and relationships. It enhances their numerical and information processing skills and also helps develop the general linguistic intelligence needed for reading and interpreting visible symbols and word information. Taking into account a strong orientation on visual images present in the contemporary culture, there is no reason why educators wouldn’t encourage the rise of **spatial and map literacy**. > *Namely, the importance of visual preview in education is supported by the fact that humans process images 60, 000 times faster than text.* *Also, people remember only around 20% of what they read alone, compared to 80% of what they see.* A history class is a good example in this case. Maps are used to communicate not only spatial, but also historical data. Therefore, interactive maps can be great teaching tools for history classes. They proved to be a good way for remembering a big amount of historical data. Except for the great value of GIS software for instructional purposes, there is one more aspect of its usage in the education. **Mapping applications, as an essential part of GIS software, can also be used in educational administration and forming education policies.** [![Photo: Marta Klarić Ravnić](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unnamed-1-300x200.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/unnamed-1.jpg)Photo: Marta Klarić Ravnić Some of the examples of GIS software application in infrastructure management and administration are: - university infrastructure overview and planning - campus planning and safety - curriculum planning encompassing room capacities - technology infrastructure - emergency preparedness - managing alumni network - recruiting students One of the ideas of how mapping software can be used is, for example, in university **self-assessment**, using the data for displaying the information such as teacher-student ratios, basic demographic data and various statistical parameters, including the state of infrastructure. **Last but not least: if we shift the focus from the academy to a wider system of educational policies, we should know that the geographic tools are very useful for policymakers, influencing various strategic decisions.** GIS helps visualizing important data about educational facilities and general statistics on local and national levels. It can display expenditures, performance, and compliance with educational regulations. It can show the data in a range from the literacy level of the students to the distribution of federal funds. Therefore, GIS is very important as an overview which informs the decisions connected with resources, program implementation, and distribution. Some types of data that can be visualized for educational policy strategies: - amount of money spent per pupil - teacher-student ratios - geographical distribution of literacy levels - demographical information in relation to educational data - student, school, and district performance - distribution of funds - comparisons between states, districts, and school All of these GIS possibilities, attached to an academic context often are limited with the restricted allocation of resources, primarily funds and technological infrastructure. For that reason, educators and academic staff are often inclined to use cost-effective and non-demanding solutions. One of the ways out of the situation of restricted funds and infrastructure is turning to Cloud GIS solutions. ***In Part 2, you can read about reasons to use GIS in Cloud environment for educational and academic purposes.*** Related content: University in the Clouds: GIS For Academic and Educational Purposes (Part II.) GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog --- ### [How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-polygon-features-with-mobile-data-collection-app/) **Published:** June 12, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![collect-olygons-mobile-data-collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/How-to-Collect-polygons-1024x536.png) With increasing demand on natural resources, GIS technology can maximize management, planning and decision-making processes for various disciplines such as agriculture, forestry, soil science, hydrology, electricity etc. With a powerful set of GIS tools and software capabilities, the stakeholders can **gain insights into issues and problems** to provide a more efficient decision-making process for environmental management, monitoring, and planning. Environmental management includes many applications and technical processes such as data acquisition and management, vegetation analysis, mapping habitat conditions, mapping land-use changes or mapping intervention areas for pest control in agriculture. With the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, you can make your data collection **more accessible and faster** as you collect new **polygon features** or update existing ones your map. In just a few seconds you can update the information about the soil conditions on your farm or you can map areas in the forest in need of reforestation. ## How to set up a Polygon Collection Project We will cover basic steps from creating a custom project, collecting data in the field, reviewing and editing that data. - **Create and share a project** With a single MDC project, you can collect different types of geometry – **point, line or polygon**. It is necessary to define the type of geometry you wish to collect from the project settings’ select list. Project managers can create online forms with different types of [questions and attribute fields](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal//). You can set up single or multi-choice questions, numeric or textual inputs or capture geotagged photos or audio files. The most significant benefit of using MDC app for field collection is that you can **share data with the stakeholders and team members** with [different permissions](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-share-a-map-in-mdcp/). Organize your field teams to know exactly which group is responsible for the collection process and which team is responsible for updating the existing data. Project managers and stakeholders can control how the project progresses in real-time through a private and branded interface with custom options. - **Track your location with GPS or manually draw a polygon** Polygon features can be collected with the **mobile GPS** or manually with our **pinpoint** feature, adding points on the map to **create a polygon feature**. We implemented an option in the collection process that allows you to **combine automatic GPS and manual collection methods** to increase your features’ accuracy on a map. The option will enable you to collect data faster and more efficiently when you are mapping large areas. To begin recording, tap start **tracking button** on the top of the form view. Below you can find information about the accuracy of GPS location and a number of points you collected. In this section, you can pause tracking while filling out the survey form and continue tracking if you’re not finished. When you’re done, tap the **send button** to submit the tracking activity and attribute data connected to the line feature. - **Review and edit data** After submitting the data, field collectors can review the data they submitted and make edits and updates to the data. A great option is the **Search** **Too**l**.** You can use it to access your data by typing in the ID number or any other attribute value. You can select a feature on a map to open info pop-up with all the collected attribute information and documents. You can toggle from Form view to Map view, where you can view and control the tracking location on the map and edit the feature at the same time. If you hit the Delete button, you can choose whether you would like to remove the last vertex or you want to remove the whole line. To get you started, read our [user manual on Mobile Data Collection](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-with-mdc-app/) and watch this video on how to [collect and set up your Line and Polygon projects](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/). We hope you find this article helpful. If you are interested in utilizing GIS Cloud technologies, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** collaboration, data collection, data visualisation, field collection, field data collection, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, polygon collection --- ### [WeForest - Improving the Forest Restoration Process in Zambia with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/weforest-increasing-efficiency-and-transparency-in-forest-restoration-process-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** May 29, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![forest restoration](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/WeForest-cover-1024x577.jpg)Background photo credit: WeForest In the Copperbelt, Zambia’s most densely populated region, forests have been disappearing rapidly. The WeForest team, who strives to restore forests, has identified that making the indigenous forest economically viable was a major problem in one of the districts, Luanshya. We talked to Matthias De Beenhouwer, a project manager at WeForest who is currently working on a large forest restoration project in Zambia. He and his team are **using GIS Cloud to improve their daily workflow** in planting trees, as well as educating farmers on the effects trees have on the environment and the global climate. ## Bringing back forests to make Earth cooler WeForest is an international organization dedicated to planting trees and bringing back forests to make Earth cooler. They use and develop innovative, scalable, and lasting solutions in restoring forest landscapes in different parts of the world – Brazil, India, Zambia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso. Restoring forest landscape creates a **long lasting impact on local communities** as well on the global climate as the trees absorb the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create clouds that reflect the solar radiation back into space. ## Holistic approach to forest restoration The forests in Zambia weren’t perceived as economically viable, the reforestation activities weren’t enough to provide a sustainable solution for the local community. So, WeForest team introduced a holistic approach to the forest restoration process where they **integrated education of farmers** on the economic potential of the forests with ecological restoration. They are supporting farmers to restore the native Miombo woodlots (plots of native woodland on farms) while introducing economic activities such as bioenergy and honey production. These activities not only support the forest restoration process on a long-term scale but also bring benefits to the local population – **diversified jobs, higher incomes and new skills**. ![Using GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection for Mapping Trees in Zambia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ZAMBIA-WeForest-1024x389.jpg)Photo credit: We Forest ## The challenge: mapping trees and tracking progress For the Zambia project, the WeForest team needed an innovative solution for doing the complex tasks in the field, such as **mapping trees and tracking a particular farmer’s progress** in a more efficient manner**,** as well as improving the outcomes of the project by having a better overview of the data. The crucial information they need to have to improve the outcome of the project is knowing on which scale the forest restoration is taking place, and to know how much land is coming under restoration. Tracking and visualizing the progress was necessary for **ensuring the** **transparency of the project**, crucial for WeForest supporters and partners. At the same time, a good data collection method and visualization of the collected data was essential for the efficiency in team coordination, tracking and collecting data**,** and prioritizing the tasks on a daily basis. To sum it up, the WeForest team in Zambia needed a solution for collecting and visualizing the data to: - Track field visits by their technicians in the field - Monitor progress and track details of an individual farmer in real time - Know the exact number of hectares restored - Coordinate teams, plan actions and mark forest boundaries The solution they were looking for needed to be easy to use, to ensure a smooth transition to a new workflow, while improving the efficiency of the field team. ## Easy-to-use online GIS solution WeForest team used the GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to collect the socioeconomic data and progress on the reforestation of each farmer. It allowed mapping farms and trees in the Luanshya District in Zambia and sending data to the cloud in real time. ![GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection preserves forests in Zambia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Zambia-Farms-1024x545.jpg)Map data credit: WeForest The data was instantly visualized on an interactive map in GIS Cloud [Map Editor app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). This means that the data was easily accessible from any device and at any time by the WeForest staff, project managers as well as the local partners, sponsors, and donors if necessary. They could view data about which hectares are planned for restoration, reforestation progress, data about farm boundaries, farmer’s details and economic activities. GIS Cloud provided the WeForest team **user-friendly and cost-efficient tools** to transparently communicate the reforestation plans and results with their sponsors and donors, and show how the funding has been used in the project. Moreover, their data collection process was much more efficient, the implementation of the new workflow required **no additional training**, as the app was easy to use both for technicians in the field and those who visualized the results. They managed to reduce the errors in data collection process with pre-defined forms, and **saved a lot of time on data digitization** as the information was sent to a map directly from the field, and observable in real time. An additional benefit was the capability to add photos to the project and customize the data collection fields for the interviews with farmers. The 3 key features for which Matthias De Beenhouwer recommends GIS Cloud are: - **Flexibility to do your customized projects within the apps.** - **GIS Cloud comes with excellent customer service.** - **Enabling visibility and transparency to projects.** Interested in utilizing Mobile Data Collection for your field projects? Sign up for a [free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) Improving Crop Inventory And Crop Scouting With GIS Cloud Apps (Use Case) Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Vegetation Management **Tags:** Ecology, Forest Preservation, forestry, GIS Cloud, Mapping Trees, WeForest, Zambia --- ### [Watershed Management with Cloud GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/three-uses-of-cloud-gis-for-watersheds/) **Published:** February 16, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Watershed management is one of those topics that come up in the public discourse usually in case of natural occurrences and disasters such as floods, droughts, problems with a water supply or the infrastructure. [![watershed management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/water-management.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/water-management.jpg) Recent problems with the [Oroville Dam in California](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/14/officials-race-against-rains-to-prevent-california-dam-disaster.html), where the heavy rain was a cause for concern in case of a structure collapse that could lead to severe flooding indicate that the public isn’t always aware of the parts of infrastructure crucial for both their safety and the economy. Nevertheless, watershed management and environmental experts, among others, monitor watersheds and water infrastructure on a regular basis. A very common and useful watershed mapping tool for managing and monitoring is GIS. There are various uses of GIS in watershed management, most obvious being the spatial visualization as a crucial element for **understanding the environment**, but also for project planning and analysis. Using GIS for watershed analysis is also an important element that enables additional insight. Since GIS was first introduced in the hydrology and watershed management, a lot has changed. Instead of locking a large amount of watershed GIS data in spatial formats on our desktop computers, nowadays we can monitor and update the situation in real time. It also means that a lot of people can access maps, use them to inform themselves, provide help or plan for water conservation and other activities. The essential shift that happened was a **transition from desktop to cloud GIS** solutions, that enabled real-time collaboration between various stakeholders. The use of web and mobile GIS extends from data collection, to visualization, analysis and sharing data with colleagues and the public. Let’s go through just a few of the potential uses of Cloud GIS in watershed management. ## **Watershed mapping and environmental monitoring** Web maps are essential for environmental monitoring because they are easily accessible by anyone looking for an insight into the real-time situation in the field. Mobile Data Collection App comes in play as a powerful tool for watershed mapping and creating a watershed topographic map. It enables a large number of field workers to map the watershed using only their smartphones. We have an example of [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) utilization for planning a cleanup event with the local community, that can save a lot of time and increase efficiency when coordinating with volunteers. Orange County, California had one such event, where cloud GIS proved itself as a perfect tool for optimizing the effectiveness of volunteer cleanups. For more info about how it was done, click [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/volunteer-watershed-cleanup-events-orange-county-ca-case-study/). ## **Watershed Risk Management** In the case of droughts, floods and other catastrophic events, having an insight into spatial visualizations can play a crucial role in saving time and lives as well as informing citizens and volunteers. One such example is the [Map of the Flood Risk Probability in Croatia](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/321486/karta-rizika-od-poplava-za-srednju-vjerojatnost-pojavljivanja), where the citizens can get the info about the risk of floods in their local area together with the location of the crucial parts of the infrastructure (hospitals, education facilities…), types of land, etc. ## **Engaging citizens to save water** Another successful example of utilizing web GIS for sustainable watershed management and engaging the local community also comes from Orange County, California. They used GIS Cloud for monitoring rainfall and engaging citizens into an initiative to save water and to learn how to use it more sustainably. To learn more, check out the [use case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-and-watersheds-monitoring-rainfall-in-orange-county-california/), or [an interview ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-interview-fighting-droughts-and-watershed-monitoring/)with Sharp Grant from the Orange County Watersheds GIS Department. ## **Bringing it All Together** The value of **real-time insight and collaboration on spatial data** in the context of watershed management cannot be overemphasized. It aims to monitor, plan, implement and improve various processes connected to the water supply, water quality, drainage, stormwater, water rights and the use of water resources of a particular area. The stakeholders included in these processes are local government and land use agencies, surveyors, environmental experts, citizens, landowners and businesses. Web GIS enables all of them to collaborate and make use of spatial data in a way it was not possible before. It improves not only **decision-making** and **field collaboration** in cases of natural disasters, but also every step of the workflow in watershed management, from data collection to sharing the info with the public, and the automation of the entire process. Interested in learning more about GIS for Watershed and Water Resource Management? Watch this [webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/) or [contact our consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [Cemetery Map: Creating Online Burial Records of Maori Tribe (New Zealand)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-tribal-burial-grounds-in-new-zealand/) **Published:** September 6, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** In the digital age, many cultural practices important for local communities are facing the threat of being forgotten. One of our most inspiring user stories, demonstrating the great potential of GIS Cloud mapping technologies, comes from Pipiwai, Northland (New Zealand). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Maori-Burial-grounds-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Maori-Burial-grounds.jpg) Delaraine Armstrong, Betty Cherrington, and Margaret Tipene**,** who won the 2nd prize in the 2015 GIS Day Contest, **mapped 4 tribal burial grounds** with a **goal to permanently digitally record** each grave marker, location, and name, to preserve burial places of their ancestors. Anyone in search of their ancestors will be able to locate their resting place on an **interactive map**. This project is designed to preserve important cultural practices and knowledge for the **Te Orewai**, Maori subtribe located at the foot of the Motatau mountain. Read their story, together with a follow-up on the project’s development. ## Cemetery Tombstones and The Importance of Humility Delaraine Armstrong begins with a story about Maori culture and their heritage, shaped around deeply rooted awareness of the land and location. The burial practices play an important role in uniting their local community. ![Mobile Data Collection in New Zealand](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/delaraine2-1300.jpg) ###### An example of the traditional Te Orewai burial ground (wahi tapu) > In our Maori culture, we are very connected to the land. The mountains and rivers are personified ancestors for Maori. The picture shows the Hoterene whanau (Shortland family) cemetery of small white crosses, which has been the burial place of the Hoterene whanau for the last 150 years, and the mountain behind is our ancestral mountain, Motatau. > > There is a story told amongst our large *whanau* (family) about why there are **only small white wooden crosses** in this *wahi tapu* (cemetery). We are told that our key progenitor, Ganny Heeni, decided that after her parents were buried there, everyone who was buried afterwards would only have small white wooden crosses on their graves. Humility was an important value to this great dowager ancestor. For the members of Te Orewai, this meant that all grave markers in their burial grounds should stay the same so that **everyone would be equa**l. This also applies to flowers that are left on the graves. If somebody places a flower on a grave of his/her ancestor, they should also place a flower on all other graves in the *wahi tapu*. According to Delaraine, this very tradition is what binds them together as one large *whanau* (extended family). ![Collecting wahi tapu records](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/delaraine4-1300.jpg)Collecting records in the field ## Burial Practices Preserve Maori Culture and Language Delaraine describes the cultural meaning of the burial practices in the historical context: > Until Europeans came to Aotearoa in the mid-1800’s, we had different cultural burial practices. While the bodies are now interred differently than in the past, we retain our *tangihanga* (the unique practice of mourning and receiving mourners who come to pay respects over the 3 days after death, to acknowledge the deceased and the *whanau pani*– grieving family of the deceased in our *marae*). She describes *marae* as the “l[ong house](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longhouse)” equivalent for Wahi Tapu – the central place where clans and tribes gather for a different family, community and tribal events and practices. They serve as the physical manifestation of their cultural identity and connections to their ancestral lands. Delaraine states that the Maori language is spoken during these practices, following specific cultural protocols. Those protocols anchor the community to their culture. At the same time, they also serve as a way to distinguish their community in its uniqueness. ![Wahi Tapu Mapping Project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/delaraine5-1300.jpg)An example of the Te Orewai burial service and marae (‘long house’) For all of these reasons, **burial practices play an important role in preserving the Maori culture and language**. Apart from the events following the burial of the deceased, memory of the past ancestors is an important identifier bearing a deep meaning in relation to different Maori subtribes. For Delaraine, cultural connections and future identity as a *hapu* (subtribe) and tribe are the reasons why she thinks it is critical preserving the names and grave markers of their ancestors. Over the years, she was in contact with many different people who wanted to find out more about their ancestors. **What she and her team hope for the future is to enable all who are seeking their *tupuna* (ancestors) to easily locate them on an interactive map.** They also hope that in the future, other tribes and subtribes may follow their footsteps and do the same. ## Cemetery Mapping Project: Ancestral History On A Map The Wahi Tapu (burial places) **data collection project** began in 2015, after Delaraine, Betty and Margaret won the second prize in GIS Cloud competition. A small team of data collectors gathered to record the names on all graves in the burial ground of Te Orewai (subtribe) using [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). There are about 900 names recorded from the 1800’s to the present that they know of in their burial ground (wahi tapu). Delaraine, Betty, and Margaret think of his project as a great chance to do a community service for the community of Te Orewai. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Te-Orewai-Wahi-Tapu-nZ-mapping-burrial-grounds.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Te-Orewai-Wahi-Tapu-nZ-mapping-burrial-grounds.png) Te Orewai have 3 main and several smaller burial locations in their valley. Largest burial ground, Nga Tairua, **has over 500 names recorded by data collectors.** Other burial grounds are smaller, and mapping them has its own challenges. A lot of graves are left unmarked so some of the records are lost forever. One small burial ground beside the Mormon chapel next to the *Marae* has very old graves so it is not that easy to collect names and dates, although Delaraine and her team hope to map them. Huanui is another small burial ground where the grave markers no longer show who is buried there, so collectors depend on those who hold the records of the graves. In the past, there have been records for all burial grounds, but they were lost with the successive passing of people who have held those records. This task was considered as a very important one. Nowadays, as more people and families are leaving the small rural settlements of the country regions, they are bringing these records with them. This way the records are slowly slipping away. That is why it is important to digitalize this huge part of the Maori culture. For Delaraine, it is imperative to keep these records for the future and to be able to reclaim one’s past. ![Mobile Data Collection project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/delaraine3-1300-1.jpg)Recording grave marks directly in the field using Mobile Data Collection > GIS Cloud enabled us to create a project that will collate all names and grave markers of Te Orewai to the present. We wanted to **provide access to an online database of names and burial grounds**, to families and extended family looking for their ancestors, no matter where they live. GIS Cloud provided the software licences for our team to gather the information and set up a form to collect the data. This includes names, date of birth and death, location and the photo of the grave marker, because many of the grave markers deteriorate over time. Delaraine and her team have finished data collection and were also “cleaning up” the data, to ensure all details are as accurate as they can be. They created the online database that *whanau* can access to know exactly where their family member or ancestor is buried, with the exact GPS location and other relevant data such as dates and photos. > The support from GIS Cloud has been great. Even though we have different time zones, GIS Cloud has been quick to respond to any queries, providing advice to make the process easier. **None of us had experience in using GIS mapping tools**, but there was no hardship with the support of the GIS Cloud team. We are very grateful for the opportunity to create a permanent record for the future, that our *whanau* can access anywhere, at any time. Te Orewai Wahi Tapu project demonstrates an incredible application of GIS Cloud and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) for the purpose of preserving an important part of heritage for Maori in New Zealand. We hope to see more from Delaraine and her team in the next two months when they will release their Wahi Tapu records for the public. **In the meantime, you can show them support by liking their [project page on Facebook.](https://www.facebook.com/te.orewai.wahi.tapu/?fref=ts)** Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit **Tags:** Cloud GIS, Delaraime Armstrong, GIS, GIS Cloud, interactive web map, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, New Zealand, Te Orewai, Tribal Burial Ground, Wahi Tapu --- ### [Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh to Improve Healthcare Interventions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-villages-in-southern-bangladesh-to-improve-healthcare-interventions/) **Published:** May 20, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-with-GIS-Cloud-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-with-GIS-Cloud.png) The project is a part of a larger initiative that tries to tackle the spread of disease caused by extreme air, water, and soil pollution in Bangladesh. The initiative plans to establish a disease surveillance system and conduct a spatial analysis to determine high-risk areas. This is a pilot project and covers the first step of a broader initiative, the **mapping of communities and settlements** in Bangladesh as the current data is of low quality if there is any at all (settlement names, their size, population, etc.). To lift the project from the ground, a team of researchers and scientists formed the GroupMappers non-profit. The organization was here to round up volunteers that would contribute to collecting and integrating geospatial data for the disease surveillance system. The project won the 2nd place at the GIS Cloud Contest in 2017 and was provided with a suite of GIS Cloud applications and support from the GIS Cloud team. **Table of contents:** - [The Non-profit Behind the Project](#non-profit) - [About the Project](#about-the-project) - [The Challenges](#challenges) - [Data Collection Workflow](#workflow) - [The GIS Cloud Solution](#solution) - [Results and Future Plans](#results) ## **The non-profit behind the project** *GroupMappers* is a nonprofit organization composed of mappers in Bangladesh who voluntarily contribute by collecting and integrating geospatial data for the disease surveillance system. It is organized by Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) [Epidemiology Department](https://www.tropmedres.ac/units/epidemiology) and funded by a Public Engagement Bursary from the [Wellcome Trust](https://wellcome.org/). The founders of this organization are Prof. Richard J Maude who is the Head of Epidemiology at MORU, Dr. Ipsita Sinha, research physician and Sazid Ibna Zaman, GIS Specialist at MORU Epidemiology department. [![groupmappers team gis cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/groupmappers-team-gis-cloud-1024x559.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/groupmappers-team-gis-cloud.png) ## **About the Project** The pilot project goal was to develop a **low-cost method** for collecting and integrating geospatial data. Also, it was important to make the data available online to maximize the potential benefits of data for a wide range of possible uses. The first part of the project was extracting communities/settlements from Google Earth, either as a point or polygon features. The second part was labeling and naming the extracted communities/settlements with the help of volunteers and local people. The volunteers visited the settlements to find the locals that could validate the settlement name and then collected all the necessary data with the Mobile Data Collection application. ## **The Challenges** In Bangladesh there is a lack of accurate, up-to-date data about community names and settlement sizes in rural or inaccessible areas. The **lack of data** makes it hard to plan healthcare delivery or set up a disease surveillance system. Gathering the data entailed a lot of field work so GroupMappers wanted to implement an effective field data collection method. They mentioned that collecting this type of data with conventional methods is too **expensive and time-consuming** (paper-based maps and forms, expensive GPS handhelds). Another challenge was the **lack of a common geospatial platform** that would enable the stakeholders to share location data. Different organizations collecting field data with different tools would make it hard to integrate in one place. The worries didn’t stop here. Initially, GroupMappers considered to validate local names with paper maps and then using volunteers to crosscheck the place names. But there were many difficulties. For example: - Printing high-resolution images with other associated information on several paper maps was time-consuming, expensive and not easy to set up. - Finding places with identifiable landmarks with paper maps was not easy. - Training local people who were not very familiar with the paper method proved challenging to carry out. The GroupMappers team dealt with all of these problems by creating an effective data collection workflow. ## **The Data Collection Workflow** *GroupMappers* work collectively by engaging groups of volunteers for field data collection and crowdsourcing tasks. Under the current pilot project, the methods used are being developed and optimized by the core team before a broader application. GroupMappers volunteers used satellite images from Google Earth to mark the communities and settlements. Later on, they identified the marked points with the help of local people for every particular community (crowdsourcing). For validation purpose, they used the Mobile Data Collection app to gather settlement locations, village names, size, photo, etc. [![Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh fieldwork](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-fieldwork.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-fieldwork.png) **A quick overview of the workflow:** 1. 1. Collecting the locations of communities by marking them as polygons on satellite images using Google Earth. Volunteers allocate grid squares to mark communities using standardized methods and following a set of predefined rules. 2. 2. The polygons are exported as a KML file and sent to a validation team who assess the quality and accuracy of the data against a set of quality criteria and approve or reject the dataset. Any rejected datasets are annotated and reassessed. 3. 3. Volunteers are assigned to the study area to collect the names and other info about the marked communities. GroupMappers used Mobile Data Collection app for data collection while running the pilot project. [![Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh map editor 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-map-editor-2-1024x664.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-map-editor-2.png) > “The easy, understandable app interface, offline use and extraction capabilities of multifaceted data are the main capabilities which helped in many ways and helped to reach goals in a shorter time frame.” – GroupMappers Team GIS Cloud apps supported the third part of the workflow, so let’s dive in and explore the data collection solution. ## **The GIS Cloud Solution** The [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) was used to validate the pre-extracted data in the pilot project. The previously selected areas were divided into specific grids where groups of volunteers were assigned. With the help of MDC app, volunteers went to the already decided locations, took pictures of prominent landmarks, collected local names of the area, population data, and GPS value. > “App interface was easy to use and a very effective way of labeling communities. It made the project a lot more efficient as it was paperless work. It is the latest technology based, so the accuracy is ensured. It is also a faster and easier way of collecting field data and performing fieldwork and surveys.” – GroupMappers Team [![Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh field data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-field-data-collection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-field-data-collection.png) The MDC app enabled the volunteers to take pictures, GPS point locations, any text and numeric data, and all of that in areas with no internet connection. These features helped GroupMappers to collect the field data in the most effective way. Top 3 benefits of the Mobile Data Collection: 1. 1. 1. Using mobile apps instead of paper maps. 2. 2. Reduce the cost of field data collection. 3. 3. High-quality pictures. 4. 4. It works in offline mode. > “GIS Cloud provided a wonderful platform for data collection that can be operated through with mobile devices. The interface of the app is very easy to use. Even the installation of the app and data collection using the app is quite easy for beginners as well.” – GroupMappers Team To edit the collected field data the GroupMappers used the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) web app, as well as the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app for sharing the data with other stakeholders and volunteer groups. The apps allowed all of the involved teams to have real-time access to the data. ## **Results and future plans** The pilot project was a success, but it will take a lot more time to finish the whole project. So far, *GroupMappers* have completed **75 percent of work** and finalized the data extraction from Google Earth. There’s still a lot of work needed to improve further the methodology for naming communities/villages. [![Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh map editor](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-map-editor-1024x584.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mapping-Villages-in-Southern-Bangladesh-map-editor.png) The healthcare sector will use the data to estimate the impact of several diseases and their intensity. The ‘hotspot villages’ can be easily identified by combining disease data and the data gathered in this project. The data enables healthcare professionals to send interventions to the right villages. GroupMappers will also make the data freely available online because the data can have a wide range of uses in different policy-making sectors. > “Our plans for the future are to create a strong database with up-to-date information, and we’ll try to find a way to keep the information relevant. We will share this information at no cost. The fruition of the whole project will serve Bangladesh greatly and other sustainable development projects across the country.” – GroupMappers Team Interested in trying the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and schedule a live demo. Related content: Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) Landslide Prediction Mapping for Safe Housing and Construction Planning Using GIS **Categories:** Blog, Government, Non Profit, Use Cases **Tags:** Case Study, data collection, field data collection, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit --- ### [Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-the-mining-activity-in-chile-through-interactive-thematic-maps/) **Published:** June 21, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Chile mining project ENAMI and Teramaps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GIS-in-Mining.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GIS-in-Mining.jpg) The mining industry in Chile produces more than one-third of government income by exporting Copper. Other important mining products include gold, silver, molybdenum, iron, and coal, while most of the mining products are located in the Atacama Region. At this mining region **small and medium-sized mining operations** make a significant part of the mining industry. These types of mines are extremely vulnerable to changes in mineral value as a sharper [drop in copper value](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-copper-miners-idUSKCN0VW008) could send them over the edge. Learn how Adolfo Ibanez University and ENAMI are trying to mitigate the problem. ## The project for growth and sustainability of mining in Chile The Atacama region was in focus of the project done by Adolfo Ibañez University for the **Empresa Nacional de Mining (ENAMI)** and GIS Cloud Partners [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile) – “Information platform for the diversification, growth, and sustainability of small and medium-sized mining in Chile with a focus on the Atacama Region.” In the project presentation, it is estimated that by incorporating new minerals into the national production supply it is possible to expect an **increase of 10% to 40% in mining reserves** in the small and medium mining segments. The effect of valorizing more minerals would allow generating economic incentives for their extraction, which raises a significant economic benefit for the Region of Atacama, raising the mining revenues to $180 million per year. Supporting this projection, ENAMI and Teramaps used GIS Cloud to offer easy access to all relevant information about mining in Chile to both people in the industry and a broader public via an interactive map. The goal was to provide the users with an opportunity to search, view, explore and download specific information of interest as easily as possible. ## The Challenge As this was a large project that included many different stakeholders, one of the main challenges was to enable individual contributors to **add and update information** about the environment, minerals, and cadastre data independently on different map layers. At the same time, the application user interface needed to be **simple and easy to use** for both administrators, contributors, and end-users from the mining industry and the public. The users required to have a **search option** to find information quickly, and also to access particular information about points and polygons on a map such as PDF analysis of market segments for an area. Also, the interactive map needed to provide a way for administrators to extract information about specific areas of interest using **customizable reports**. [![Teramaps and ENAMI project in Atacama](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/screenshot-1.2-1024x532.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/screenshot-1.2.jpg) ## Creating interactive maps from mining activity data As the primary goal was to find the fastest and easiest way to include many stakeholders working on an interactive map that will be shared with the users and the public, the logical solution was to use cloud-based mapping software. In the first part of the project, ENAMI and Teramaps used [GIS Cloud Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to create a thematic map that included various layers of data on top of high-resolution satellite imagery – layers provided environmental information, mining cadastre and different indicators showing mining activity in a territory. For example, the layer of prospects and mining deposits distributed in the Atacama Region was particularly interesting to end-users, as they were able to use it to **search for minerals**. Data was attached to different areas on a map in the form of the PDF reports which can be easily downloaded. Data was added to a map by contributors that had different levels of access (edit, report, export and other privileges), and the cloud environment enabled them to collaborate, access and update a map in real-time. All of this was done in a short amount of time as the user-friendly Map Editor environment allowed quick and effective update and **easier data management** compared to desktop mapping software environment. Users were also able to create customized reports in only a few clicks, which made the communication and decision-making process more effective. [![GIS in Chile Mining Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/screenshot2.2-1024x530.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/screenshot2.2.jpg) ## Fully customized map portal The map was published in [GIS Cloud Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) application that provided a fully customized and user-friendly environment for the mining industry stakeholders and the public. Those who wanted to access information about mining in the Atacama Region were able to **visualize data effectively** through an interactive map, search for the information about minerals and particular areas of interest as well as download PDF reports in just a few clicks. The interactive map is available on the website of the National Mining Company, Enami. Interested in GIS Cloud solutions for the mining industry? Explore the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Utilities - Other **Tags:** Enami, GIS, GIS Cloud, Mininng industry, Teramaps --- ### [Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-information-and-collaborating-across-the-organization-introduction/) **Published:** May 7, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![collaboration](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/framesel1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/framesel1.png) Managers and decision-makers always have **collaboration challenges** on projects within numerous company departments. Presenting and exchanging the **data collection and information** between operatives is crucial for achieving **business goals!** Since the beginning, we’ve introduced a single GIS platform for data collection, management, and access that helped thousands of users exploit the advantages of online GIS! Resolving **crucial workflow issues** and collaboration within departments online in **real time** is just one of the **immediate and measurable results**. In our Learning Center, there is a [Sharing and Collaborating](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/sharing-collaborating/) section where you will find quick tutorials on how to **enable an entire organization to collaborate** by using the same GIS Cloud apps on **different levels of access** depending on the company structure and business needs! [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/) web app helps you with [license acquiring, license assigning, and user administration.](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-assign-a-gis-cloud-license/) By defining different **license permissions** for users within your organization you have full control of privacy authoring. Users within **different departments** in different cities or countries can **collaborate** on the **same project or map in real time!** There are different levels of **user permissions** you can give as a manager in any map or project. Permissions are pretty straightforward and you can differentiate between two groups: **For data access and data management** - **Can view** – will provide the person only viewing privileges - **Can edit** – will provide the person with complete editing privileges - **Can export** – will allow the person to export the map you have shared with him **For data collection** - **Can collect** – will allow the person in the field to send new data, without the possibility to make changes to existing data or the data he has already sent - **Can update** – will allow the person in the field to make attribute and geometry changes, without the possibility to send new data Once you have created your map in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application or project in [Mobile Data Collection Portal ](https://mdc.giscloud.com/)you can start sharing it with other GIS Cloud users. The process is straightforward and easy to follow. The aforementioned permission options decide who will be able to view, share, edit, export collect or update the data. Your general options are: - [Map Editor sharing ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-share-a-map-in-map-editor-2/)– Share maps to users with different permissions - [Mobile Data Collection Portal sharing](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-share-a-map-in-map-editor-2/) – Share project to users with different permissions - [Layer sharing ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-layer/)– share layers and define permissions for each layer - [Data source sharing](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-maps-as-data-source/) – share data sources to allow using data in various maps (shared and owned) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/sharelayer.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/sharelayer.png) There is also a [Share and Publish](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/) option where you can publish your map **publicly or privately** depending on the business requirements and share it with users **inside or outside your organization** through Permalink, WMS, [WFS](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-your-map-as-wfs/), etc. With [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) you can easily transfer maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud in a, preserving your symbology and update all changes to your QGIS maps. This is a **quick and affordable** way to share ‘heavy’ maps and datasets with clients or **make the data public** It’s time to start **optimizing your collaboration tools** and connect users who are inside and outside your organization with just a couple of clicks! No need for **heavy coding and hardware investments.** Share maps and projects to everyone in a matter of minutes and **get their input faster than ever before!** If you are interested more in how to **share your maps and projects** to **lead and organize** your business and reduce everyday workload please contact our **[Sales Consultants ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)**and **check GIS Cloud** [**Services Page**](https://www.giscloud.com/services/)! Related content: Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, consulting, data classification, data sharing and analyisis, data sharing and collaboration, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, gis learning sessions, learn GIS, Map Editor, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, online GIS, plugin for qgis, publisher for qgis, qgis --- ### [4 Main Reasons Why Governments Choose Cloud Based GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/4-main-reasons-why-governments-choose-cloud-based-gis/) **Published:** January 12, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![governments](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/gov2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/gov2.jpg) One of recent trends in the process of digitalization within local governments infrastructure such as city councils, governmental agencies and departments is a growing use of cloud-based software solutions which are improving their functionality in many segments. Since most of the paperwork, statistic and public data is now digitized and more easily accessible by both governmental staff and citizens, the next logical step in this process is the adoption of cloud computing in regular governmental workflows. [![ured collaboration-sc](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ured-collaboration-sc.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ured-collaboration-sc.jpg)This is especially the case in the field of Geographic Information System software, commonly used for data visualisation (creating public maps with the data on infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, parks) and collaboration within various departments (roadworks, urbanistic planning and parcelization, park infrastructure and management…) ***So, why do local governments often choose cloud-based GIS solutions over desktop GIS?*** Here are the 4 key reasons: **1.** Cloud GIS significantly improves **collaboration** between different people who share and update the mapping data. Collecting, adding, editing and publishing location data can be done simultaneously, enabling field crews and office staff to [collaborate](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/lewis-county-case-study-small-community-cloud-solution/) in real time. **2.** Improved collaboration brings more **efficiency** to department’s [**workflows**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-management-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/) and therefore reduces time, costs and energy for various departments. With cloud-based software, you can do more in less time, utilizing smartphones, tablets and office computers as an extension for improved flow of information. You no longer have to collect data in the field, go to the office, wait for it to upload, and then start with the analysis or further planning. Now governments can execute their projects and make decisions based on real time data. **3. Cost-effectiveness**: cloud solutions are usually more [cost effective](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/land-administration-and-parcel-management-case-study-new-york-state/) than desktop GIS solutions for at least two reasons. One is that using cloud GIS doesn’t require investing in “in-house” servers, therefore reducing the costs of technology together with costs of hiring extra IT staff for server maintenance. The other is connected with improving staff’s workflow which reduces the cost of working hours. **4. Citizen Engagement** – Last but not the least, Cloud GIS solutions are the perfect tools for[ driving citizen engagement](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/exploring-the-city-of-darwin-map-portal/) by opening your data to [public use ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/engaging-the-citizens-in-district-heating-management-a-case-study/)and interaction. The data is already in the cloud which also means that it is just a few clicks away from [publishing](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-publishing-use-case-gis-solutions-for-government/). Want to know more about GIS Cloud solutions for governments? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Also – watch out for our webinar announcements this on our social sites (F[acebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/), T[witter](https://twitter.com/GisCloud) and L[inkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gis-cloud)) or check out [GIS Solutions for Smart Cities ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-gis-solutions-for-smart-cities-webinar-recording/)webinar recording. Related content: Importance of Open Data for Local Governments Turn Your Map Into a Cloud-based GIS App Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, GIS, GIS for government, local government, management, mapping, maps, park infrastructure --- ### [Risk Management in Agriculture (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-risk-management-use-case/) **Published:** January 11, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Remote sensing & GIS technology in action - the future of smart agriculture ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/drone-new.jpg) ## **Combining Remote Sensing & Online GIS Technology is the Future of Risk Management in Agribusiness** According to [FAO](https://www.fao.org/home/en/), the growth rates of **global agricultural production** and crop yields [have slowed](https://www.fao.org/3/y3557e/y3557e03.htm) in the last couple of years, raising fears that the world may not be able to grow enough food and other commodities to ensure that future populations are adequately fed. Considering climate change as an important factor in farm production around the world, the growth rates of global output may further be endangered by the shortage of rain and the occurrence of natural disasters such as floods and droughts. This is leading to crop failures, food insecurity, famine and mass migration together with negative national economic growth. This is why **risk management is becoming a priority** and an important tool in agribusiness for farmers. They need to **anticipate, evaluate, avoid and react** to the everchanging environmental shocks and thus mitigate risk and uncertainty in agriculture. Using GIS as risk management and decision-making tool, with the help of **data visualisation and maps,** is becoming a necessity and standard for numerous agencies, insurance companies and businesses around the world. Digital maps can **display spatial correlations and patterns** that are difficult to detect in spreadsheet-based reports. Furthermore, online GIS solutions are recognized as a **go-to solution for collaboration and communication** between stakeholders in farm risk management, namely insurance providers, farmers and governmental agencies. We bring you a use case regarding agricultural risk management strategies where the insurance company used airborne multi-spectral imagery to evaluate the impact **hail damage** on corn for the purpose of insurance claim assessment. ## **Insurance Settlement Goals and Challenges** The insurance company used drone generated NDVI map to have an overview of the hail damage in corn. This was a pilot project designed for improving their agriculture risk assessment process. They needed a solution for field inspection, data sharing and collaboration between the parties involved in an insurance claim case. Their primary goal was to create a solution combining **Remote Sensing Technology** with related ancillary data collection within GIS to gain an advanced and accurate tool for assisting with crop hail insurance settlements in minimal time and without conflict, while keeping expenses low. The **challenge** was in finding the best way for **sharing large raster datasets** with farmers who had no previous experience in GIS. The insurance company also needed to improve the collaboration process so that settlements could be accomplished more efficiently. ## **Combining Remote Sensing and Online GIS to Improve the Workflow** A few days after the hail, the insurance company used **drones** to create an overview of the cornfield **crop damage**. The area of 660 acres was mapped using MaVinci Sirius Pro unmanned vehicle. 758 images were generated by UAV, using RTK GPS positioning system and near-infrared sensor imagery. The results of drone image processing were orthomosaic, NDVI\_rainbow, NDVI\_heat and NDVI\_gray images. > “NDVI or Normalized Difference Vegetation Index is a measurement of the amount of live vegetation in an area and is commonly used for agricultural assessment. The basic principle of NDVI relies on the fact that, due to their porous layers found on their backsides, leaves reflect a lot of light in the near infrared, in stark contrast with most non-plant objects. When the plant becomes dehydrated or stressed, the spongy layer collapses and the leaves reflect less NIR light, but the same amount in the visible range. Thus, mathematically combining these two signals can help differentiate plant from non-plant and healthy plant from a sickly plant.” Insurance company consultants and analysts can use NDVI data to **determine the intensity of crop fields damage** by analyzing NDVI pixel intervals using the NDVI map (with a scale range from -1 to +1). Inanimate or dead material (roads, buildings, soil or dead plants) is displayed in **red,** while plants are displayed in **green**, making the hail damaged area easily visible on a map. This analysis helps generate necessary parameters for insurance claim assessments. NDVI map was of great help for the field inspection process. After processing data, analysts from the insurance company were able to determine which areas require their immediate attention. Data visualization helped them to make the workflow more efficient – they knew where to go and take the samples just from a quick look to a map. [![samples farm area GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2-1024x575.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2.jpg) Sensor data was uploaded into different layers through web application [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), making it available online (in the cloud) and therefore easily accessible. The insurance company used **polygon layers** to mark the insured areas with additional information on insurance levels for each sector, together with damage indexes provided by processing the NDVI data. One layer included the sample data from the field investigation. Analysts used **NDVI map as a basemap** for field investigation with the help of [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application to **pinpoint** locations where field samples were taken (marked in yellow), including attached field photos with marked locations. These locations were later updated with the scouting results in the form of .pdf, making all of the data available on a web map. ‘Samples’ layer was populated with **three types** of sample data for each area: red NDVI area (<0.00; dead plants), yellow NDVI area (0 – 0.33; unhealthy plant material) and green NDVI area (0.33 – 0.66; healthy plants). All of the collected and mapped data was available for **private sharing** through [Map Viewer ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)application. It enabled simple and easy access to data for field crews who were collecting samples in the field. ## **Preliminary Assessment Supports Proper Decision Making** When the scouting process was finished, consisted of observing the mapping data combined with the field sample inspection, insurance provider needed to verify survey data and create a damage assessment. When the preliminary assessment phase was finished, insurance provider needed to share the data with interested sides, in this case, the farmer whose crops were damaged and the Agricultural Development Authority providing one-time support to the farmers in the case of hail. They used GIS Cloud to provide extra information to the sensor and sample data shown on a map containing a base for creating assessment parameters. This feature was an important part of a better workflow in terms of **collaboration**. It enabled all of the stakeholders to **communicate in real-time on a map**, without a need for face-to-face meetings. The methodology was discussed on a map serving as a workboard, where insurance company coordinated their arrangements and provided additional explanations concerning the agriculture risk assessment process. [![An example of a collaboration stream in Maplim](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/3-1024x479.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/3.jpg)Collaborative Mapping: An example of using cards to create a workflow streamline for all the stakeholders in a project. ## **The Benefits of Using Online GIS and Remote Sensing in Agricultural Risk Management** The insurance company offered us the following conclusions: **1.** Multispectral imagery (airborne or satellite) is adequate for detection of the ground area and relative level of hail damage in corn for typical American agricultural areas. **2.** Drones with integrated GPS RTK technology can provide spatial resolution up to 2 inches. **3.** Damage assessment based on airborne remote sensing is faster and more accurate than currently used, field-oriented, hail-damage adjustment procedures. **4.** Combination of NDVI map generated from drone images and GIS technology in the cloud is a great tool for the agricultural risk management insurance company. The key values are: - uploading big raster data - using GIS tools such as creating polygons, lines and points and adding attribute data are helpful in improving the data visualization process etc. - sharing and collaboration functionality **5.** With the help of online GIS, all the stakeholders can be easily involved in the process: owner, insurance manager, the local authority for agriculture and others, without a need for specialized expertise in using software In the abstract, using drones in agricultural risk management provides an easy and efficient way of generating an up-to-date overview of the crop damage. In the case of huge farming areas typical for North and South America, Australia and Eastern Europe, this technology can be used to **improve crop monitoring in all phases.** Combination of remote sensing and online GIS technology is an excellent way to create ‘**added value**’ to the mapping data – both through GIS functionality (polygons, layers, attached data) and data sharing. When you add the possibility of **real-time communication and collaboration** with different stakeholders and crews on the project, we can add that GIS is exceptional decision-making tool, helping agricultural agencies, agribusinesses and numerous companies to improve their understanding of the data. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for agricultural projects, **[Sign up for the free 14-day trial.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)** You can also contact our **[Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)** to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** agriculture, agriculture risk management, Case Study, Cloud GIS, collaboration, consulting, data visualisation, drones, farming, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS in Agriculture, insurance company, local government, mapping, NDVI, recording, Remote Sensing, Risk Management in Agriculture, use case, vegetation, vegetation managment --- ### [COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/covid-19-surveillance-and-community-mapping-project-using-a-real-time-web-gis-platform-in-philippines/) **Published:** September 8, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![COVID 19](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Covid-19-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Covid-19-cover.png) COVID 19 is quickly spreading in the Philippines at an alarming rate. At this point, efforts to contain the virus depend on a contact tracing technology. **The University of Cordilleras – Research and Innovation Office (UC-RIO)** in Baguio City has developed a system **powered by GIS** that enables real-time reporting, **inter-agency data sharing** and **geographic visualization** of COVID 19 cases in **Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)** After our offer at the beginning of the pandemic, that GIS Cloud will provide [free technology and support to projects fighting the Coronavirus](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-offers-technology-and-support-for-free-to-projects-fighting-to-contain-coronavirus/), we received numerous emails with worthy projects around the world! In this article, we bring you a case study on one of these projects in collaboration with Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica from one of Philippine’s universities. We encourage people and organizations to reach out and present their project to us, so we could provide them with free licenses and support to set up systems such as public map portals, data collection projects and crowdsourcing. Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of UC-RIO contacted us about his project of tracking and mapping the COVID 19 outbreak in the Philippines. In this **partnership,** they implemented a platform for **real-time mapping, reporting, data collection, analysis and surveillance** of COVID 19 cases. All of the collected data in this project is transformed into various types of maps to visualize cases and provide more in-depth insight on the situation to enable planning of effective response such as contact tracking and helping the community. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Real-time-collaboration.jpg) > *“The project aims to develop a harmonized framework of data collaboration to aid in informed and data-driven decision making.”* > > *Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of UC-RIO* Engr. Lubrica’s initial concept was to: - map places that COVID 19 positive patients visited - map which areas were sanitized - indicate if the people in contact were tested This effort will help the country to gear up for transition towards the **“New Normal”.** It will help and aid the Local Government Units ( LGUs) to upgrade their disaster risks assessment efforts, such as the identification and extent of affected areas and the assessment of damages caused by any natural disaster in the future. Engr. Lubrica sent us his report on the fight against COVID 19, and we are bringing you this exciting case study describing the steps of their workflow. ## **Project Report Outline** - Project Objectives - Problems, Goals and Benefits of Mapping Virus Outbreak - Project Milestones / Activities and Accomplishments - Starting Point - Utilizing the GIS Cloud Platform, Field Data Collection and Data Sharing - Workshops on Setting-up a GIS supported Workflow - “BLISTT Stranded Students” project integration - Training on Data Entry, Data Sharing and Online Collaboration ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/University-Logo.png) > *Real-time information on COVID 19 cases is essential in the* ***planning and response efforts of government units.*** *Information is power in decision making. No one goes to “war” without a map!* > > *Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of UC-RIO* ## **Project Objectives** The main objective of the project is a **multi-stakeholder collaboration and data-driven decision making optimizing the use of a real-time web GIS platform and data analytics.** Specifically, the project aims to attain the following: - Establish harmonized guidelines on COVID 19 data management; - Set-up a data value chain for COVID 19; - Develop a framework for citizen engagement through participatory GIS; - Provide capacity building activities in the areas of GIS and data analytics; and - Develop data-driven decision making using an integrated multi-stakeholder real-time web GIS platform.” ## **Problems, Goals and Benefits of Mapping Virus Outbreak** According to the project leader Engr. Nathaniel A. Lubrica, the project has a unique approach of providing a custom-fitted, inter-agency technological platform through **integrated map collaboration and citizen engagement**. The project also expanded in different stages, through building project capacity from data management to advanced simulation. There are several mapping applications developed for COVID 19. However, only a few consider a **real GIS assisted approach**. Spatio-temporal analysis of COVID 19 is helpful in decision making. Engr. Lubrica’s team also realized that an integrated approach for COVID 19 surveillance and reporting does not exist at the moment. That’s why Engr. Lubrica contacted GIS Cloud and applied his project so that **1.35 million Cordillerans can benefit from this study.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Preparing.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Preparing.jpg) He said that this project could be scaled up to a national level. Collaboration across Local governments units (LGUs), government agencies, NGOs and the public is essential, and they can all contribute their knowledge and expertise to benefit from it. There is **no limit on the information** that will be captured and **displayed in these maps**. Hence, further investigation revealed that the public feels safer and more engaged through the GIS platform of this project due the availability and visualisation of the data in Map Portal – a **public GIS app displaying real-time information.** Data ethics and privacy regulation are taken into consideration during this project. Engr. Lubrica also agrees that the initial platform of this project can be used in the future for **prevention of other disasters**. We will walk you through his workflow and accomplishment to give you a general idea and fantastic possibilities this project offers. Let’s dig in together and find out how they **utilized GIS Cloud solution** in this case. ## **Project Milestones, Activities and Accomplishments** ## Starting Point The starting point of Engr. Lubrica’s project was providing his team GIS Cloud subscriptions for various apps: - [Mobile Data Collection](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) – for collecting data in the field - [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) – for organizing, editing and sharing data - [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) – for easy private access to the data - [ Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) – for public access and data representation In this initial period, his team created user accounts in [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/) and started exploring and learning possibilities that our applications provide. For desktop mapping needs, Engr. Lubrica and his team used QGIS software, which integrates great with [GIS Cloud plugin for map publishing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/). The team presented the COVID 19 project and the use of the GIS Cloud platform in a meeting with LGU Baguio city, Department of Health (DOH-CAR), and the Baguio City Health Services Office (BCHSO). During their meeting, they reached different inputs and ideas in support for the future project development and implementation, said Engr. Lubrica. Additional GIS Cloud accounts were created for participants of this meeting, and the **Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology** – CAR, Nancy M. Bantog, expressed her full support! Also, they promoted the project at the DZRK-AM Radyo Pilipinas (Radio Station) in the city of Tabuk. Engr. Lubrica talked about GIS technology and GIS Cloud apps that they are using for COVID19 surveillance and mapping. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Meeting.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Meeting.jpg) ## Utilizing the GIS Cloud Platform, Field Data Collection and Data Sharing Engr. Lubrica’s team dug further into the exploration of the GIS Cloud platform. They set up more **Mobile Data Collection** accounts, for **real-time field data collection** and **visualization**, and analyzed in depth more of **Map Editor’s** **collaboration and sharing** capabilities. Engr. Lubrica coordinated with our CEO, Dino Ravnić, who granted a new package of subscriptions in support of their project. With these extra licences, he empowered **volunteers** to help collect more data in the field. This way **project managers can gain immediate insight** into where to send help or close out areas, just by looking at a map. The result is a[ **COVID 19 Reporting and Surveillance and Map Portal**](https://app109459.giscloud.com/) made by Engr. Lubrica and his team. In this public GIS app, they visualised CAR municipalities and provinces in relation to all of the active CAR Health Sites on the map. Thanks to that, they were able to establish points of Relief Operations to **track and oversee positive COVID19 people in the region.** **In the future, this information will help to locate patients and address them to the nearest Health Centers in a specific area!** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Covid-19-Map-Portal-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Covid-19-Map-Portal-1.png) Also, with this Map Portal, they can track and supervise what necessary provisions (medicine, food, shelter..) did the people take into consideration in the fight against COVID19. They can advise them on further developments and what actions they need to take into consideration on virus suppression in the future. The team started the project presentation and meetings held at the Office of Civil Defence (OCD) and the Department of Science and Technology. **Director of the Office of Civil Defence**, Albert A. Mogol, as well as other participants, endorsed the project and together they formulated an initial framework and deployment plans. Engr. Lubrica also participated in the **“contact tracing”** meeting with **Baguio city LGU**. He introduced the GIS Cloud platform and his COVID 19 project and conducted a **demo-workshop** with Baguio heads of health groups. They all agreed that the usability of the platform is friendly and beneficial, and it will be of high value to their city. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OCD-CAR-Mogol.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OCD-CAR-Mogol.jpg) In a utilization meeting with the **Office of Civil Defence and Baguio City** LGU, they addressed the advantages of the GIS Cloud platform with the focus on the main benefit: - **user-friendly applicability** - **easy deployability** This is a confirmation that applications are intuitive, easy to use. Project managers can rely that the volunteers and personnel who are using apps will properly perform their tasks. Not all LGUs or Agencies have personnel who have high IT literacy, so **crowdsourcing and dashboard features** of GIS Cloud platform are very convenient in their case. Engr. Lubrica organized additional meetings, orientations, needs assessments, and workshops with **LaTrinidad** LGU’s local teams. Teams that joined the cause at this stage were: - **Disaster risk reduction and management,** - **Health services** - **Social services** - **Planning and development** The project was presented to the **La Trinidad COVID 19 EXECOM** (Executive Committee) composed of the mayor, vice-mayor, the councillors, and all municipal department heads. The Executive Committee through mayor Romeo Salda endorsed the implementation of Engr. Lubrica’s COVID 19 project for La Trinidad, which was a confirmation of the successful project setup. ## Workshops on Setting-up a GIS supported Workflow An **orientation-workshop and education** were held with the **barangays** (smallest political units) of La Trinidad, explaining the importance and workflow of the project. Within **just a few hours**, all of the participants were able to **adopt the workflow** and **successfully report** their cases using the GIS Cloud platform! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/meeting-orientation-workshop.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/meeting-orientation-workshop.jpg) > *“This again proves that the GIS Cloud applications are user friendly and well suited for people with less knowledge in the IT industry.”* > > *Engr. Nathaniel Vincent A. Lubrica of UC-RIO* In this period Engr. Lubrica and the members of **PROJECT CARES** (Cordillera Assessment and Resource Generation) discussed the importance of mapping the COVID 19 areas. Also, a large agglomeration of the city Baguio and municipalities of Benguet, La Trinidad, Itogon Sablan, Tuba and Tublay **(BLISTT)** joined the **CAR COVID 19 Surveillance and Community**, and Engr. Lubrica was able to present the project to them. The BLISTT Council welcomed this initiative, and he and his team received positive feedback for their perseverance and goodwill. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BLISTT-Council-Meeting.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BLISTT-Council-Meeting.jpg) It was recommended that the project should be integrated with the **contact tracing system** of Baguio city. ## “BLISTT Stranded Students” project integration The “BLISTT Stranded Students” project **helped 249 students without access to the internet and health care** to be identified and directed to health institutions with the help and assistance of the citizens in this area. The project was presented to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) CAR, with all department heads and technical staff present. Both the regional directors of DOH and DILG expressed full assistance for the **project’s potential and field reporting.** Data being collected will be used to locate stranded students, assess their situation, and **launch well-coordinated and strategic relief operations** with the help of GIS Cloud apps and support. It was settled that the two organizations will send their representatives on the CAR COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Needs. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Presentation-at-DOH-CAR.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Presentation-at-DOH-CAR.jpg) ### **Training on Data Entry, Data Sharing and Online Collaboration** The training’s activities included registration to GIS Cloud accounts, a workshop on harmonization of COVID 19 framework, GIS orientation and lectures, hands-on training on QGIS and GIS Cloud, and workshop on creating maps. Engr. Lubricas team is creating maps in QGIS to compose and analyse maps. Thanks to [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/), Engr. Lubrica’s team has a chance to publish and update QGIS maps online, preserving their symbology and collect data from the field directly into published QGIS maps. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Training-DOH-CAR-.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Training-DOH-CAR-.jpg) The success of the training proves that the project and its **workflow are very well thought out and on the point.** The results of the training are these interactive maps: [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Maps-Working-outputs.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Maps-Working-outputs.png) The expected **outputs** of the **2-day activity** are the following: - Creating guidelines on data entry and sharing - Working knowledge of GIS and GIS Cloud - Implementation of the system per LGU/NGA A total of **18 participants** from the following organizations attended and successfully completed the training: LGUs of La Trinidad, Itogon, and Sablan; and regional government agencies which include DOST, NEDA, OCD, DOH, DSWD, and DILG. This was just **Stage 1** of the training. - **Stage 2** will deal with the creation of information and data engineering in the future - **Stage 3** will include predictive analytics - **Stage 4** will consist of optimization After this Stage 1, Engr. Lubrica and his team made the Map Portal with all the municipalities and health centres in the region so that they can help the local population with the fight against COVID 19. In the future they plan to upgrade their project into a **risk assessment tool**, so they can identify affected areas and evaluate damages caused by any natural disaster. We at GIS Cloud felt a need to get involved in the COVID 19 pandemic fight by offering **technology and support** to all of those who wish to make a change. We congratulate Engr. Lubrica and his team on their immense effort and great achievements in the fight against COVID 19. We will continue working with him and the university to help suppress wider viruses spread in the Philippines. Please [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) if you wish to find out how to use the GIS Cloud platform to fight COVID 19 and other potential health risks. Related content: Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community Mapping the Italian Heritage – A Story about GIS Cloud Implementation for the Proditerr@ Project GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit **Tags:** Baguio City, Case Study, Cloud GIS, collaboration, Corona Virus, COVID, Covid19, data collection, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, local government, local governments, Map Portal, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, Phillippines --- ### [Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mobile-apps-for-water-utilities/) **Published:** September 19, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![mobile apps for water utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cover_watersewer2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cover_watersewer2.png) This case study shows how a utility company, [Smith Brothers Group,](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/australia/services/facilities-services/smithbrothersplumbing) **improved the efficiency** of inspecting asset conditions and field data collection **by 30%** with the GIS Cloud mobile apps for water utilities. The Smith Brothers Group operates in Australia and works on various **water and sewer** utility projects for local government units. They also offer services for the **pipeline, electric utilities, and real estate** sectors. The company was recently acquired by the real estate giant [Cushman & Wakefield Facilities Services](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en). Keep reading and learn how to empower your field operations with mobile apps for data collection and tools for **monitoring fieldwork**. ## **Tackling Challenges in Water & Sewer Utilities** When working on water utility projects, the Smith Brothers need the **accurate location of underground and above-ground assets and infrastructure**. That is where the GIS Cloud solution steps in by enabling the field workers to **capture** critical information live**, via mobile devices** and also allow access to information about a particular site, all the time. The projects they work on range from local Councils/Municipalities to Government agencies. > Our capabilities increased in the areas of data collation and accuracy. Also, our clients are increasingly using their data in useful ways. — Michael Dew, Manager The main challenges where the GIS Cloud solution delivered results: - Improving methodology in workflows on-site and the office - Accurate reporting of confirmed infrastructure and its specifications - Collation of confirmed asset information on an accurate large scale. ## **Boosting the Field Workflow with Mobile Apps for Data Collection** At the start of each project, the Smith Brothers consult with clients to get a better sense of the targeted outcome. The requirements will depend on the client; however, they usually **collect location data and assess the condition of these assets:** - Manholes - Hydrants - Backflow & Isolation Valves - Waters meters - Water Mains - CWMS infrastructure Depending on the asset type and the client requirements, they design a custom **mobile form** for the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). The app allows them to map and record information of a large number of utility assets, having information available instantly online to the entire team, which ultimately **replaced the paper-based methods** for field data collection. Locating, aggregating, and searching through paper survey forms to detect and inspect the condition of a single asset is a thing of the past for Smith Brothers. The app also works as a **water utility condition assessment tool**. [![mobile apps for water utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-brothers-mdc_bez-pozadine_sjena.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-brothers-mdc_bez-pozadine_sjena.png) An example of a Mobile Data Collection form for a water and sewer utility project. When the form is created using a form builder in the GIS Cloud web app, managers can share it with workers in the field, and they can access and fill-in the form on their mobile phones. GIS Cloud app makes it easy to share the forms and **control the access to forms and data** for different roles, with the option to **manage access permissions**. It also enables the operations manager to organize teams only to collect new asset data, or to update existing records. **When mapping or inspecting the water utility assets, they record:** - Asset Conditions - Asset Documentation - Asset Images - Asset Location > The MDC app helps in providing a simple user interface that is customized by us, so our operators are **collecting information in a logical order as per our clients’ requirements.** > — Jason Harris, former Site Manager (now Director at Harris Plumbing and Drafting) ## **Monitoring Progress and Creating Reports** When the field operators collect the field data, it instantly shows in the GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) as a point, line, or polygon (depending on the project). This allows the managers to **supervise field work in real-time** and react immediately if the collected data is not of adequate quality. The clients can also be a part of the workflow and monitor the incoming field data using the [Map Viewer app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/). The Map Editor also provides a way to **monitor progress** for each field operator and create reports to **track productivity**. When the Smith Brothers finish the project, they use the Map Editor to produce **reports** and maps for clients. The clients then integrate the data into their GIS system. [![mobile apps for water utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-brothers-light_sjena.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/smith-brothers-light_sjena.png)Underground services project for the City of Tonsley. [View map >>](https://editor.au.giscloud.com/map/1408/tonsley-underground-services-sa) ## Business Improvements as a Result The field operations team noticed a massive improvement in the **reduction of paperwork**. Generally, a field operator needs to check the paperwork many times a day. With the GIS Cloud platform, all the necessary data is on the web and mobile app where they can instantly check the location and status of the infrastructure in the recording process. The GIS Cloud solution also improved the efficiency of the complete field operations workflow. In the words of Michael Dew, manager at Smith Brothers: > I would say the time is **reduced by 30%** in the workflow process of current tasks. Interested in trying out the GIS Cloud mobile apps for water utilities? [Sign up for the free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). You’ll have 14 days to test the apps with all premium features and see if they fit your field workflow. If you would like us to show you around and propose the best GIS solution for your specific workflow, don’t hesitate to [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Water Utilities --- ### [Crime Risk Map - Carabineros de Chile (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/carabineros-de-chile-crime-risk-map/) **Published:** January 11, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Police departments around the world are increasingly using online GIS for a variety of tasks, including emergency response, analyzing and predicting crime rates, tactical planning and daily coordination, to name a few. Read about Police of Chile (Carabineros de Chile) who choose GIS Cloud to create **crime risk maps** with **real-time information.** Police departments across Chile use these maps to analyze country-wide crime data and statistics. [![crime risk map carabineros de chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Crime-Risk-Map-Carabineros-de-Chile-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Crime-Risk-Map-Carabineros-de-Chile.jpg) Web and mobile mapping can increase efficiency and accuracy in solving crimes and **improving the overall decision-making process**. Existing “BIG data” collected by police agencies, including daily **reports**, arrests and citizen complaints, can be used for producing maps shared with both police personnel and citizens. Visualization on a map reveals relationships and patterns laying underneath the ‘noise’ data produces, at the same time providing an interface for integrating and accessing existing information about some location. Using online mapping approach, **real-time data** becomes **instantly visible** to stakeholders in different locations, using different devices in the field or the office. ## **Mapping solution presented at the 3rd Summit of Police Chiefs (Santiago)** GIS Cloud solution for the Police of Chile was [presented](https://gisuser.com/2016/11/gis-cloud-solution-for-the-police-of-chile-presented-at-the-3rd-summit-of-police-chiefs-in-chile/) at, IBERPOL in Santiago, Chile, the 3rd Summit of Police Chiefs, and **applauded by Chilean President**, Michelle Bachelet. [![National Police of Chile Director Victor Herrera Pintor Crime Risk Map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/National-Police-of-Chile-Director-Victor-Herrera-Pintor-crime-risk-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/National-Police-of-Chile-Director-Victor-Herrera-Pintor-crime-risk-map.jpg) The National Police of Chile Director, Victor Herrera Pintor, held the presentation in front of **13 Chiefs of Police** from different countries, and **40** **majors** of Chile municipalities. The meeting also included representatives of police forces from 22 countries: Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal , Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela, and Chile. The technical team that implemented “Community Police Management Analysis” system, built on the GIS Cloud customized API, [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) apps, consisted of 2 software developers, 4 cartographers and 2 members of the police. Patricio Llanos from [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile), GIS Cloud partners for Chile, responsible for introducing the system to Chilean police, stated that the system was implemented very successfully, with more than **1.200 map views in the first day of use**. [![The President of Chile Michelle Bachelet Crime Risk](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/The-President-of-Chile-Michelle-Bachelet-crime-risk-1024x321.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/The-President-of-Chile-Michelle-Bachelet-crime-risk.jpg) ## **Transferring data from desktop ArcGIS software to the online GIS solution** The police of Chile needed a solution for displaying crime rate statistics on an interactive map, that could be used by police departments throughout the country. Main challenge they were facing, was finding an efficient and fast way to transfer data locked in ArcGIS desktop software and make it **available to a broad public**. They had a local system in place they used for analyzing the existing crime data for Chile. The next step was to report their findings to the local government, ministries, police departments, and the general public. That’s why the interface needed to be **simple and easy to use** for users of all profiles. Since several departments of the government of Chile relied on this data, the imperative was to **process, upload and render data quickly**. At the same time, they were looking for a **cost-efficient solution**, knowing that the new system was going to be funded with taxpayers’ money. ## **Creating the publicly available interactive crime Map Portal** [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile), GIS Cloud partner for Chile, helped in implementing GIS Cloud solution, satisfying the needs specified by the Police of Chile. The technical team implementing the solution made of 2 software developers, 4 cartographers and 2 police officers, was able to **set up the system in a matter of days**. The team used GIS Cloud [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)for creating the project, uploading shapefile data and editing it, as well as for customizing symbology, polygon and other data. Importing data to Map Editor proved to be a simple and fast process, and it didn’t take long until the system was ready for publishing. The next step was to publish data using [Map Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)solution. The result was a fully customized and branded interactive map published on the official website of the Police of Chile. [![Carabineros De Chile Crime Risk Map 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-2.png) On the first day of use, 16 November 2016, **the portal had more than 1.200 page views** and was advertised on national news. General public showed a lot of interest in the portal which was instantly utilized by police departments throughout Chile. The map includes statistics on different types of crime and robberies for particular regions, such as surprise robberies, and those done by motor vehicles, house break-ins, those which include intimidation and so on. It also shows areas where particular types of crime and risk factors are more or less frequent. [![Carabineros de Chile Crime Risk Map 3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-3-1024x561.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Carabineros-de-Chile-Crime-Risk-Map-3.jpg) The crime risk portal provides a perfect, cost-efficient and fast way to **visualize a large amount of crime data for the regions in Chile**. Except for the police, It is a helpful tool both for increasing public awareness, improving transparency and access to open data and various government departments. Because of its intuitive interface, it is easy to use for all stakeholders, who can access it anytime, from any location, using computers, smartphones or tablets. Interested in GIS Cloud solution for the police departments and local governments? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Firefighters of Chile Used a Dynamic GIS Solution for Strategic Planning and Fieldwork Coordination (Case Study) Risk Management in Agriculture (Use Case) Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases **Tags:** Carabineros de Chile, crime rate statistics, Crime Risk Map, data publishing, GIS Cloud, interactive map, Map Editor, Map Portal, police --- ### [Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-solutions-for-road-infrastructure-and-maintenance/) **Published:** June 13, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Next Monday (**June 20th**) we will host a short **30-minute webinar** showing an effective way to collect, manage and visualize data for road administration and maintenance. [![Roadworks and Traffic](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/road-maintenance-webinar-post-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/road-maintenance-webinar-post-cover.png) When we talk about road maintenance, field data collection is one of the essential parts of road management. The most important data collected for road maintenance purposes is information on the road inventory, pavement condition (riding quality, surface distress and pavement strength) and traffic characteristics. Considering the fact that this process can be lengthy and expensive, it is necessary to ensure the best and most efficient solution for data collection and visualization. That’s why we decided to create a showcase for an efficient and cost effective road infrastructure and maintenance data collection process proven by experiences from all over the world. **Monday, June 20th at:** **At 7:30 am PDT 10:30am EDT 14:30 GMT** **Following Topics Will Be Covered:** - Common challenges in managing road asset management - Improving workflow efficiency with modern data collection technologies - Field data collection for road maintenance step-by-step showcase - [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) & [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for road infrastructure demo - References ([City of Amsterdam](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadworks-solution-city-of-amsterdam-case-study/), [Odsherred Kommune](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/road-infrastructure-and-maintenance-solution-odsherred-kommune-case-study/), [Council of Mallala](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/council-of-mallala-australia-case-study-road-infrastructure-projects/)… ) **Who Should Attend:** - Those who work in Highway Departments, Public Works and Infrastructure Departments - All involved in road asset management, infrastructure, maintenance and administration - Those who want to make their data collection workflow more efficient and eliminate unnecessary paperwork - Contractors, Consultants and Local Governments involved in Roadwork projects - Those who are interested in smart city solutions across departments Interested in **GIS Solutions for Roadworks?** Check out our [How to Transform City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-transform-your-city-public-works-in-a-few-simple-steps/) webinar recording or contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data collection, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Highway Departments, Mobile Data Collection, pavement condition, public works, Road Infrastructure and Maintenance, road inventory, Smart City, traffic --- ### [Field Maps with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/field-maps-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** February 22, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Field Maps with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover-3.png) Field Maps is a term that finally gets a lot of attention due to the increasing need to enable field crews with location-based business applications that operate in remote environments. These applications are primarily used to improve situational awareness, increase operational visibility, reduce costs, and enable data collection crews with tools that communicate with existing systems and support advanced workflows. It’s great to see that change as organizations have been locked in their desktop GIS and mapping environments for decades, but with cloud technologies, maps are finally ready to be included in the next era of business apps. Well, to be fair, many organizations are already there as they’ve been using cloud and field maps technologies for years now with GIS Cloud. ## Field Maps as an Initiative Field maps is also an initiative for organizations to free themselves from locked-in, costly, and heavy GIS systems and introduce more flexible, adaptive, configurable, integration friendly, solution agnostic, and, above all, cost-effective environments. That doesn’t mean that you’ll use field maps applications to replace your existing systems but extend their use by building bridges between GIS environments and business non-GIS users. For that to be true, you need to have an option to integrate field maps apps with any proprietary, open-source, or custom-built GIS and non-GIS application that you already have in place. Locking yourself into environments that don’t support 3rd party tools & different data formats or restrict you from sharing your resources with others in secure conditions is a big step back. It’s also one of the main reasons why organizations had only 20% of their employees using spatial apps before switching to GIS Cloud. With field maps apps, you can finally bring that to 100%. Another significant field maps benefit is that organizations should be able to use these apps as standalone tools in case they don’t have an existing system in place or they need to build quick projects without the concern of bypassing their IT regulations. You need to do your job without spending countless hours learning IT procedures and without worries about what will happen if you push your data to the field. Field maps should also cover the security and workflow aspect of that challenge. ## Field Maps Applications Here at GIS Cloud, we’ve been developing these kinds of apps for more than ten years now. The supporting values mentioned above were and still are, our bread and butter when building business applications based on spatially aware cloud technologies. ### **Improving Operational Visibility with mobile Map Viewer** Before anything else, field crews need to know how to get to the destination, what they can expect at a location, and understand the surroundings in which they need to work. All of that will then have a significant impact on their decision in terms of equipment, time, and money they need for the job. Organizations have learned that they can significantly improve their fieldwork by putting a live map into the hands of their employees that gives them important information like: - Route to the destination - Location of all the assets on and underground. - Attribute information about all the assets, including media files like PDF, videos, audio, etc. - Real-time environment and asset condition and more GIS Cloud’s [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) is an easy way to view and access maps and data on your mobile device in online and offline environments. And it’s fully optimized for non-professionals who need the solution ready now without spending a fortune or worrying about hidden costs. ![Field Maps Devices](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/GIS-Cloud-on-devices-3-s-web.jpg) ### **From Paper to Digital with Mobile Data Collection** In addition to improving operational efficiency, [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) also enables crews to provide feedback from the field via iOS and Android devices. We’ve written a lot about our data collection tool and [best practices](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/field-data-collection-best-practices/), but it all comes down to providing your field crews with a tool they immediately understand and controlling the quality of data that comes into your database. Again, it works in online and offline environments, and you don’t need to worry about hidden costs. We can’t stress that enough. [Give it a try](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and let us know your thoughts! ![Field Maps Cellphones](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MDC-LP-Cover.png) ### **Optimizing Costs and ensuring Safety with Track** GIS Cloud’s latest product comes in nicely in the whole Field Maps segment. It provides extra functionality like tracking smartphones (and other devices like GPS units) to get insights into the real-time location of people, vehicles, fixed assets, and IoT. Having the location of your crews and assets in the field is one thing, but knowing the information on whereabouts, movement trends, and the status of anything you manage in real-time is a game-changer. Find out more [here](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/) and try it out. [![GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/) ### **Supporting Field Workflows with Map Editor** We like to say that [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) is a true GIS tool but built entirely in the cloud. I want to argue that the definition could be a bit better as letters GIS can often imply that you need to be a proficient GIS professional to know and understand how to use the app properly. Today, we have users of all skill levels using Map Editor for building and sharing maps, analyzing data, creating collaboration environments, centralizing all spatial and non-spatial data into a single point of truth environment, and more. In short, Map Editor is a powerful cloud-based map tool built for GIS professionals and non-GIS users who can adjust the tool to their needs and skill sets to support their field workflows. ![Field Maps laptop and tablet](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/MacBook-Mockup-Editor-s.png) ### **Understanding and Sharing with Portals and Dashboards** Every project needs to be presented and delivered in a format anyone can view and understand. For that purpose, GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) and custom dashboards give you the ability to publish interactive maps, charts & graphs and allow your viewers to search, visualize, and explore media enriched data with just one click. ![Field Maps desktop](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Map-Portal-Canton-iMac.png) In summary, field maps have been in GIS Cloud’s focus since the beginning. Only cloud technologies can enable the development of multi-tenant, configurable, easy-to-use, and cost-effective solutions that are finally getting the attention they deserve. We’ve known that for years and have been working on it since the beginning. And we’d love to help you create your field maps environments with GIS Cloud, so feel free to contact us or create an account and start your free trial. Related content: QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Field Data Collection: Best Practices Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data collection, Field Maps, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, Operational Costs, operational visibility, situational awareness --- ### [Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-turn-your-mapps-into-apps-with-app-builder/) **Published:** September 6, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** *Given the excellent feedback that followed our presentation “Don’t Code, Configure – Turn Your Maps into Apps” at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston, we decided to host a webinar on 20 September, and give you, our community, the opportunity to participate in an online version of the presentation and ask us any questions you might have.* [![How to Turn your Maps into Apps?](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/App-Builder-Webinar.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/App-Builder-Webinar.jpg) On Wednesday, the **20th of September**, we will give you a live demo of GIS Cloud App Builder and show you how to create a fully functional geospatial app without having to write a single line of code. In the geospatial business, it is often hard to decide what technology to use in order to deliver an end product that presents your maps in the best possible way to the audience that has high UI and UX expectations. For everything to work perfectly, you also need to know if the app is working properly on all devices. This means testing and incorporating feedback. At the same time, you don’t want to spend too much time setting the whole thing up if it isn’t going to meet the end-users’ needs. *So, how do you deliver the perfect end-product to your clients and audience that shows them exactly what you want them to see?* Find out why the simple apps win, and why 1000 apps with one button are better than one app with 1000 buttons. You will learn what kind of heavy-lifting modern geospatial platforms are doing for their users and how is it possible to build and deploy a production-ready geospatial app in just one afternoon. **Webinar time and date:** **Wednesday, September 20th at** **8 am PT 11 am ET 5 pm CET** **These topics will be covered:** - Don’t Code, Configure – Common challenges for end-users and a sneak peek into the future of geospatial apps - Live Demo: How App Builder can be used to build an entire geo-application or simply to extend the functionality of existing mapping applications - Q&A Session **Who should attend:** - Anybody who works with spatial data and wants to properly showcase and explain their data, no matter if you’re a GIS analyst, a teacher, or an IT specialist - Existing GIS Cloud users and partners interested in the newest developments as well as the benefits of GIS Cloud solutions - Consultants, service providers or IT companies that want to offer their clients the benefits of cloud-based GIS environment as well as custom apps that can be developed in the shortest possible amount of time Related content: Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Making Informative Maps and White-labelling Apps Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** App Builder, Demo, Turn your Maps into Apps, webinar --- ### [GIS Cloud Showcased at the Locate 17 in Australia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-showcased-at-the-locate-17-in-australia/) **Published:** March 28, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Locate 17 Conference](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Spatial-Vision-conference.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Spatial-Vision-conference.png) [Spatial Vision](https://spatialvision.com.au/), GIS Cloud Partners for Australia and New Zealand, will showcase GIS Cloud at the [Locate 17](https://sssi.org.au/) conference in Australia. The Conference will be held from **3rd to 6th of April** 2017 at the new International Conference Centre Sydney. This year, the conference is joined with the 10th International Symposium on Digital Earth. “**The Locate Conference** (Locate 17) is the national conference of the spatial and surveying industries of Australia and New Zealand. The event is an initiative of the Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI), Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA) and Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA)..” Spatial Vision will showcase **GIS Cloud solutions at stand 84**, where you can talk to **Graeme Martin**, General Manager Operations. If you are visiting the conference, don’t hesitate to stop by the stand and try out new GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing app on-site. Spatial Vision staff will present talks about their ongoing projects such as Australia’s new 10-year strategy to grow Geospatial Industry. Interested in GIS Cloud support and presence in Australia and New Zealand? For news, updates and special offers, follow Spatial Vision on [Twitter.](https://twitter.com/SpatialVisionAU) Related content: GIS Cloud Will be Showcased at Geomapplica in Greece Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Australia and New Zealand, GIS Cloud, Graeme Martin, Locate 17, Spatial Vision --- ### [Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/satellite-based-leak-detection-solution-from-utilis-powered-by-gis-cloud-field-data-collection-and-overview-system/) **Published:** November 22, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** **(San Diego, Utilis Innovation Summit)** **[**Utilis Ltd**](https://asterra.io/)****,** a company founded with a goal to **find leaks from space**, developed a one-of-a-kind solution using satellite imagery to detect underground water leaks in urban and non-urban water supply systems to reduce water loss. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Utilis-solution-cover2-s-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Utilis-solution-cover2-s.png) Recently Utilis partnered with GIS Cloud to power their unique technology with field data collection and online data overview system. During next week’s **Utilis Innovation Summit** on **26-28 November in San Diego, CA,** Utilis will present this unique and powerful leak detection and management solution called U-Collect and the associated U-Collect online dashboard. **GIS Cloud** CEO, Dino Ravnić, and Business Development Manager, Igor Farkaš, will join them at the conference to introduce a **paper-free workflow** that boosts the efficiency of any company working with field data and field crews. [****Using technology created to look for water on other planets, Utilis analyzes satellite imagery to detect leaks and non-revenue water****](https://asterra.io/) By providing leak locations with high accuracy, regardless of volume or demographic density, Utilis’ innovative technology helps **municipalities, water utilities, and contractors** to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) and improve efficiency in subterranean leak detection and control. Utilis has chosen GIS Cloud as the provider of the field data collection system, called U-Collect, as well as a custom web application called U-Collect online dashboard for data overview for project managers, with user-friendly GIS reports. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Utilis-Summit.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Utilis-Summit.png) Stay tuned to learn more about the leak detection solution, visit [**utiliscorp.com**](https://asterra.io/) for more information, or [**contact us**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for a meet-up in San Diego next week. Related content: Field Data Collection: Best Practices How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app Data Collection & Crew Tracking in a Single Solution Collecting Field Data For A Water Distribution System In California Turn Your Map Into a Cloud-based GIS App **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-qgis-map-into-a-data-collection-project/) **Published:** December 9, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Turn-your-QGIS-map-into-a-data-collection-project-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Turn-your-QGIS-map-into-a-data-collection-project-cover.png) Last year we released a new QGIS Publisher which turned out to be a game-changer for a lot of our existing customers. But we didn’t stop there. Since then, we had a lot of new version updates that improved the tool significantly and helped users uncover new workflows that they thought were not possible at the time. The biggest challenge QGIS users faced was how to overcome the issue of having outdated and incorrect data they used for supporting their business. Obviously, the first step for solving the problem was to turn their desktop maps into online ones to make them more accessible and open to feedback. The next question, and a more complex one (at the time), was how to receive that feedback and data from others while still using the QGIS environment. Can I still use QGIS (or any other desktop GIS tool) and turn my map into a real-time data collection project? If you missed our live webinar where we addressed those questions and discussed workflows that help support your business both on desktop and in the field, we’ve got you covered! Take a look at our recording and find out everything you need to know about: - making your QGIS map available online with a single click - enabling field crews to start collecting data for your, now, live map - and working with newly collected data directly in the QGIS environment in real-time. You’ll get to see the full workflow in action, but stay tuned until the end as well as we answer some of your most pressing questions. If there’s something we didn’t cover or you’d like to discuss your specific project requirements, we’d love to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at . In the meantime, [**create your GIS Cloud account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), find the GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS among QGIS plugins, and test it out, it’s free! Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder QGIS Plugin: GIS Cloud Publisher – Why we made it and what can You do with it? (Webinar) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data, data collection, data sharing and collaboration, GIS Cloud, gis cloud publisher, GIS webinar, Mobile Data Collection, publisher for qgis, qgis, real-time, recording, webinar, webinar recording, workflow --- ### [Beyond Fieldwork: What’s Next After Data is Collected?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-fieldwork-whats-next-after-data-is-collected/) **Published:** May 12, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![GIS webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/data-collected-750.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/data-collected-750.png) You eased your paper-based data collection workflow with the help of [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/) app. All the relevant information is in place and although your data collection process is now much more efficient, there is still a lot of work to be done. So, what’s next? Following the [last month’s webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/) dedicated to the benefits of Mobile Data Collection, in ‘Beyond fieldwork’ webinar, scheduled for May 25th, we will show you how to get more value out of your data and complete the process of improving overall efficiency using GIS Cloud apps. “Beyond Fieldwork: What’s Next After Data is Collected?” webinar will emphasise benefits of cloud based collaboration for organizations that want to reshape the ways thing are done regardless of the industry or their level of expertize in GIS technologies. ******Wednesday, May, 25th At:****** ******At 8:00am PST 11:00am EST 15:00 GMT****** ********Following Topics Will Be Covered:******** - What to do with the fieldwork data and improve efficiency on all levels, both in field and in the office - How to get more value out of your data with GIS Cloud applications - Setting up your project in GIS Cloud - Benefits of GIS Cloud applications for different industries - Real life examples of utilizing collected data using GIS Cloud platform – GIS in [Business Operations](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/rabine-paving-use-case-efficiently-managing-operations-in-construction-industry/), using[ data collected with drones](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-risk-management-use-case/), optimizing tree inventory workflows and other examples. ********Who Should Attend:******** - Those who already use Mobile Data Collection app and want to improve their field and office workflows further - Governments, Consultants and Businesses that want to discover benefits of geospatial technologies for increasing efficiency and to improve collaboration within and outside of organization - Anybody involved in a fieldwork project who is interested in making the most of collected data - Consultants who want to help their clients to transform their businesses and organizations **Want to know more about GIS Cloud news and webinars? Follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/giscloud), [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/)and [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gis-cloud).** Related content: ‘Beyond Fieldwork’ Webinar Recording Available Online Firefighters of Chile Used a Dynamic GIS Solution for Strategic Planning and Fieldwork Coordination (Case Study) Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** business operations, collaboration, drones, field and office, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Mobile Data Collection, Tree Inventory, webinar --- ### [Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-australia-melbourne-sydney-and-brisbane/) **Published:** November 8, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This November, as a part of the **GIS Cloud Australia and New Zealand tour**, the GIS Cloud team will take part in various activities, including the exhibition at [Australian Utility Week](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-exhibiting-at-the-australian-utility-week-in-melbourne-in-november/) and meetings with clients and users all around the continent. We will also organize a number of **workshops in Australia and New Zealand** in collaboration with our partners from [Spatial Vision](https://spatialvision.com.au/). ![Free GIS Workshops in Australia 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Workshops-Australia-1024x681.jpg) Australian workshops will be held in three different cities: - **Melbourne (November 28) –** applications are now closed - **Sydney (December 4) –** Hyde Park Inn, Level One, [271 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW 2000](https://www.google.com/maps?entry=gmail&q=271+Elizabeth+Street,+Sydney,+NSW+2000&source=g) - **Brisbane (December 5) –** AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE of COMPANY DIRECTORS, Level 9, 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 To register and find more information about New Zealand workshops, click [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-new-zealand/). The workshops are free to attend, but the number of seats is limited, so participants will need to **register by filling in the registration form below** in order to attend. All attendees will receive trial access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution and a City Portal, as well as exclusive early access to the new GIS Cloud platform. After the workshop, all participants will get **a certificate of attendance.** **Apply here:** Name Organization Email Phone Select Workshop Location (City) MelbourneSydneyBrisbane **GIS Cloud Workshop Sessions Agenda:** **10.00 – 11.00** **GIS Cloud and Spatial Vision Introduction** **11.00 – 12.30** **Mobile Data Collection, Map Editor & Beyond** – Learn how to create projects and collect data using your smartphones and tablets. Also, you will learn what to do after the data is gathered. You will learn how to deploy various data collection projects like tree inspections, utility maintenance, city infrastructure monitoring, and more through existing use cases and live hands-on demos. You will also get an insight into all the possibilities of a powerful Map Editor after data is collected. Every attendee will end up with a data collection project of their own and will be able to set up new projects according to their needs. **12.30 – 1.15** LUNCH BREAK **1.15 – 1.45 City Portal and App Builder – Create your own branded web app without coding** Learn how to create a custom and branded app without having to write a single line of code in just a few minutes. All participants will have their own branded City Portal ready for testing after the session. **1.45 – 2.15 Crowdsourcing Solution – Enable the public to send information from the field through your own branded mobile app** Learn what’s needed to enable your communities to report from the field and what the benefits are of having a GIS Cloud [Crowdsourcing Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/). After the session, you will get an access code for the complete crowdsourcing solution for testing purposes. **2.15 – 3.00** **GIS Cloud vol. 2 – Get an early preview of the new GIS Cloud platform and Q&A Session** Get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud collaborative streams technology which will revolutionize today known workflows on a map, and learn about how to make the best use of collaborative mapping in different set-ups and use cases. Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at GEO Business Show on May 24th **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Australia and New Zealand tour, Demo, Spatial Vision, workshops --- ### [GIS Cloud Will be Showcased at Geomapplica in Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-will-be-showcased-at-geomapplica-in-greece/) **Published:** September 25, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud solutions will be showcased on the[ Geomapplica Workshops | Drones & UAVs – Scientific applications & social implications](http://geomapplica.prd.uth.gr/workshops/) event in Piraeus, Greece. The event will be held from **September 29th to October 1st**. [![NubiGroup GIS Cloud Partner for Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Geomaplica-2-1024x681.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Geomaplica-2.jpg) Geomapplica is an event organized by the Laboratory of Computer Science Applications in Spatial Planning, that is a part of Department of Planning and Regional Development at the University of Thessaly, School of Engineering. **Geomapplica Workshops** are organized under the framework of the International Conference “Geomapplica” (Geomatics Applications), focusing on Geoinformatic applications in different thematic areas such as agriculture, urban and rural environment, spatial planning, civil protection, cultural heritage, cadastral, construction, and others. The main goal of the event is to bring together the scientific community and professionals from the field of Geoinformatics as well as to promote these contemporary technologies to the new professionals coming into the field. The language of the event is **Greek**. It will be held in the Ralleio Lyceum Convention Center in Piraeus, Greece. GIS Cloud solutions will be showcased by [NubiGroup](https://www.nubigroup.gr/), official GIS Cloud partner for Greece, in the exhibition space of the event. Also, there will be a presentation “**Collaborative Mapping: GIS Cloud solutions for real-time data sharing, collaboration and decision making**”, held by Konstantinos Ntourus, NubiGroup. Stay tuned for more updates on the event and follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GisCloud), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gis-cloud/). Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece GIS Cloud Showcased at the Locate 17 in Australia Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Geomapplica, Greece, NubiGroup, workshop --- ### [Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/learn-about-gis-cloud-solutions-at-geoespacial-chile-2017/) **Published:** October 5, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud will be showcased at the conference Geoespacial Chile 2017 that will be held in Santiago de Chile, **October 12 to October 13, 2017.** [![GIS Cloud in Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GC-Teramaps-conferencia-geoespacial-2017-1024x681.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GC-Teramaps-conferencia-geoespacial-2017.jpg) [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile), GIS Cloud’s official partner for Chile, Colombia, and Peru, will present GIS Cloud solutions at the conference exhibition as well as in a talk by the Teramaps Country Manager **Alina Garate**. The conference will take place at the Heidelberg Center for Latin America, Las Hortensias 2340, Providencia in Santiago de Chile. Geoespacial Chile, organized by the Chilean Association of Cartographers, is the first conference for geospatial technologies and mapping experts in Chile, bringing together several hundred visitors, cartographers, and experts in mapping technology from throughout Chile. The conference is focused on five main thematic areas – Topography, Drones, GIS, Satellite Images, and Geomarketing – which will be exhibited at a trade fair with presentations by companies in each of these areas and through talks with exhibitors. ***Where can you find us?*** GIS Cloud solutions will be showcased at **booth number 6,** where attendees will be able to view a demo of GIS Cloud products and get information directly from the Teramaps team. Also, Alina Garate will hold a talk **“Collaborative Mapping in Real-Time”**, focused on presenting the GIS Cloud platform, on **Thursday, 12 October at 5 pm (UTC -3).** Related content: Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú Learn about GIS Cloud Non-profit Use Cases at AidEx in Brussels (15-16 November) Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Alina Garate, Chile, Geoespacial 2017, Teramaps --- ### [Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/traffic-maintenance-using-gis-cloud-pedestrian-and-bicycle-crossings-management-use-case/) **Published:** July 24, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** If you are a company in charge of maintaining traffic signalization, taking care of utility management or simply leading a field data collection project, online GIS solution can be of great help for your workflow. [![traffic maintenance with mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Pedestrian-and-bicycle-Traffic-Management-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Pedestrian-and-bicycle-Traffic-Management.png) Learn how to assign your fieldworkers permissions to **collect and update data** about asset condition, to efficiently maintain road crossings using [**Mobile Data Collection App**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)**.** During data collection all assets and their attributes are accessible in Map Viewer and Map Editor in real time. Now you can easily optimize maintenance process **without losing extra time or money.** This use case is written by a geography student Josip Cmrečnjak who also envisioned this project, created the form and collected the data necessary to perform asset maintenance. Traffic system in urban areas is often quite complex, and it is hard to keep track of entire infrastructure and maintain high quality of all roads, traffic signs etc. Josip decided to showcase a use case focusing on **horizontal traffic signs, that is pedestrian and bicycle crossings,** in the Zagreb City center. The project includes the area between streets Savska, Ilica and Draškovićeva, where many pedestrians and cyclist pass every day. ## When lacking in spatial data, fieldworkers have difficulties organizing asset maintenance Maintenance of pedestrian crossings is important for the safety of traffic participants, but it also does a lot for the city image. For example, faded crossings, vandalized vertical signs, and damaged bicycle paths send a bad message about the city management and city itself to tourists, but also to local people. The central problem of a complex city traffic management is the lack of current infrastructure data for minor streets. Without complete and updated information it is challenging to assign tasks to fieldworkers and optimize repair process of all important damages. In terms of space and time management, when lacking in spatial data, companies could struggle with “black spots” in traffic, issues that exist, but are not addressed. Read further to find out **how to simplify traffic asset management** and overcome this difficulties using GIS Cloud applications. ## Make traffic maintenance more efficient with collaborative mapping There is a simple and effective way of overcoming traffic management challenges using GIS Cloud applications. As an example, Josip used pedestrian and bicycle crossings maintenance project for this use case. His first step was to create a collecting survey form with different form fields. The best thing during this process was the possibility to **choose and customize your own survey fields** adjusted to the needs of your business or project. This allowed collection of the most relevant data, at the same time ensuring the data is collected correctly, without missing information. After quick and simple form making, project was ready for data collection. With [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application and GPS turned on, Josip walked through the streets of the City centre collecting data about the quality of pedestrian and bicycle crossings. For this purpose, he used his own survey with the following form fields to gain information linked to spatial data: - type of crossing - street name - quality - condition - maintenance needed - photo. Of course, it was also important to mark the correct time of data collection to have accurate information on the last inspection of each crossing. Using the app, Josip photographed every crossing to have **real insight into the current condition of assets,** which can also be helpful to project managers aiming to improve road infrastructure. Furthermore, some crossings should have priority for maintaining, such as those without traffic lights, posing a danger for traffic participants. That is why Josip also included this information his my project. He wanted to show how we can include different attributes to easily classify the data and then decide on repair priority according to certain conditions. This use case is only one example of how Mobile Data Collection can be used in various projects, as a crucial tool to gather data, make inspections and manage field crews to optimize their daily workflow. [**Click here**](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/880156/pedestrian-and-bicycle-crossings-quality-management) to open and explore the map. In a very short time Josip succeeded to map more than 200 crossings in the project area, including relevant information about their status. With more fieldworkers, a large amount of field data can be collected **without losing precious time or funds,** which can be challenging to achieve in traffic management. After data was collected Josip opened the project in [**Map Editor** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)to visualize attributes of each crossing, using different icon colors for point data, depending on crossing condition. This is a great way to track and monitor the data collection process in real time, also allowing project managers to edit data if necessary. Thanks to benefits of **collaborative mapping** they can act quickly and decide to send teams to solve field problems, or in this example, repaint, repair, clean or adjust pedestrian and bicycle crossings. Data is accessible to managers with editing permissions in Map Editor, but it can also be made available for private viewing to stakeholders, or any other interested parties in the easy-to-use interface of [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)**.** As mentioned above, cities generate a lot of potential issues which are often demanding to supervise and detect at the right time. Quality of pedestrian and bicycle crossings is just one example of traffic infrastructure challenges. Organizations or cities that **monitor a significant area with different types of problems** to solve, can also benefit from the GIS Cloud [**Crowdsourcing solution**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/)**.** Collecting large amount of data from a public**,** using anonymous reports**,** can be fast and convenient way to do it. If you are interested in this kind of collecting solution, you can try GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing to overcome difficulties with city infrastructure management. To learn more about GIS Cloud for Roadworks [**watch this webinar recording**](https://vimeo.com/172840939) on solutions for roadworks infrastructure and maintenance. Start your [**free trial**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) today to improve your traffic asset maintenance and management process. Related content: Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks, Use Cases **Tags:** asset management, Collaborative Mapping, Crowdsourcing solution, data collection, field asset data collection, fieldworkers, GPS, Map Editor, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, real-time, Road Infrastructure and Maintenance, road inspection, traffic, traffic lights, Traffic Maintenance, webinar recording, workflow --- ### [Mapping the Geothermal Resources of Croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia/) **Published:** September 5, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![geothermal resources croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Geothermal-resourcess-Map-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Geothermal-resourcess-Map-cover.png) Geothermal energy is getting traction as a renewable energy source and an alternative to solar and wind farms. To better understand the geothermal potential of a country and to raise awareness, it’s best to present the geothermal resources data with interactive maps. That’s why Lea Petohleb, a graduate geologist from the University of Zagreb, created a GIS Portal that shows all [Geothermal Resources of Croatia](https://geothermal-croatia.giscloud.com/) and a lot more. **Table of contents:** • [ About Geothermal Energy](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#about) • [ Geothermal Gradient in Croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#geogradient) • [ Geothermal Resources](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#georesources) • [ Creating the Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#mapportal) • [ Collecting the Data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#collect) • [ Visualizing the Data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#visualize) • [ Creating the Map Portal Interface](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#interface) • [ The Results](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-geothermal-resources-of-croatia//#results) ## **About Geothermal Energy** Geothermal energy is defined as energy stored in the form of heat in the Earth’s surface. It is a **renewable source of energy** that we can extract from the Earth’s crust and use for various purposes such as the production of electricity, balneology, agriculture, tourism, industry, space heating, etc. [![geothermal energy](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pasted-image-0.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pasted-image-0.png) Image source and copyright: #### **Geothermal Gradient in Croatia** The temperature of the Earth’s interior increases with depth. Heat is continuously flowing from a source in the Earth’s interior toward the surface. This rise in temperature per unit depth is called the geothermal gradient, and it’s one of the **first indicators of a potential reservoir**. The mean value of the geothermal gradient for Europe is 0.03°C/m. The values of the geothermal gradient and the heat flow for Croatia can be divided into two distinct regions: **Dinarides** with Adriatic coastline and **Pannonian Basin**. For the region of the Dinarides with Adriatic coastline, the values of the geothermal gradient range from 0.01 to 0.025 °C/m with a mean value of 0.018 °C/m. The heat flow in this region was determined at 0.029 W/m2. In the Pannonian Basin, the geothermal gradient is in the range of 0.04 to 0.07 °C/m, with a mean heat flow of 0.076 W/m2. [![Geothermal Gradient map of croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Geothermal-Gradient-map-of-croatia.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Geothermal-Gradient-map-of-croatia.jpg)Geothermal gradient map The Geothermal gradient map shows the values of the geothermal gradient in Croatia. The gradient values for the two distinct regions are visible from the colors on the map. This map created by linear interpolation is based on the data from the article ”Temperature and heat flow in the ground of Croatia” written by the Croatian Geological Society. The groundwater temperature data was also plotted on the map below. It shows the well locations with groundwater temperature data plotted on the icon, for a better overview. [![groundwater temperature map croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/groundwater-temperature-map-croatia.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/groundwater-temperature-map-croatia.png)[![groundwater temperature map croatia 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/groundwater-temperature-map-croatia.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/groundwater-temperature-map-croatia.jpg)Groundwater temperature data #### **Geothermal Resources** Geothermal resources are geothermal waters contained in non-powered underground reservoirs as well as in underground reservoirs that are fed naturally or artificially by injection. Today, standard international terminology for the classification of geothermal resources has not yet been defined. But, there are several ways to classify geothermal resources: 1. a) by the degree of exploration and “proven” of the source, 2. b) by the type of geothermal reservoirs, and 3. c) by the temperature of the reservoir fluid. To present the geothermal resources of Croatia, it was decided to present the resources according to the degree of exploration, and the temperature of the reservoir fluid which is related to the typical applications of geothermal energy. In the past, geothermal energy was used for heating, swimming, and recreation. Today, low-temperature sources below 150 °C are used for district heating, greenho use heating, in ponds and different industrial processes. Map also includes a tooltip to instantly acquire information. [![geothermal gif](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/geothermal-gif.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/geothermal-gif.gif)Geothermal resources – application map The ”Geothermal resources application” map provides an overview of the typical applications of geothermal energy and the required temperature according to GEOEN’s classification – ”Methods of applying geothermal energy and required temperature.” ## **Creating the Map Portal** #### **Collecting the Data** First, it was necessary to collect available information about the geothermal resources in Croatia and central Europe. The sources used are from [GEOEN](http://digarhiv.gov.hr/webpac-hidra-bib/?rm=results&show_full=1&f=IDbib&v=SD002544) (Geothermal Energy Potential and Utilization – Preliminary Results and Future Activities) of the Hrvoje Pozar Energy Institute, the European Commission and the [REPAM](https://door.hr/portfolio/repam/) (Renewable Energy policies Advocacy and Monitoring) project. #### **Visualizing the Data** The collected data saved as CSV file was uploaded in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and used to create different layers with the option Import CSV or XLS. After the data was uploaded, certain groups of information from the CSV file were used to create layers for each map. The created layers are point or polygon (Administrative areas), and one layer is a multipolygon (Geothermal gradient on Map ”Geothermal gradient”). [![Gradiennt-add-layer](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gradiennt-add-layer.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gradiennt-add-layer.jpg) After the layers were created, the next step was to design the maps. The Map Editor app offered a variety of options for **customizing maps** by changing colors of points, lines and polygons, adjusting the basemaps, adding custom icons, etc. #### **Creating the Map Portal Interface** When the maps were completed in Map Editor, it was time to create a [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). The **App Builder** was used to create the user interface and add several features and options. This setup enables you to manage permissions for users and customize the maps. You can also specify who can view, edit, or export data from the Map Portal. Along with that, you can pick a custom domain name, choose your custom logo, and change the ribbon color. The main toolbar can also be customized; there are many options that you can include: search input, layer list, zoom in, zoom out, show/hide toolbar, info, select, area selection, zoom to current position, etc. If you want to learn more, take a look at this actionable guide on how to [Turn Your Maps into Apps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/). ## **The Results** The final version of the Map Portal contains four maps that represent information about Croatia’s geothermal resources. [View the geothermal maps here >>>](https://geothermal-croatia.giscloud.com/) [![wells and geothermal power plants](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/wells-and-geothermal-power-plants.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/wells-and-geothermal-power-plants.jpg) The first map, “Geothermal gradient,” shows the connection between the geothermal gradient and well locations. “Wells and power plants location” map gives us information about the object type and its location. The map also shows the locations of power plants in Central Europe and wells locations in Croatia. “Water temperature” map presents the lithology and geological age of the rocks in which the well is located, and also the water temperature of each well. The fourth map, “Geothermal resources application” shows the resources according to the degree of exploration, the temperature of the reservoir fluid, which is related to the typical applications of geothermal energy and the required temperature. Interested in creating your own[ Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and we’ll get you going in no time. Related content: Mineral Resources Map of Croatia Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases --- ### [Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-3d-drone-mapping-imagery-with-clients-a-report-from-south-africa/) **Published:** October 22, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_5808-1024x683.jpg) Drone technology has revolutionized the contemporary mapping landscape. It reinforced the use of evolving 3D mapping photogrammetry technologies, but also brought some new challenges to master. Luke Wijnberg from 3DroneMapping sums up the key changes drone technology brought to aerial mapping concluding that costs of the projects are now 20 times cheaper, with the technology safer and more accessible to surveyors. > With quick deployment times and low maintenance costs, we can map pretty much anywhere, at any time. Drones allow us to use all kinds of payloads such as near infrared cameras to map vegetation chlorophyll levels for agriculture. Not only do drones make things cheaper and faster for a surveyor, but they also make our job safer. We can now survey areas remotely that perhaps have some environmental risks to them such as quarries, cliff edges, polluted areas, etc. We bring you a story about a 3DroneMapping project in Hammarsdale, South Africa. We will start by an introduction about how they started their mapping expedition. 3DroneMapping began with drone mapping in 2014., making the most of their experience in terrestrial and conventional aerial survey to create a modern approach to undertaking survey, using drone technology. This decision enabled them to offer a service with a very quick turnaround time and low environmental impact, safer and more cost efficient than services with traditional approach using aircraft vehicles. ## **The Project Workflow** The Hammarsdale project consists of mapping a large scale (600ha) development area in Hammarsdale, South Africa. 3DroneMapping staff has a task to fly the project every week to produce a **high-resolution orthophoto** and contours. Here are a few photos of Luke and his team launching drones. ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_20141211_103536-1024x768.jpg) [![Sharing The 3D Drone Mapping Imagery 1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-1-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-1.jpg) [![Sharing The 3D Drone Mapping Imagery 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-2-1024x768.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-2.jpg) Their regular workflow consisted of these steps: - - - flight planning - flying over the area planned - collecting images taken at specific intervals - processing and referencing the images photogrammetrically - generating 3D models, - generating orthophotos and contours, - uploading the data to GIS Cloud. During the bulk earthworks part of the project, following this workflow they could accurately issue volumetric reports from week to week for selected areas. ## **What was the challenge?** A variety of end users needed access to mapping data, such as managers, clients and their various shareholders, subcontractors and other consultants. However, the biggest challenge by far, according to Luke Wijnberg, was to **educate people on how to operate GIS Software** and to extract information from it. Both of these challenges needed a solution that would make their workflow as efficient as possible. Summed up by Luke Wijnberg, what they needed was being able to: - let everyone have the latest copy of our data - manage different permissions for accessing the sensitive data for each user - to enable the permanent remote connection between our clients and the project so they could keep track of on-site progress [![Sharing The 3D Drone Mapping Imagery 3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-3-1024x576.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sharing-The-3D-Drone-Mapping-Imagery-3.png) ## **The GIS Cloud solution** 3DroneMapping needed a reliable cloud solution for sharing their field data, both efficient in handling large data sets and easy to use. > “With GIS Cloud’s easy to use interface on the Web Portal, even the most inexperienced user could measure distances, print maps and query layers. It allowed us to give detailed information to our customers and not have to worry about software licenses/maintenance on their side.” They chose the GIS Cloud [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) so that they could share and present the field data to their clients. The interface was easy to cope with, so they didn’t have to worry about educating the users. In their own words: “Have all this data on the cloud meant that the shareholders in Dubai and London could easily track the progress of the construction from their offices and raise their concerns at the weekly meetings.” It enabled them to make their workflow more efficient and simplified the presentation of survey results. > “Using a cloud solution allowed everyone to see the entire site as it evolved from a remote location and always have the most up to date data.” ![Screenshot 2015-10-20 15.29.53](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Screenshot-2015-10-20-15.29.53-1024x576.png) 3DroneMapping recommends using GIS Cloud’s [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) for: - ease of use as a data publisher as it is simple to setup a professional looking map. - ease of use on the client side as little knowledge of GIS is required to do basic calculations and view results - sharing large raster datasets as the client does not need any specialized software to view our work. If you want to know more about GIS Cloud, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Also, try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud The Challenges of Drone Mapping “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** 3D mapping, 3DroneMapping, aerial survey, Cloud GIS, drones, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, Hammarsdale, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps --- ### [GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-offers-technology-and-support-for-free-to-projects-fighting-to-contain-coronavirus/) **Published:** March 16, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-map-cover-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-map-cover-2.png) As we all know, Coronavirus is quickly spreading globally, and organizations and communities need to consume a lot of geospatial data changing from one minute to the other, to understand the patterns of the pandemic, and to plan how to organize staff and contain the virus. In the last couple of days, some of our users and partners reached out to us and told us they would like to help to contain the spread of Coronavirus, and they believe they can make a difference with the help of GIS Cloud technology. As most of them already had a project in mind, we decided to help right away by providing them with our technology for free. Seeing how GIS Cloud technology can be of great value to anyone working with spatial data related to Coronavirus, gathering information directly in the field or making strategic decisions, we want to extend our help to the entire GIS Cloud community, to anyone who has a good project already in place. ## Send Your Project Proposals to Get our Support Please, send us your project proposals regarding the Coronavirus, let us know how our technology can help and what do you need to start as quickly as possible, and we will help to get your project going. [**Fill in this form – tell us about your project**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) Projects can include anything from mapping new cases directly from the field, together with all relevant information and images, to representing data via an online map, or an online public Map Portal. The difference between a simple map and a map portal is that you can include multiple maps into one portal, filters, info panels, custom buttons with links and more. To illustrate what this project can look like, we created a public[ Corona Map Portal](https://corona.giscloud.com/) representing the number of people with confirmed Coronavirus, the number of recovered people and the number of deaths, across the globe. [![Coronavirus GIS Cloud Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Corona-portal-2.png)](https://corona.giscloud.com/) Open and browse the Map Portal in a separate tab: The map was created in [QGIS](https://qgis.org/en/site/) desktop software to quickly classify data based on quantity, and published online through the [GIS Cloud Publisher](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) plugin. Once the map was online, we created a Map Portal because we wanted to include additional information, like links to the WHO and statistics from the [Worldometer – Coronavirus Update](https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) website (embedded directly into the panel on the map). The data source we used is from [The Center for Systems Science and Engineering](https://systems.jhu.edu/) at Johns Hopkins University. Related content: Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) STOP Corona! Crowdsourcing App Uses Heatmap Analysis to Predict Coronavirus Outbreaks GIS Cloud Learning Center and Support Video Blog: Adding WFS To Your Maps and Projects GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-is-launching-monthly-crash-courses/) **Published:** October 23, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-cover3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-cover3.png) ### **Educational Crash Courses – Starting November 2020!** GIS Cloud had numerous educational workshops with clients and partners from around the globe. In our efforts to respond to such a huge interest and empower people with GIS knowledge, we are launching **Monthly Crash Courses for our most popular apps**! The intention is to introduce the **diversity of GIS Cloud apps to new clients,** GIS novices as well as to experienced users, and demonstrate the numerous beneficial workflows within the apps. Even though GIS Cloud apps are user friendly, these courses will greatly **speed up the onboarding process** for new customers and discover some neat tips to achieve an optimal workflow. **All GIS Cloud clients** that have annual or monthly **active subscriptions** for [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **can apply** for onboarding guided crash courses. We are starting with our Crash Courses in **November 2020!** The two modules, ‘Intro to Data Collection’ and ‘Intro to Map Editor’, are both **beginner courses** meant to cover the basics of our most popular apps. To attend the courses, you **need to have** an active [subscription](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) for Map Editor and Mobile Data Collection apps. Courses in November: - **Intro to Data Collection** (November 5th, 2020 – 3 PM CET) - **Intro to Map Editor** (November 12th, 2020 – 3 PM CET) Courses in December: - **Intro to Data Collection** (December 3rd, 2020 – 9 AM CET) - **Intro to Map Editor** (December 10th, 2020 – 9 AM CET) If you just recently got yourself subscriptions for GIS Cloud apps and didn’t have the time to explore them, you’re in luck! **Apply now and master all the basics in less than two hours**! Send us an email at: ## **Crash Courses: Map Editor and Mobile Data Collection Modules** Crash courses consist of **two beginner courses** where our customers can learn about the **fundamentals of GIS Cloud apps,** most important features and functionalities, best practices, tips and tricks, troubleshooting, we got it all covered. The goal is to **power new customers with crucial knowledge** about GIS Cloud apps in just a couple of hours, enabling them to have their projects up and running in no time! These courses will also help you to: - transform your business workflow from paper to digital - get insight into the complete solution for field data collection and visualization - carry out your entire project using just a single online GIS solution ‍ ### Intro to Data Collection Course This module consists of two parts – one is meant for the project owner, and the other for the data collection team. Clients can either attend both, or one of the courses, considering their role in the project. **Part 1: Setting Up the Project** This course is designed for **project owners**. You will learn how to create projects with unique **custom forms to perform surveys**, and **share** the project with your team, with the emphasis on the best project practices. Learn about the differences between various user permissions, and how to use and create user groups in [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/). We will cover the[ Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)**basics** as well, and teach clients to **review and export** collected field data. Key takeaways: - Create a Project in the Mobile Data Collection Portal - Build Forms with advanced form field options to ensure data quality - Manage your team and share projects with different user permissions - Mobile Data Collection – the basics of data collection in the field - Data Export – how to manage and export data *Estimated duration time is around 1 hour.* **Part 2: Field Data Collection** **Field workers** will learn how to **collect field data** on the spot with the Mobile Data Collection app, online and offline, and speed up their workflow. We will cover common troubleshooting challenges that users encounter in the field. This course is designed for data collectors/field workers and does not cover creating the forms/projects themselves. Key takeaways: - In-depth overview of the Mobile Data Collection App - Training for field collectors and tips for troubleshooting problems *Estimated duration time is around 1 hour.* ### Intro to Map Editor Course Learn the **basics** on how to **create maps** with your own data directly in GIS Cloud and make them available online. Make your maps user friendly and accessible (set a map view, add bookmarks, organize your layer list). We will teach you how to **manage your data and prepare it for editing**, covering how to **collaborate, share maps and data** with different permissions, to different users in **real-time!** Key takeaways: - - Import and manage data - Visualise your data – learn all about appearance, classification, labels and other layer properties options - Collaborate – share your data and enable collaboration, manage different permissions - Share and export *Estimated duration time is around 1 hour.* ## **Types of Education Courses** Aside from Crash Courses, GIS Cloud expert instructors will soon provide you with 2 additional types of education courses. These are the key differences: - #### **Crash Course Module** Intro to [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) are short courses where **new Premium clients** will learn about the essential online GIS Cloud setups and cut down the onboarding time. This course will spare you the trouble of finding basic information and give you an immeasurable starting point on GIS Cloud apps and platform. *Starts this November.* - #### **Advanced Course Module** For those who want to become experts in GIS Cloud apps, we are preparing an **in-depth education of GIS Cloud** applications that will empower you with more enhanced, time-saving user workflows. You will learn the essential as well as the advanced features of our applications including how to **integrate your desktop GIS solution** with **online GIS.** integrate After completing the Advance Module you will receive a **Certificate for Online GIS Cloud Advanced Education Program!** *Coming soon.* - #### **Enterprise Module** Completely customised courses based on the individual or company workflow with **instructor evaluation, data and materials on-demand**. Learn how to **change and empower** your **entire work process** with the help of dedicated GIS Cloud expert consultants. After completing the Enterprise Module you will receive a **Certificate for Online GIS Cloud Enterprise Education Program!** *Coming soon.* These courses are going to help clients utilize the potential of online GIS and GIS Cloud products, help you **resolve crucial workflow issues, achieve business goals, and get the immediate measurable results**. Educations are suited both for **GIS experts** and **GIS enthusiasts**, for new users and experienced ones. ## **Schedule** We are starting with **Crash Courses** in **November 2020,** for GIS Cloud clients that have **annual or monthly active licences for Map Editor and Mobile Data Collection.** - Intro to Data Collection (November 5th, 2020 – 3 PM CET) - Intro to Map Editor (November 12th, 2020 – 3 PM CET) - Intro to Data Collection (December 3rd, 2020 – 9 AM CET) - Intro to Map Editor (December 10th, 2020 – 9 AM CET) Please reach out to our Consultants for one of the aforementioned courses at: [education@giscloud.com.](mailto:education@giscloud.com) ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by an expert GIS Cloud instructor. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, encourage discussions and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping GIS Cloud Services **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, consulting, courses, data collection, Education, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-advanced-course-and-new-certification-opportunities/) **Published:** January 20, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![advanced course](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cover-1.png) A new year brings a new round of **GIS Cloud Advanced Courses** and a new **certification** opportunity! Our team of expert consultants and support specialists is always just a message, email, or call away to make sure all your questions are answered, but if you’re looking for an **in-depth program** that will help you **master more complex workflows** and **optimize your use of GIS Cloud apps**, you’re in the right place! Our **2-day online training course** offers a refresher on essential GIS Cloud tools and expands your knowledge with **best practices** and suggestions for **improving workflow efficiency**. Our Advanced Course is designed with more **experienced users** in mind and is constantly updated with new feature introductions. The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is for you if you: - - Understand GIS Cloud basics, but are looking for ways to **improve your workflow** - Want to **make the most of the tools you’re using** - Want to learn how to use **new tools** - Want to **get results faster** - Are an expert GIS Cloud user and want to **get certified** Course Details: **February 16 – 17, 2022** **3PM – 7PM CET // 9AM – 1PM EST // 8AM – 12PM (noon) CST** Schedule: **Day I – Advanced data collection and map management** - - Data preparation - Table editing - Managing custom data collection forms - Map preparation and optimization - Data management and analysis **Day II – Desktop integration and customization** - - QGIS Publisher - Advanced data sharing - WMS and WFS - Custom map and layer options - Custom branded applications **Special offer until February 5! Course price – $195** Regular course price – $295 **Register** before February 5, 2022, to take advantage of our **special offer**, and attend our Advanced Course for **$195**! **Get certified!** Upon completion of the course, you will be able to obtain a **GIS Cloud Certificate**. In order to receive it, you’ll need to complete a written exam with a practical assignment within the 3 months following the course completion. The GIS Cloud Advanced Course is designed for **existing premium clients** who already have experience using the GIS Cloud platform or have attended a GIS Cloud Crash Course in the past. **To register, simply send us an email to** [**education@giscloud.com**](mailto:education@giscloud.com)**!** Seats are limited so make sure you **register today**! Find more information about the course in our [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-advanced-courses/), or reach out to with any questions about the program. ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by an expert GIS Cloud instructor. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, encourage discussions and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program: Enroll Now! GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advanced learning courses, courses, custom app, Custom application, custom forms, data management, data sharing, Education, gis certification, GIS Cloud, qgis, Special Offer, WFS, WMS --- ### [GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program - Apply for new round of learning sessions!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-online-in-depth-certificate-program-apply-for-new-round-of-learning-sessions/) **Published:** May 13, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GIS-Cloud-Academy-cover-new-courses-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/GIS-Cloud-Academy-cover-new-courses-s.png) Last month we launched the first in a series of **GIS Cloud online education programs**, and we received more than 1300 applications from across the globe! We thank you for all the kind words and praises about our online education program! In our efforts to respond to such a huge interest and empower with GIS knowledge as many people as possible, we decided to extend the special offer. Our active monthly or annual [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) subscribers have a chance to apply for this online course for **free**. Our lecturers Antonija and Barbara will create **2 additional groups** of **7 users** each who will participate in a two-day in-depth online education program starting on **28th and 29th of May.**The luckiest and fastest of users will get the opportunity to extend their knowledge and become **certified specialists in GIS Cloud solutions and technology!** This is a great opportunity for non-GIS professionals as well as proven GIS practitioners, so do not hesitate to apply. Our contribution to this new global situation where people are working remotely, **GIS Cloud customers** registering for the two courses will benefit from the advanced hands-on online learning sessions **completely free**. Our educational programs are a part of **GIS Cloud Services** with a regular price of **300$** per user. Our programs ensure even better workflow efficiency, minimize fixed costs and enhance work results to all clients and users. **Read this article and learn about:** - The power of GIS - GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program - Materials And Certificates - Who Should Apply And Why - Courses Timetable - Instructor-Led Learning Sessions Please fill this form and apply for GIS Cloud online learning sessions: **Apply:** First and Last Name Company Name Do you already work with any GIS tools? If yes, please list the ones you use. Short description of what you’re trying to do with GIS Cloud applications Phone Number Email ## **The Power of GIS** Since the beginning of the company, we’ve been helping thousands of users get acquainted with the benefits of the cloud approach. Introducing them to the power of GIS and GIS Cloud products aimed to help them **achieve their business goals, resolve crucial workflow issues, and get the immediate measurable results.** What we’ve learned is that our products are being used not only by GIS professionals but also by people who are not necessarily skilled in mapping or GIS – people who understand the [value of knowing the “where” and “when” of their data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-gis-in-the-cloud-helps-utility-organizations-in-their-digital-transformation/). With that in mind, we’ve built GIS Cloud applications to be user-friendly, for both **GIS and non-GIS experts** alike, who can quickly grasp all the basic functions, but also master advanced functionalities in a couple of expert-led sessions. Additionally, we have created a substantial [User Manual](https://manual.giscloud.com) with online tutorials, available for fast learning, that we update and improve on a daily basis according to your feedback. To ensure your success, our acclaimed premium support team and expert consultants are at your constant disposal, to help and guide you along your journey with GIS Cloud. With all that combined, it usually takes around 30 days for users to get to the advanced level of expertise in GIS Cloud products. **Sometimes you don’t have the 30 days to learn a new product, even though you know you need it.** To help you quickly master GIS Cloud apps and get to the advanced level in no time, our consultants have designed an in-depth education programme that can cut down that one month to **only a few days of intensive learning.** ## **GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program** The program is held online and led by our **expert instructors**, to follow from the safety of your home. It lasts for **2 days**, **4 hours** per day. Learning sessions include the following modules: **Map Editor Course** - How to prepare and manage your data - Build a custom survey form – to collect and inspect data in the field - Create, edit and visualize your data - How to use the Spatial Selection tool - Share your data and collaborate with others online **Mobile Data Collection Course** - Create your project for data collection or inspection - Visualize collected data - Report to managers and stakeholders **Map Viewer Course** - Customize your app interface and branding - Access private maps or allow users from your organization a private access - How to access maps offline ## **Materials and Certificates** To help you easily follow our instructions and go through product features, we prepared learning materials in PDF and PPT format. Upon completion of the two-day learning session, you will be granted access to: - Certificate Exam in coordination with your instructors - Certification of expertise after passing the exam ## **Who should apply and why** **Companies and individuals that need to:** - perform data collection and have to start now - create maps and analyze data - share their maps and data to collaborate with others as soon as possible **Existing GIS Cloud users who:** - already achieved an advanced level but want to be certified in GIS Cloud products - want to get to the advanced level faster - don’t use our Editor app but want to get more value out of the data they collected - want to know more about the data collection app ## **Courses Timetable** Courses for the first two groups of up to 5 people will be held on the **28th and 39th of May 2020**. The exact start time will be coordinated with the attendees and the educator depending on the overall availability. The course is held live, **completely online** and done remotely, from the safety of your home. ## **Pricing Model** Our regular price for the advanced program is $300 per user. As we mentioned in the beginning, this extended offer of our program is available completely **FREE** for two groups of 7 users each. The only requirement is that each attendee has an active monthly or annual subscription to [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and[ Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), purchased before the 28th of May 2020. Learn how to use GIS Cloud products to lead and organize your business, teams and projects, reducing workload and paperwork – your essential strategy for success! **Apply now!** ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by expert GIS Cloud instructors. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, discussion, activities, and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg) ### Antonija Netolicki **Senior Solutions Consultant** With more than 14 years of experience in GIS technology and 7 years of working as a GIS Cloud solutions expert, Antonija will provide a detailed insight into the inner workings of GIS Cloud apps and platform. She will help you discover an array of powerful possibilities and teach you how to maximize efficiency when using GIS Cloud solutions for your custom workflow. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the programme, send us an email at: Related content: GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program: Enroll Now! GIS Cloud Launches Learning Center! GIS Cloud Learning Center and Support GIS Cloud Training Sessions On August 15th in Boston **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-online-in-depth-certificate-program-apply-for-new-series-of-learning-sessions/) **Published:** September 17, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GIS-Cloud-Academy-3-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GIS-Cloud-Academy-3-cover-s.png) We are continuing with the series of **GIS Cloud Online Education Programs**! By now, we’ve had numerous educational workshops with our clients and partners from around the globe who have completed the program and received a **Certificate for Online GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program!** With this Certificate, you become a proper **GIS Expert in the field of Geospatial Sciences around the world.** In our efforts to respond to such a huge interest and empower people with GIS knowledge, we have launched a **new series of our online educational programs**. Our lecturers Antonija and Barbara will hold a unique session for **attendees of the Educational Program,** a two-day in-depth online course being held on **24th and 25th of September, 9 AM – 1 PM CEST (7 AM – 11 AM UTC).** **Fill this form and Apply for GIS Cloud online learning sessions!** First and Last Name Company Name Do you already work with any GIS tools? If yes, please list the ones you use. Short description of what you’re trying to do with GIS Cloud applications Phone Number Email The luckiest and fastest of users will get the opportunity to extend their knowledge and become **certified specialists in GIS Cloud solutions and technology!** This is a great opportunity for **non-GIS professionals as well as proven GIS practitioners**, so do not hesitate to apply. Our educational programs are a part of **GIS Cloud Services** with a regular price of **$295 per user.** All **GIS Cloud users** that have annual or monthly **active licences for Map Editor** and **Mobile Data Collection can apply.** Our programs ensure even **better workflow efficiency, minimize fixed costs and enhance work results to all clients and users.** In our article below learn about: - The power of GIS - GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program - Materials And Certificates - Who Should Apply And Why - Courses Timetable - Instructor-Led Learning Sessions ## **The Power Of GIS** Since the beginning of the company, we’ve been helping thousands of users get acquainted with the benefits of the cloud approach. Introducing them to the **power of GIS and GIS Cloud products aimed to help them achieve their business goals, resolve crucial workflow issues, and get the immediate measurable results.** What we’ve learned is that our products are being used not only by GIS professionals but also by people who are not necessarily skilled in mapping or GIS – people who understand the [value of knowing the “where” and “when” of their data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-gis-in-the-cloud-helps-utility-organizations-in-their-digital-transformation/). With that in mind, we’ve built GIS Cloud applications to be user-friendly, for both **GIS and non-GIS experts** alike, who can quickly grasp all the basic functions, but also master advanced functionalities in a couple of expert-led sessions. Additionally, we have created a substantial [Learning Center](https://manual.giscloud.com/) with online tutorials, available for fast learning, that we update and improve on a daily basis according to your feedback. To ensure your success, our acclaimed premium support team and expert consultants are at your constant disposal, to help and guide you along your journey with GIS Cloud. With all that combined, it usually takes around 30 days for users to get to the advanced level of expertise in GIS Cloud products. ***Sometimes you don’t have the 30 days to learn a new product,*** ***even though you know you need it.*** To help you quickly master GIS Cloud apps and get to the advanced level in no time, our consultants have designed an in-depth education programme that can cut down that one month to **only a few days of intensive learning**. ## **GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program** The program is held online and led by our **expert instructors**, to follow from the safety of your home. It lasts for **2 days, 4 hours per day**. Learning sessions include the following modules: **Map Editor Course** - How to prepare and manage your data - Build a custom survey form – to collect and inspect data in the field - Create, edit and visualize your data - How to use the Spatial Selection tool - Share your data and collaborate with others online **Mobile Data Collection Course** - Create your project for data collection or inspection - Visualize collected data - Report to managers and stakeholders **Map Viewer Course** - Customize your app interface and branding - Access private maps or allow users from your organization a private access - How to access maps offline ## **Materials And Certificates** To help you easily follow our instructions and go through product features, we prepared learning materials in PDF and PPT format. Upon completion of the two-day learning session, you will be granted access to: - Certificate Exam in coordination with your instructors - Certification of expertise after passing the exam ## **Who Should Apply And Why?** **Companies and individuals that need to:** - perform data collection and have to start now - create maps and analyze data - share their maps and data to collaborate with others as soon as possible **Existing GIS Cloud users who:** - already achieved an advanced level but want to be certified in GIS Cloud products - want to get to the advanced level faster - don’t use our Editor app but want to get more value out of the data they collected - want to know more about the data collection app ## **Courses Timetable** Courses will be held on the **24th and 25th of September 2020, 9 AM – 1 PM CEST.** **(7 AM – 11 AM UTC.).** The course is held live, **completely online** and done remotely, from the safety of your home. ## **Pricing Model** Our regular price for the advanced program is **$295 per user.** All **GIS Cloud users** that have annual or monthly **active licences for Map Editor** and **Mobile Data Collection can apply.** Learn how to use GIS Cloud products to lead and organize your business, teams and projects, reducing workload and paperwork – your essential strategy for success! **Apply now!** First and Last Name Company Name Do you already work with any GIS tools? If yes, please list the ones you use. Short description of what you’re trying to do with GIS Cloud applications Phone Number Email ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by expert GIS Cloud instructors. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, discussion, activities, and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg) ### Antonija Netolicki **Key Account Manager** With more than 14 years of experience in GIS technology and 7 years of working as a GIS Cloud solutions expert, Antonija will provide a detailed insight into the inner workings of GIS Cloud apps and platform. She will help you discover an array of powerful possibilities and teach you how to maximize efficiency when using GIS Cloud solutions for your custom workflow. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program: Enroll Now! GIS Cloud Launches Learning Center! GIS Day Contest 2020 – Apply Now GIS Cloud Learning Center and Support **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advanced learning courses, certificate program, Cloud GIS, collaboration, consulting, Education, GIS, gis certification, GIS Cloud, gis learning sessions, learning center, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, paperfree --- ### [GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program: Enroll Now!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-in-depth-online-certificate-program-enroll-now/) **Published:** April 9, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GIS-Cloud-Academy-cover0-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/GIS-Cloud-Academy-cover0-s.png) GIS Cloud is launching a **two-day in-depth online education program,** starting on the **29th and 30th of April**. An opportunity for non-GIS professionals as well as proven GIS practitioners, to extend their knowledge and become **certified specialists in GIS Cloud solutions and technology!** As our contribution to the “stay at home” global initiative, attendees registering for the first two courses will benefit from the advanced hands-on learning sessions **completely free**. **Read this article and learn about:** - GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program - Materials And Certificates - Who Should Enroll And Why - Courses Timetable - Instructor-Led Learning Sessionse **\*Post edit on April 23:** So many of you enrolled until April 23, so we already filled all spots for the first two learning sessions. You can register now for the future learning sessions and we will notify you by email about the date. **Register for future learning sessions:** First and Last Name Company Name Do you already work with any GIS tools? If yes, please list the ones you use. Short description of what you’re trying to do with GIS Cloud applications Phone Number Email Since the beginning of the company, we’ve been helping thousands of users get acquainted with the benefits of the cloud approach. Introducing them to the power of GIS and GIS Cloud products aimed to help them **achieve their business goals, resolve crucial workflow issues, and get the immediate measurable results**. What we’ve learned is that our products are being used not only by GIS professionals but also by people who are not necessarily skilled in mapping or GIS – people who understand the [value of knowing the “where” and “when” of their data](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-gis-in-the-cloud-helps-utility-organizations-in-their-digital-transformation/). With that in mind, we’ve built GIS Cloud applications to be user-friendly, for both **GIS and non-GIS experts** alike, who can quickly grasp all the basic functions, but also master advanced functionalities in a couple of expert-led sessions. Additionally, we have created a substantial [User Manual](https://manual.giscloud.com) with online tutorials, available for fast learning, that we update and improve on a daily basis according to your feedback. To ensure your success, our acclaimed premium support team and expert consultants are at your constant disposal, to help and guide you along your journey with GIS Cloud. With all that combined, it usually takes around 30 days for users to get to the advanced level of expertise in GIS Cloud products. **Sometimes you don’t have the 30 days to learn a new product, even though you know you need it.** To help you quickly master GIS Cloud apps and get to the advanced level in no time, our consultants have designed an in-depth education program that can cut down that one month to **only a few days of intensive learning**. ## GIS Cloud Advanced Learning Program The program is held **online** and led by our **expert instructors**, to follow from the safety of your home. It lasts for **2 days, 4 hours per day**. Learning sessions include the following modules: **Map Editor Course** - How to prepare and manage your data - Build a custom survey form – to collect and inspect data in the field - Create, edit and visualize your data - How to use the Spatial Selection tool - Share your data and collaborate with others online **Mobile Data Collection Course** - Create your project for data collection or inspection - Visualize collected data - Report to managers and stakeholders **Map Viewer Course** - Customize your app interface and branding - Access private maps or allow users from your organization a private access - How to access maps offline ## Materials and Certificates To help you easily follow our instructions and go through product features, we prepared learning materials in PDF and PPT format. Upon completion of the two-day learning session, you will be granted access to: - **Certificate Exam** in coordination with your instructors - **Certification of expertise** after passing the exam ## Who should enroll and why Companies and individuals that need to: - perform data collection and have to start now - create maps and analyze data - share their maps and data to collaborate with others as soon as possible Existing GIS Cloud users who: - already achieved an advanced level but want to be certified in GIS Cloud products - want to get to the advanced level faster - don’t use our Editor app but want to get more value out of the data they collected - want to know more about the data collection app ## Courses Timetable Courses for the first two groups of up to 5 people will be held on the **29th and 30th of April 2020**. The exact start time will be coordinated with the attendees and the educator depending on the overall availability. The course is held live, **completely online** and done remotely, from the safety of your home. ## Pricing Model Our regular price for the advanced program is $300 per person, however, as a part of the “stay at home” initiative we decided to offer it completely FREE for the first two groups of attendees. The only requirement is that each attendee has an active monthly or annual subscription to [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and[ Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), purchased before the 24th of April 2020. Learn how to use GIS Cloud products to lead and organize your business, teams and projects, reducing workload and paperwork – your essential strategy for success! ## Instructor-Led Learning Sessions Courses are taught by expert GIS Cloud instructors. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, discussion, activities, and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Antonija-GC-Team-s.jpg) ### Antonija Netolicki **Senior Solutions Consultant** With more than 14 years of experience in GIS technology and 7 years of working as a GIS Cloud solutions expert, Antonija will provide a detailed insight into the inner workings of GIS Cloud apps and platform. She will help you discover an array of powerful possibilities and teach you how to maximize efficiency when using GIS Cloud solutions for your custom workflow. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advanced learning courses, certificate program, gis certification, gis learning sessions, workshops --- ### [STOP Corona! Crowdsourcing App Uses Heatmap Analysis to Predict Coronavirus Outbreaks](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/stop-corona-crowdsourcing-app-uses-heatmap-analysis-to-predict-coronavirus-outbreaks/) **Published:** March 27, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![STOP Corona!](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Corona-GC-Blog-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Corona-GC-Blog-cover.png) Together with our **partners, volunteers and organizations across the world**, we launched the **STOP Corona! App**, to anonymously collect symptoms from the public! This crowdsourcing application is completely free, using location data and relying on people around the world to report their symptoms. The goal is to detect potential hotspots of the spreading of the virus and enable public and health authorities to gain insight into the symptoms in a certain country and worldwide. Maps of hotspots (heatmaps) will be available to health officials free of charge. The raw data will not be publicly available because we don’t want to raise panic, after all these are just symptoms. ## **How does it work?** Using real-time location intelligence and machine learning the STOP Corona! App can predict patterns and locate hotspots of potential new outbreaks. If you and the people around you report their symptoms daily, the system can single out such areas with a high or increasing concentration of multiple reported symptoms, as an indicator of a potential outbreak. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Corona-3-ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Corona-3-ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif) Your valuable task is to access the app, mark your location and report your symptoms on a daily basis. Then, share the app to all your colleagues, family members and contacts to do the same. The information you provide (contact, location and heatmap of symptoms) won’t be available to the public due to privacy and security concerns. It will be made available only to health authorities, free of charge, to help them gain insight and optimize their efforts to contain the spreading of the coronavirus as early as possible. All data is collected securely through an online form with SSL encryption. Once the collected data reaches 10% of the population in a certain country, only anonymized and aggregated symptom statistics will be opened to the public. The app is translated into more than 20 languages, and we invite anyone who wants to **join this project** and bring the app to their country, to reach out at **hello@giscloud.com.** We need help from people around the world to make this work. The more people we reach, the better the insights we will provide, so please share and report your symptoms! Now it’s time to think about every single person in the world. This project is a joint effort of the team of experts, organizations and volunteers across the globe, who felt the need to help in this time of crisis and have united their knowledge and hearts to help the community locally and globally. This is a truly global problem that requires global solutions. Communities everywhere are affected, the new victim numbers are skyrocketing. This project is created for people everywhere, to unite and end the suffering and death caused by this terrible virus. Join us in this project with your expertise and help to stop the spreading of coronavirus! Related content: Using GIS to strategically treat contaminated water and prevent disease outbreaks (Chennai, India) GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus Telecom Digitization, Service Coverage and Gap Analysis AI Meets GIS: Reshaping Data Analysis Simplifying Data Analysis: A Guide to Filtering the Datagrid **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS For Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/) **Published:** November 5, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-cover.jpg) Every year vegetation management companies **inspect** vast amounts of areas where trees and different types of vegetation require care and trimming to **avoid potential utility threats** and other hazards, like fires or invasive species. In some regions of the world, there are strict laws and guidelines that require vegetation maintenance to **comply with safety regulations** and inspections. This can be a very challenging and demanding job. Numerous people working in the vegetation management industry, forestry, utility companies, tree maintenance and inspection companies, as well as arborists, move towards new technologies and solutions for vegetation management strategies and programs that will help them optimize their workflow and reduce the business costs. If you find yourself challenged with extensive **administrative and field paperwork**, data accuracy concerns, difficulty to track field data and visualise it, you will find out how the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app can help you **improve productivity** in the field and cut down immense paperwork. Digital forms will ensure accurate data records even in **offline conditions** and r**eal-time** **insight** on a map including field reports and photos, all in easily shareable digital format. We wrote about specific workflow in GIS Cloud on [](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-management-for-electric-utilities/)Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities, where you can find out more on how to tackle the delicate issue of maintaining vegetation around power lines and power grid infrastructure. With [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) you will be able to quickly edit and analyse your data, and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app will help you share all of the data with stakeholders and management. You will also learn how you can easily integrate cloud solutions with desktop GIS. **GIS** comes in handy because it helps **store spatial data and other information** in thematic layers that are represented by the same symbology that suggests similar characteristics. All of this **data is connected** with the specific geo-locations (coordinates) which helps us see it spatially on a map. **Spatial analysis** will bring you **value and data insight** on how to improve business operations and what long-term goals should be emphasised more. GIS **powers and business decisions** from selecting work routes, improving communication between landowners, fieldworkers, management, municipalities and the public. We’ll show you how GIS Cloud platform and applications will **streamline** the process for field operations, team collaboration and vegetation management by improving operational efficiency, risk management and reducing costs. ### Table of Contents - [How to Optimize Your Vegetation Management](#optimize) - [Why is it Crucial to Build a Digital Vegetation Inventory Database?](#database) - [Benefits Of Optimizing Your Fieldwork](#fieldwork) - [Collaborate With Your Team in Real Time](#collaborate) - [Workflow For Vegetation Management With Online GIS](#gisworkflow) 1. [Creating Your Custom Forms For Mobile Data Collection](#forms) 2. [Collecting Your Field Data](#collecting) 3. [Overseeing Fieldwork And Data Management](#oversee) 4. [Sharing Your Data](#share) - [Arborist Case Study: Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps](#arborist) - [Overall Benefits Of Using Online GIS In Vegetation Management](#benefits) ## **How to Optimize Your Vegetation Management?** To transform your field and office operations, you need to understand what everyday challenges you and your team are facing, and how can you overcome them using an **all-in-one solution** that will increase productivity, allow operational visibility, improve project management and collaboration. **CHALLENGES IN VEGETATION MANAGEMENT** - Messy paper forms - Poor visualization of field data - Unreliable GPS - Lots of administration and field paperwork - Inadequate or non-existent data inventory - Low data quality and accuracy - Defect Collection - Hard to keep track of the data - No previous GIS knowledge - Tracking photos - Small budget - Team coordination **GIS CLOUD SOLUTION** **Mobile Data Collection** **Map Editor** **Map Viewer** - Custom digital forms with different field options - Data visualization and analysis in real time - Great overview of data for project managers - Pinpoint tool guarantees the precision of data location - Planning the spatial distribution of vegetation - Data accessible from any device - Collecting photo and audio recordings - Highlighting features that need maintenance - Private sharing on the different access level - Offline mode - Custom symbology **Map Portal** - Navigate to a particular point of interest directly - Company or public access to data - Custom and branded **BENEFITS OF GIS CLOUD SOLUTION** - Quick, efficient data collection - Digitalization of data collection - Operational Visibility - Ensured data accuracy and quality, eliminating errors - Proof of jobs done to mitigate liability - Integration with desktop GIS solutions - Efficient team coordination and tracking of progress - Real-time overview of the data - Geo-located photo database ## **Why is it Crucial to Build a Digital Vegetation Inventory Database?** Carrying out massive tree inventories and subsequent tree care plans without a proper photo database, paper forms and reports can be challenging. Having a **vegetation database is a requirement** to perform any task, including maintenance, or inspections. The problems arise when the data is incomplete, inadequate or missing. Creating a **unique vegetation inventory** with various terrain and ecosystems that interact with each other is challenging. Also, keep in mind that everything needs to be up to date with the latest regulations, data tracking, work supervision, budgets, and planning programs. Managing vegetation maintenance and carrying out inspections on a large scale demands a software where you can store big amounts of metadata with accompanying geo-informations. Let’s not forget that keeping track of your pictures in the photo archive can also be time-consuming. GIS Cloud allows you to **create, import and maintain geo-data a lot easier**. It helps you **produce and shape** a **properly mapped online-based vegetation inventory** on one of the fastest map engines built. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-Editor1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-Editor1.png) You can access the database to **evaluate adequate sites** for vegetation management plans and programs from any device anywhere in the world, at any time. It’s essential to have **quality data** of the assets condition to strategically plan the development of the project and ensure long term productivity. Using online GIS will help you optimize your database, everyday workflow and reduce operational costs by answering: - **When to schedule your vegetation maintenance?** - **Where to send your teams for vegetation management operations?** - **What specific work objective needs to be carried out?** Being able to inspect distinct layers with different data in order to analyse and cover more information about certain areas can be very beneficial. This overlay of data and imagery will give you a greater depth of knowledge and allow you to make **informed decisions** for long term sustainability of vegetation management. ## **Benefits Of Optimizing Your Fieldwork** The reality is that different vegetation grows at different rates. This increases the risk of unexpected things happening like storm tree damage, fires, unexpected growth, animal destruction, etc. All this can result in raising the costs of your project. **Mapping** certain **vegetation in advance will** help perform **better routine inspections** for your field crew and efficiently improve field workflow. Typical **paper-based workflow** has many **drawbacks** like complex inspection forms, uncredited photos, lost paper reports, additional data entry back at the office, etc. This can be an overwhelming and slow process. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-Inspection-Inventory.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-Inspection-Inventory.jpg) Online GIS apps will make your **everyday workflow paperless** and more efficient, providing a **measurable structure for collecting relevant data** and increasing its value. To improve this, we strongly suggest to digitize your vegetation management workflow and this will help you significantly optimize your planning process and execution. Replace your paper maps with our web application [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and messy paper forms with [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. ## **Collaborate With Your Team in Real Time** To get the most out of GIS technology, it’s best to **connect everyone** in the workflow: - field workers - engineers, - managers, - decision-makers - clients Our GIS apps allow you to keep your data centralized, enabling **everyone to collaborate** over the same geospatial data. When your field workers collect data, it instantly appears on the map allowing the office team to give direct feedback regarding the quality of data. The management is able to track the productivity of individual operators and overlook the entire project in real-time. When your particular project is done, you can **share the data** with clients or subcontractors. They can help predict the next phase or new planning solutions for your vegetation management project. We’ll get into sharing details and basic workflow with GIS Cloud apps in the next chapter. ## **Workflow For Vegetation Management With Online GIS** ### 1. Creating Your Custom Forms For Mobile Data Collection In our [Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) create a project. Name it, choose what you wish to collect, (point, line or polygon), add the [form fields](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/new-project-page/) you need (text, number, photo etc.) and *voilà*, you are ready for data collection. Your form can be customized with a lot of form field options that suit your project needs. Specify each field as required, read-only, persistent or autofill. Also, you can create dependent fields that allow you to manage sets of dependencies between fields. If a rule that you have created for this dependent field is not satisfied, it won’t be able to edit or view this field in the Mobile Data Collection app. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-Inventory-Form.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-Inventory-Form.png) When your project is ready to see the light of the day, you need to share it with your field workers for data collecting. Just [open the project and share it](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-share-a-map-in-mdcp/) to a particular username with assigned project privileges (View, Share, Edit, Export, Collect and/or Update). ### 2. Collecting Your Field Data Instead of using old, outdated paper surveys, it’s time to start collecting data with the [Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)app. Save your team time and money, and **instantly collect data** like tree height, diameter, trimming status, pruning maintenance, necessary removal of trees, diseases and other vegetation variables using only your smartphone or tablet. Choose the desired project, fill out the predefined form and press send. It’s as simple as that. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mobile-Tree-inspection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mobile-Tree-inspection.png) The data and the location will immediately display on the map. If you find yourself in an area with a **weak GPS signal**, it’s best to use the **pinpoint tool** in the mobile app. It allows you to retain great accuracy by pinpointing the location on the map. Mobile Data Collection also allows you to [navigate to a particular point of interest](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/map-option/) directly from the app using Google Maps. The app **works offline as well** in case you lose internet connection. The collected data waits in the queue for the mobile phone to connect to the internet and then pulls the data back online. ### 3. Overseeing Fieldwork And Data Management As we mentioned before, the data your field crew collected will be instantly visible on a map. We recommend using our [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for in-office tasks like **editing field data, analysis, sharing maps and reports.** Managers and coordinators, as well as other staff, can view the data and edit it in a way that suits the current workflow and project assignments. For example, areas around electric utility assets like power lines, trees located in a particular area, diseased trees, or those that haven’t been trimmed **can be marked with different colours and filtered** on a map for public safety. You can also highlight contaminated zones, and create heat maps of infected trees that can help detect a pattern of disease spreading. Choose between different basemaps, create polygons and use various GIS tools that will help you visualize and analyse data in the best possible manner. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-Editor2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Vegetation-Management-Editor2.jpg) This can be achieved in a short amount of time even by users who don’t have previous experience with GIS software. **Rich GIS symbology** and **built-in collaboration** capabilities allow **real-time editing** and **sharing of data** that can also integrate easily with desktop GIS using our [plugin for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) and [Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/). With the help of online GIS, you can manage your assets and create custom reports from field data to address different vegetation growth rates, track area treatments and productivity of the team. This will help you **reduce the costs of inadequate operations** and **unnecessary on-site field inspections.** ### 4. Sharing Your Data When we are talking about spatial data, Dropbox, Google Drive, flash drives, or DVDs, make the process of sharing overwhelming, with scattered and unfiltered data everywhere. To fix this issue, it’s best to centralize all of the data by uploading it to the GIS Cloud database and share it to your colleagues who can use [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and [**Map Portal** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)applications to access your data online privately or publicly. This way you can present your data to clients, subcontractors, management or public. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/MacBook-Viewer-Vegetation-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/MacBook-Viewer-Vegetation-s.png) With **Map Viewer** you can access maps and data from any device at any time. It can be customized and it’s optimized for non-professionals and GIS experts. Everyone involved can have **different access** to the **same dataset** that can be filtered and exported for reports. In case you are doing a **community project** and wish to open your data to the public or to your entire organisation, it’s best to use the **Map Portal.** This app allows you to create an interactive GIS portal, customized, branded, and published on a separate domain. With this portal, the public can **search, visualise** and **explore** the **geospatial data** with all the attributes and information. There is no need to import or download the data to your computer, with GIS Cloud it’s all accessible at request, online, in real-time! ## **Arborist Case Study: Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-inspection-Arborist-Cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Tree-inspection-Arborist-Cover.jpg) The easiest way to show the **power of online GIS** is to find an example in live practice. We bring you an interesting case study from Vivaldi Arborist, a Swedish company that needed to [improve tree inspection and tree inventory practices.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/arborist-use-case-tree-inventory-and-inspection/) Vivaldi Arborist’s had a **problem with administration and messy field paperwork.** They were struggling with the updates and oversights of their field projects. Manually **tracking photos** from different places was time-consuming, and depending on GPS implied a tracking problem because of poor signals and satellite unavailability in certain areas. They needed to find a **fast and accurate software solution** that would enable them to gather data quickly and reliably.In their case, the solution needed to have a neat **photo database** to follow up all the tree injuries and other visual information which may prove valuable on a map. Also, **mobile GPS function** needs to be precise and reliable even in situations where the signal is weak and satellites unavailable. Vivaldi Arborist’s wanted to overcome a bunch of specific problems and it seemed impossible to leverage them all with only one solution. However, GIS Cloud platform offered them a customizable **online solution for tree inspections.** **With the Mobile Data Collection app, they solved the problem of everyday tree data collection, tree maintenance and inspections, with the possibility to take proper photos with geo-location and pinpoint the precise location in case GPS location is not available at the moment.** They improved productivity in the field by **cutting down the paper-based inspections** simultaneously caring for the environment. All collected data is **accurately visualised, analyzed and monitored** with the **Map Editor** web application so the managers can propose new urban tree programs and tasks, and clearly convey pieces of information to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings. > *My workflow is much more efficient when using the GIS Cloud as a basis for my quotes and work orders and collection of all field data. I find that a picture or map, in this case, speaks louder than words. GIS Cloud has allowed me to streamline the administrative side of workflow which allows me to work more effectively and provide tree care of a higher quality.”* > > – Sean Grant, Vivaldi AB ## **Overall Benefits Of Using Online GIS In Vegetation Management** Why should you optimize your vegetation management process? There are many benefits aforementioned in the article, but the key benefit is **predictive analytics** that will help you **modify actions and operations** of your vegetation management to be **more effective** and **reduce future costs.** You will be able to **identify and rightly schedule all the field and office activities in conjunction with cost optimization and customer reliability.** With online GIS, you bring a **visual language** to stakeholders and workers, improve communication and help prepare the plan on how to display your project progression and results. Using a specific location to communicate your ideas and solve issues on the spot gives you a strategic advantage. **GIS Cloud apps and platform will help you:** - Build cloud-based vegetation management inventory - Improve reliability by tracking the project progress and vegetation treatment in real time - Cut down paperwork and administration - Review work KPI’s and adjust plans accordingly - Ensure work and public safety by tracking tree incidents and minimizing the damages - Clearly convey information and data to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings - Reduce costs by tracking workflow progress and optimize work process - Share data instantly with your customers, stakeholders and management - Overcome any GPS and online issues by pinpointing and offline data collection - Be in track with regulations by representing restrictions on maps with different colors and symbology to help field teams with restricted areas, animal habitats, tree violation areas etc. Using **GIS Cloud** as the **go-to solution** will **improve managing** your **assets** in a variety of terrains and **empower field communication** and **decision making** GIS Cloud is **fully scalable,** **pay for what you use** online platform with no desktop installation required. You can **easily scale** your app **subscriptions** at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for vegetation management projects,[ Sign up for the free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)**. You can also contact our [Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow!** Related content: Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** all-in-one solution, arborists, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, Custom symbology, data collection, data management, data visualisation, dependencies, desktop GIS, Digitalization, fast and accurate, field data, field data collection, Fieldwork, filter, forestry, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS symbology, inspection, Maintenance, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mapping Trees, metadata, Mobile Data Collection, navigate, offline data collection, operational visibility, pinpoint, Private sharing, real-time, reports, spatial analysis, Spatial Data, Tree inspection, Tree Inventory, use case, Utilities, vegetation, vegetation managment --- ### [How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-transform-your-city-public-works-in-a-few-simple-steps/) **Published:** April 7, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last week (March 31st) we held a webinar “How to Transform your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps?” This webinar was a part of GIS Cloud Smart Cities series, with a focus on Public Works, Infrastructure and Roadworks Departments in local governments as well as different organizations and businesses dealing with infrastructure maintenance and management. Watch the recording and find out more about the role of public works, basic requirements for adopting smart solutions in an organization, GIS Cloud platform and, most importantly, **real-life examples of smart organizations** deploying GIS solutions for improving all segments of their daily workflows. Want to know more about **GIS Solutions for Smart Cities and Public Works?** Contact us at: ### Related content: - [How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/ "How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY") - [A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/ "A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal") - [Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-public-transportation-after-the-earthquake-in-zagreb-croatia/ "Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia)") - [Public and Private Access? ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/public-and-private-access/ "Public and Private Access?") - [Collect data in only 5 steps! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/collect-data-in-only-5-steps/ "Collect data in only 5 steps!") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** City Public Works, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS solutions, Infrastructure and Maintenance, local government, recording, Roadworks Department, Smart Cities, video, webinar --- ### [Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-parking-zones-garages-and-free-parking-in-zagreb-croatia/) **Published:** February 24, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![mapping parking](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-cover.png) Each year the **number of cars in the city grows**, causing **traffic jams** and lengthening the time spent looking for a parking place. That leads to dissatisfaction and stress among drivers. Marija Milanović, geodesy student at the University of Zagreb, created an [**interactive Map Portal**](https://parkingzagreb.giscloud.com/) of **parking zones and no fees parking spaces in the city of Zagreb**. The idea was to make a map that shows parking lots and garages, both private and public. The user would have all the essential information in one place. It would make it easier for them to find a parking space, saving time and money. Measures like high prices, limited parking spaces, and restricted parking hours aim to reduce the use of on-street parking (permitted parking spots on the street) and replace it with off-street parking (spaces for cars located on private property rather than on a public street). With that, more space opens up for pedestrians and cyclists, and it has a positive effect on the entire ecosystem, including less air pollution, less noise and vibration. With all available garages and parking spaces in mind, drivers can choose parking that suits their interests. Additionally, due to the Covid 19 crisis, there are no parking expenses around health facilities. These areas are also presented in the map portal. ## **Preparing and Gathering the Data** To model this kind of map, one that integrates information about parking zones, parking lots, and garages, relevant information from different sources needed **gathering and vectorization**. On the [Zagreb Parking website](https://www.zagrebparking.hr/), there is a list of streets grouped by the parking zones. The list was used to **manually mark parking zones** in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and later distinguish them with different colors. Zagreb parking also provides information about areas near health facilities with free parking during the Covid 19 pandemic. For mapping garages and parking lots along with relevant information like price, address, the existence of a car wash, and a charging station for electric cars, the ideal solution was to use [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/). The application is user friendly and very intuitive to use. It provides **fast collection** and **inspection** of gathered data. When gathering the data about garages and parking lots, the first step was **creating a collecting project** with an appropriate survey (form) in [GIS Cloud web application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). The form can be easily modified and edited at any moment in the application. The next step was collecting the data in the field using the created mobile survey. While some of the mapped garages are stand-alone, others are accompanying facilities like plazas and parking lots. As for the parking lots, Marija mapped only those with pricing different from the one determined by the parking zone, thus excluding parking lots that are just street extensions. After mapping the zones and gathering the data about garages and parking lots, Map Editor contained three layers: - one polygon layer - two-point layers **Parking zones** in the **polygon layer** are marked in **different colors**, a color for each zone. **Garages and parking** **lots,** which are in the **point layer**, are each marked with appropriate **signs**. The sign for garages is the **white letter P** with a symbol that indicates the roof. For **parking lots,** a simple **blue letter P** was used. By clicking on any feature on the map, a window pops up with all the relevant information. All of the needed changes are quickly done in Layer properties in the Map Editor. ## **Creating A Custom Map Portal For The Public** All of the collected data was published in **Map Portal, a custom GIS app** branded with logo and colors**.** Using the **GIS Cloud App Builder**, the layout of the Map Portal was edited and organized. Users can switch between two maps, Parking in Zagreb, with garages and parking lots, and Free Parking, with areas free from parking charges. Users can apply various filters, depending on their needs. Filters make it possible to explore the garages to see whether they have chargers for electric cars or a car wash. Users can also filter parking lots and garages depending on the hourly price of parking during the working week. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-app-builder.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-app-builder.png) The App Builder enables us to create a Map Portal with different options which then help us present the data and content on the map more neatly. You are able to customize the Map Portal by: - setting a default map - managing toolbar buttons - choosing the custom logo - changing the ribbon colour - managing different panels - and much more By adding filters, users can search for a place to park their car depending on their preferences, whether they need a car wash, electric car charger, or can choose by the preferred range of price! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-export-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-export-map.png) **Browse the [Parking Zagreb map portal → here.](https://parkingzagreb.giscloud.com/)** The Map Portal displays **two distinguished maps** you can switch between easily in the ribbon section. One map displays **garages and parking lots** in the city of Zagreb, and the other map shows us **areas free from parking charges** due to the situation with Covid 19. If you want to learn how to build your own Map Portal, [take a look at this webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/). ## **Results And Conclusion** The whole project lasted for four months. The most challenging part was creating the polygon layer. There is no updated graphic display of parking zones in the City of Zagreb on a map, only a list of streets by zones. This list was combed through until getting contours of zones, which were eventually used for drawing polygons in the layer with zones. Thanks to Mobile Data Collection, data on garages and parking lots were easy to collect in the field, although some are not well-known, and detailed research was required to collect all the data. Working in App Builder to clearly visualize the data in the Map Portal was intuitive and allowed playing with design. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-free.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/zagreb-parking-free.png) We believe that this Map Portal will benefit all users who wish to plan the most affordable parking visit in Zagreb. If you want to **build your own Map Portal** app and learn more about GIS Cloud apps and services, [Sign Up for the free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks **Tags:** App Builder, Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, custom GIS app, Custom Map, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, filters, gathering, geography students, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, interactive map, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, polygons, Smart Cities, Smart City, Spatial Vision, survey, vectorization, webinar --- ### [How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-gis-in-the-cloud-helps-utility-organizations-in-their-digital-transformation/) **Published:** January 11, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** The discussion panel around this topic took place during the [Australian Utility Week](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/) in November of 2017, where leaders of the energy sector in Australia and New Zealand gave their opinion on the future of data collection and management. ![Focus Group at Australian Utility Week 2017: Digital Transformation with GIS in the Cloud;, Participants: Fulton Hogan, Western Power, Endeavour Energy, Cyient, AusNet Services, South East Water, Spatial Vision, GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/aus-focus-group-1024x683.jpg)Focus Group at Australian Utility Week 2017: Participants: Fulton Hogan, Western Power, Endeavour Energy, Cyient, AusNet Services, South East Water, Spatial Vision, GIS Cloud If you know anything about Australia and New Zealand’s infrastructure, you are aware of the **large amounts of data** any energy and utility company needs to collect, inspect, edit and organize to further work in their organization. Moreover, these companies all have similar challenges, which are mostly dealing with data and asset management in **remote areas** with no network coverage. Some of the main questions addressed during the discussion were whether the current GIS platform that companies use is aligned to their business strategy and does GIS data contribute to their digital transformation. Focus group leader (Igor Farkaš, GIS Cloud) asked participants if their business workflows fall in line with new trends and standards, and in what ways a cloud solution makes their company a more competitive organization. Panelists from **Cyient, Fulton Hogan, Endeavour Energy, AusNet Services, South East Water and Spatial Vision,** companies in the utility and energy industry, discussed the GIS solutions they prefer: **cloud vs. desktop.** The common conclusion was: **both**. Each type of GIS has its own purpose; while desktop GIS is a full-featured and powerful tool suited for professional users, cloud-based GIS is ideal for scaling maps to more people – to the entire organization and for collaboration. **They all agree that the answer to their problems is a cloud mapping platform which allows them to extend their desktop experience, enables data collection with smartphones and tablets, even in offline mode, and has powerful sharing and editing capabilities.** **In offline mode**, mobile devices log data locally, and all the collected information is sent into the cloud once the devices go online again. Collected data and the custom forms (created and used for the collection process) can be **changed at any time**, which will instantly sync changes across all devices, allowing the team in the office to track the process in real-time and organize jobs. ![GIS Cloud and Spatial Vision at the Australian Utility Week ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/australian-focus-group-1024x506.jpg) Change is always the most difficult part of implementing a GIS solution, but it is important to keep in mind **what GIS can do for the organization’s data management process.** This kind of approach really puts a big emphasis on the **collaboration** **throughout the organization**, from project managers who decide on the type of data they want to collect and the workflow, to field workers using shared forms to collect data, and decision makers who can log in to the platform and see a map overview of the data to easily make difficult business decisions. Panelists unanimously agreed that collection in offline conditions, as well as the possibility to change attributes of collected data and organize work around features on a map (instantly, when they become visible on a map), is a **huge help in asset management**, enabling organizations to get jobs done **faster and to gain quality data**, by being able to fully control collection process. This focus group showed that GIS in the Cloud can make a great difference for utility organizations in their process of digital transformation, facilitating their workflow and also allowing them to spend less and receive more. Sponsoring the [Australian Utility Week in Melbourne](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/) was just one of the many GIS Cloud endeavours during the Australian and New Zealand tour. In collaboration with our partners from [Spatial Vision](https://spatialvision.com.au/), Australia, we organized and held free educational GIS workshops in [Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-australia-melbourne-sydney-and-brisbane/), [Wellington, Auckland](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-new-zealand/) and [Whangarei](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-pop-up-workshop-in-whangarei-new-zealand-on-december-15/). Participants gained hands-on experience with the GIS Cloud platform and applications, as well as the early preview of the new **collaboration streams technology,** which is believed to become a crucial tool in data management, field crew organization and day-to-day collaboration. Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Australia, Australian Utility Week, Focus Group, Spatial Vision, Utilities --- ### [Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/volunteer-watershed-cleanup-events-orange-county-ca-case-study/) **Published:** March 31, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** [**Orange County California**](https://ocgov.com/) is comprised of eleven watersheds which drain to 42 miles of sparkling blue coastline and sensitive wetlands such as Upper Newport Bay and Bolsa Chica. There is a lot of interest in protecting and preserving the health of these resources and volunteer cleanup events have become an important part of this effort. In order to optimize the effectiveness of volunteer cleanups, the need for a user-friendly, cost-effective data management solution that could collect and share data in real time was identified. The **[OC Watersheds](https://ocerws.ocpublicworks.com/)** Division of **[OC Public Works](https://ocpublicworks.com/)**, which helps organize several volunteer watershed cleanup events each year in Orange County, decided to see how GIS Cloud technology could help. [![OC1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/OC1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/OC1.png) **Challenges** The solution OC Watersheds had in mind for cleanup event was a simple and user-friendly data collection app that can have a form for populating predefined fields. The form would need to have the option of collecting photos, audio, location coordinates, and information on when data was collected (time – date). They also wanted to have a mapping tool that would show volunteers the locations of different cleanup events. At the same time, they wanted the mapping tool to show data collected from the field in real time. - User friendly way of mapping areas of interest (that would need to be visited by volunteers) - Easy to use solution for data collection that doesn’t require GIS knowledge - Possibility to see changes from the field in real time in office to follow the progress of volunteers **Solution** **[Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)** and **[Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** provided OC Watersheds the ability to create custom forms with as many fields as they needed. By accessing the predefined form in **[Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)** app, the effectiveness of the volunteer watershed cleanups can be analyzed on a spatial and temporal scale, and there was no prior GIS knowledge required. MDC app enabled the collection of different data such as the type of trash, latitude, longitude, amount of trash collected, photos and audio recordings. Areas that volunteers cleaned were defined in Map Editor, which also allows the data to be tracked over time, showing progress in real time. [![oc2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/oc2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/oc2.png) *Volunteer cleanup area of Lower Santa Ana River with collected Mobile Data Collection locations* **Results** - Possibility for creating custom forms with as many fields as necessary - Accurate and current information about trash deposits in watersheds, accessible on any device from the field or office in real time - User-friendly solution, easy to use by non-GIS experts Related content: Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** California, Cleanup Events, Mobile Data Collection, Orange County, use case, Warersheds --- ### [New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-release-collect-lines-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection/) **Published:** May 29, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are happy to inform you that as of today, you can **collect lines and polygons**, as well as **points** with your **[**Mobile Data Collection app**](/apps/mobile-data-collection/)**! We know this is great news for all of you working in **utilities** collecting data on electric power lines or water and sewer infrastructure, for **urban planners**, for people working with **natural resources** inspecting forests or reservoirs, crews surveying farm fields in **agriculture**, as well as for anyone working with line and polygon data in the field. ![Collect Lines and Polygons with Mobile Data Collection (feature released)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Lines-and-Polygons-Released-fb2-1024x536.jpg) With the help of online geospatial technology, many industries are gradually solving some of their greatest challenges when it comes to collecting data in the field: **removing paper-based surveys** and achieving **real-time access to collected GIS information.** Big and complex utility systems, as well as city planning institutions demand a solution with an **efficient and accurate data collection process** as well as ability to **record and inspect** different types of assets with **only** **one mobile application**. With this new Mobile Data Collection update, it is now possible to [**collect line and polygon features**](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/) **for any workflow!** ## **Key capabilities of line and polygon collection** - **Collect** data using **Start Tracking option** which automatically records your location using the GPS on your mobile device - **Fill in your survey** **/ form** with additional information, **while** **at the same time** collecting location data with GPS - **Record data** using **Manual input** to **draw lines and polygons** by adding points to a map - **Combine** Automatic (GPS) and Manual collection (add points) to achieve higher precision - Edit geometry by deleting the last or all lines, before and after the data is sent - Edit information collected in a survey, linked to a specific line or polygon To get you started, read our [**user manual on Mobile Data Collection**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/mobile-data-collection-app/) and how to [**set up your Line and Polygon projects**](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/). We are certain you will be ready to begin your collection shortly, and set up your projects in just a couple of clicks. **To recap all the essential options** GIS Cloud [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/mobile-data-collection-app/) offers helping you to be more efficient in your work; we created a list of **top features making MDC your go-to app for all data collection purposes.** ## **Benefits of Mobile Data Collection for any Workflow** - **Collect** points, lines and polygons, **all in one app** - **Create** **custom forms** with as many fields as you want - **Control data quality** by making some fields required or dependant on other answers - **Link** your **surveys / questionnaires** (custom forms) to point, line or polygon features automatically when sending your submissions - **Connect external GPS devices** to achieve **high precision** - **Rapid setup and deploy** to **collaborate** with others faster - **Assign and manage** collect, update and view permissions to **groups of users**, depending on their **role** (Project Owner, Fieldworker, Surveyor, Analyst, Stakeholder…) - **No need for additional training** (most of our users say they need less than one day to learn Mobile Data Collection) - **Cost effective** – no extra equipment required, pay per project duration, no time loss on training staff - **Collect** **even in** **offline mode**, using **offline maps** (set up bounds for high resolution) - **Enrich data with different media – collect photos, audio or QR codes** - **Auto-sync keeps all your projects and information up-to-date at any moment, across all devices in real time, and among multiple users simultaneously** - **Include** your collecting projects in other maps as layers, to have a clear overview of all performed surveys in one place - **Use custom basemaps**, or choose basemaps offered within GIS Cloud - **Generate** **Reports** on the go - **No need for integration with other platforms**, extend to GIS Cloud apps: [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) or [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) - Easily access all collected data with **Map Editor** where you can **further style, analyze and edit data**, **share maps with stakeholders** and include more data layers to better understand and track your projects Advances in GIS data collection and GIS online tools for data management are heading toward a successful geospatial transformation of many industries and government organizations, making their everyday jobs easier and more efficient. [**Sign Up for Free**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try new Mobile Data Collection possibilities, as well as our other apps, during your 30 day premium trial period. Related content: How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Mobile Data Collection Update Release Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** attribute collection, collect points, collector, data collection, field collection, field data, GIS Cloud, line collection, Mobile Data Collection, offline data collection, polygon collection --- ### [The Challenges of Drone Mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/the-challenges-of-drone-mapping/) **Published:** January 6, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Utilizing Drone Imagery – From Spatial Data to Spatial Knowledge** ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/karte-dronovi3.jpg) Contemporary mapping landscape is changing rapidly. Over the last few decades, most of the surveyors worked with total stations and GPS receivers for point to point data collection on a day-to-day basis. A usual workflow would end with using collected data for generating 2D plans of the mapped area. Recently, we are witnessing a **shift in surveying and mapping technology** due to rapid hardware and software development. One of the most striking cases is that of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones. ## **An Expanding Market for Drone Mapping** Federal Aviation Administration in the US predicts that by 2020, the number of drones flying above American soil will increase up to 30 000 vehicles, resulting in a **90 billion dollar industry**. The global commercial drone market is already benefiting from applications in many different industries such as agriculture, energy, construction, emergency response and a lot of others. Both surveyors and these industries need accurate spatial data on a day-to-day basis. Today, **mobile mapping systems** such as UAVs provide an easy and cost-efficient way for collecting a large amount of high-resolution spatial data. With the help of drones, it is possible to complete previously time-consuming tasks within a day – including preparation, flight, image processing time and generating precise and up-to-date overviews for further project planning and management. > With quick deployment times and low maintenance costs, we can map pretty much anywhere, at any time. Drones allow us to use all kinds of payloads such as near infrared cameras to map vegetation chlorophyll levels for agriculture. Not only do drones make things cheaper and faster for a surveyor, but they also make our job safer. We can now survey areas remotely that perhaps have some environmental risks to them such as quarries, cliff edges, polluted areas, etc. > > – Luke Wijnberg, 3DroneMapping ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/3Drone-Mapping.jpg)Luke Wijnberg from 3DroneMapping So, when it comes to mapping with drones, many experts, and also non-expert users now have a chance to make their imagery created with drones. That is also an important reason for this rapid expansion in the drone market today. We should know that not all of this new drone users have experience with making sense of the data generated with drones. Many of them may ask themselves what’s the real use of all that mapping and high-quality data? ## **From Spatial Data to Spatial Knowledge** Geographers often claim that 80% of all the data around us have a spatial component. Although the real percentage of spatial input in our cognitive processes may be lower – [around 60% ](https://www.gislounge.com/80-percent-data-is-geographic/)– it is still something that makes us think more about what is the basis of our daily decision-making process. Using maps for data visualization is just another way to **overcome the limitations of chart-based reports** and often inadequate verbal descriptions. > A map does not just chart, it unlocks and formulates meaning; it forms bridges between here and there, between disparate ideas that we did not know were previously connected. > > – Reif Larsen, The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet With great spatial data such as orthomosaic maps, elevation models, contours, profiles and volumes derived from processing imagery that is now easy to collect with drones, it becomes possible to bring decision-making process on a whole new level in a range of industries. Some examples of using drone imagery for improving workflows and decision-making process are [landfill maintenance and management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landfill-maintenance-and-management-a-remediation-project-case-study/), [precision agriculture](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-case-study-using-drones-and-gis-cloud-for-precision-farming-in-greece/) or overseeing [construction sites](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-3d-drone-mapping-imagery-with-clients-a-report-from-south-africa/) and quarries, where spatial data is used for project planning, overseeing and reporting purposes. These examples point us to the fact that the real challenges brought to us by technological advancement introducing big data to a wide variety of users lie in making sense of technology in a particular working environment. How should we use collected data, how to filter it, how to share it, to whom and for what purpose? Or simply, how to use spatial data to create spatial knowledge? In the end, spatial knowledge is always created, translated, communicated and used by someone, and we should know **how to make it more user-friendly** for real people in concrete industries so that they could make the most of the contemporary technology. So, our goal should be to create a better environment for creating and communicating this knowledge to various stakeholders. Namely, the real challenge of creating spatial knowledge is in **collaboration**. ## **The Future of Spatial Decision-making are Cloud-Based Collaboration Tools** Creating a good collaboration environment isn’t necessarily an easy task when we talk about big data such as sensor imagery and large raster datasets generated by drones. Users who need more than Google Maps Satellite imagery, because they want up-to-date field updates or different kind of sensor data like near-infrared photos, know that a large amount of data in various formats is often difficult for distribution between many users. Printed maps and large datasets on DVDs are slowing the information flow to the point of meaninglessness. This data is often restricted only to the use of experienced GIS staff who know how to operate software necessary for working with mapping data. It seems that this approach becomes more and more pointless and is soon to be surpassed by a **cloud environment for sharing and collaboration** in the context of spatial ‘big data’ on a global level. Cloud environment already improves workflows in businesses, governments and community projects on a micro and macro level, sharing and editing charts, documents and images between many users in real time. When we talk about spatial data, cloud environment makes it possible to access real-time location data that can be updated in a matter of seconds, between users on different parts of the world. ## **Drone Mapping Use Case** Quoting Luke Wijnberg from 3DroneMapping, a cloud based-solution improved a construction-site overseeing workflow of his surveying company in the aspect of sharing big data collected with drones: > Using a cloud solution allowed everyone to see the entire site as it evolved from a remote location and always have the most up to date data. > > – Luke Wijnberg, 3DroneMapping They used GIS Clouds [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) application for sharing drone generated spatial data with their clients. However, data sharing is only a first stage of an improved decision making for businesses, based on spatial knowledge. ![Drone Imagery](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Drone-Imagery.jpg)Aerial imagery generated by a drone, courtesy of 3Drone Mapping Drone generated data, which includes processed sensor imagery can be useful as a snap preview of a certain area, but when it is shared without additional info attached (field reports, indexes and explanations), it usually doesn’t mean much for non-GIS users. That means that the added value of this data isn’t a preview itself, easily accessed through a cloud environment. True collaboration starts **when the drone generated imagery becomes a basemap for collaboration**. Hence, when many different users from different departments, companies or agencies can simultaneously work on the same map, populated with different information (photos, reports, comments, recordings). Different stakeholders can have easy access to mapping data through GIS Clouds platform for sharing and collaboration, with a range of applications from [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), through [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). GIS Cloud platform allows connecting and coordinating dozens of users located anywhere on a project, working in real-time on any device, at the same time **saving time and money** together with improving decision-making process. ![Colaboration tool for drone mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Maplim-colaboration-drowing-tool2.jpg)An example of a project collaboration in GIS Cloud GIS Cloud allows using a map as a work board, where you can draw, add cards with comments, photos and pdfs while conducting a project. It can be used by a great number of users and accessed from anywhere, loading large raster datasets in a matter of seconds and at the same time not depending on desktop software or a computer performance. Most importantly, to collaborate using a spatial data component doesn’t require any special expertise or training – it is a user-friendly environment suitable for non-expert users. And this is just the beginning. Want to try GIS Cloud solution for drone mapping? [Sign up for a 30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** big data, collaboration, Drone imagery, drone mapping, drones, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, Maplim, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, sharing drone data, Spatial Data, spatial decision-making, Spatial Knowledge --- ### [How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-data-collection-tools-for-soil-sampling-in-agriculture/) **Published:** March 29, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** The Mobile Data Collection app replaces messy field paperwork with easy-to-use mobile forms. After you fill the form at a sampling location, the data immediately appears in Map Editor, where you can edit and analyze the data. ![soil sampling MDC](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MDC-in-agriculture2.jpg) In the past, farmers would spread the fertilizer evenly across the entire field. But with geospatial technology, producers can now analyze the soil data with historical farming practices and determine the **right amount of fertilizer** to improve the soil nutrient levels for different types of crops. Farmers can also decrease the amount of fertilizers in certain areas and record the quantities for each crop type. The soil sampling data allows farmers to make informed decisions by measuring the effects of fertilization and monitoring farm conditions. GIS Cloud also works great with remote sensing technologies. Learn all about it in this article about [crop damage assessment](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-risk-management-use-case/). With the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC) you can record soil sampling data on custom form templates suitable even for non-GIS users. You can precisely mark and locate soil sample points in the field**,** online or offline. Use the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to easily import and **sync lab results** to review existing historical data. Also, you can identify the spatial patterns and correlations between soil nutrients, soil types and crop inputs. ## **Key Data Collection Features For Soil Sampling** #### **Create custom forms** In the MDC app, you can [create custom forms](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/) for different data collection scenarios. An MDC form is a structured PostGIS database that automatically georeferences the data to the map. Users can collect various [types of attribute data](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/) such as date and time of sample collection, soil types in the predefined select list, nutrient availability, crop characteristics, coordinates and take notes or photos. #### **Collect and edit soil sample records** Field workers can mark the location of a soil sample with the app GPS, with the pinpointing tool or by using an [external GPS device](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-achieve-higher-precision-with-external-gps-receivers-in-mobile-data-collection-app/). The MDC app will record a location for every soil sample. You can also make fast updates and edits to your data in the field or the office. #### **Work and collect offline** Even if you don’t have an internet connection in the field, you can [collect data offline](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-from-the-field-with-no-internet-connection/). Download the map on your device before you go in the field, collect the data and sync them when you return to the office. #### **Sync the lab results with the soil sample locations** After you get the soil sample lab results, you can import [CSV data](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-import-a-layer-into-database/) to the Map Editor and then [join](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/database-manager/#7) the data with the soil sample locations to get a better overview of the soil nutrient levels in different areas of the field. #### **Identify spatial patterns and Add raster data** [Spatial selection tool](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/spatial-selection/) allows you to build spatial queries for the map layers. You can compare attribute data as well as location data to analyze and identify the patterns in crop production. You can also Import raster data such as multispectral orthophoto or NDVI of your field to determine which areas require immediate attention. #### **Search and review historical data** You can [review](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-with-mdc-app/) historical sample data by ID number both in mobile and web applications. Farmers can precisely determine the amounts of resources (fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides) they should use to increase the agricultural productivity of their crops. Find out how our client form Greece, [NubiGroup](https://www.nubigroup.gr/), is using GIS Cloud technologies for precision farming in this [article](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-case-study-using-drones-and-gis-cloud-for-precision-farming-in-greece/). Interested in using GIS Cloud apps for soil sampling? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or sign up for the [free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Mobile Data Collection How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** agriculture, analyze, attribute data, Cloud GIS, crop damage assessment, CSV data, custom forms, easy to use, GIS Cloud, GPS, historical data, how to, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, NubiGroup, offline data collection, review, Search, soil sampling, spatial selection, workflow --- ### [GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-exhibiting-at-the-intergeo-2017-in-berlin/) **Published:** August 28, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are happy to announce that we will be exhibiting at the [INTERGEO 2017](https://www.intergeo.de/), taking place in Berlin, Germany from 26 to 28 of September 2017. [![GIS Cloud exhibiting in Berlin, Germany](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-at-Intergeo_Berlin_2017.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-at-Intergeo_Berlin_2017.png) INTERGEO is one of the world’s leading conference trade fairs for geodesy, geoinformation and land management, with more than 17, 000 professional visitors from more than 107 countries. This year’s INTERGEO has taken the motto “Knowledge and action for planet Earth”. If you are attending the conference, make sure to stop by Booth number **B5.027** in Hall 5.1, where you will get a chance to talk with our team, and get a demo of GIS Cloud apps and newest developments such as Crowdsourcing solution. Also, we will have a talk at the Smart Cities Forum in the Hall 7.1, “**Smart Workflows Powered by Collaborative Mapping,**” presented by our Business Development Manager Igor Farkaš on **Tuesday, 26.09. At 10.50 am**. If you want to arrange a B2B meeting with our team at the INTERGEO 2017, drop us an email at . For more news from GIS Cloud, follow us on[ Twitter](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1410379/). Related content: INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry GIS Cloud at INTERGEO Conference GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Collaborative Mapping, GIS Cloud, INTERGEO 2017 Berlin --- ### [Conquering the South Pole: Davor Rostuhar’s Interactive Map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/conquering-the-south-pole-davor-rostuhars-interactive-map/) **Published:** February 8, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Once we heard that the renowned Croatian adventurer **Davor Rostuhar** had taken it upon himself to conquer the South Pole on foot, we didn’t hesitate much before deciding to support the adventure by doing what we are best at – mapping the expedition. The expedition was tracked from the Antarctic shores to the South Pole, **successfully reached in January 2018**. ![Mapping Rostuhar journey to Antarctica](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rostuhar-cover-1024x681.jpg) The **first Croatian South Pole expedition on foot** was the perfect cause to support directly from our office in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, so we were thrilled to track the daily progress on a map embedded below. Before Davor, **only 23 people from 9 countries** had managed to cross the distance from the Antarctic coastline to the South Pole by foot and without external support. The easiest route from the coastline to the Pole takes 1200 kilometers. Prior to the South Pole conquest, Davor Rostuhar already had an admirable track record of travels and expeditions around the world. His journeys included biking 8000 kilometers from Zagreb to Egypt, conquering the summit of Mount Blanc and hiking to the highest volcano in the tropics – the top of Coropuna (6425 meters). Davor has traveled to 100 countries and led 30 expeditions while working as a journalist, photographer and writer, publishing stories in National Geographic, Geo, and other magazines. His endeavors are documented in six travel and popular science books. One yet to come will be dedicated to the South Pole expedition. In his own words: > I’ve been dreaming this „**Polar Dream**“ ever since I started travelling, 16 years ago. I’ve been dreaming of **walking 1200 km from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole – solo, unsupported and unassisted.** It is one of the remotest and most desolate parts of the World, and probably the last true wilderness. I’ve been dreaming this dream ever since I first tasted the freedom of travelling, and for the last two years I’ve been preparing intensely for this remarkable endeavor. Davor prepared for the expedition over the course of two years and was funded by his crowdfunding campaign “Polar Dream”, which reached its goal on July 3, 2017. Before starting off the expedition in December 2017, he visited northern Siberia, northern Greenland, Svalbard and Norway, where he gained knowledge of how to deal with the cold and inhospitable environment directly from those who traditionally live in such conditions: the Inuit, Nenet and Sami. The expedition took **47 days** and was filled with numerous challenges – blizzards, harsh wind, and extreme cold among them. Furthermore, Davor only had the help of a sledge to transport his 135 kilograms of equipment. Finally, on **Wednesday, 17 January 2018 at 17:28 hours GMT,** his challenging journey was successfully completed. Davor regularly updated his journal during the expedition. Details about the journey (In Croatian) can be found [here](https://www.kek.hr/category/polarni-san-novo/ekspedicijski-dnevnik/). ![Davor Rostuhar journey ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rostuhar-2.png) **Mapping the Polar Dream** As a technical support for the ‘Polar Dream’ project, our team of mapping experts at GIS Cloud had the task of creating a map of Antarctica. It was important to map all the **main strategic locations and campsites** to serve as a basemap to **track daily progress** along the way. Due to Antarctica’s position, it was important to set the correct projection for vector and raster layers and map to minimize the distortion of surfaces and distances in the polar region. All the data needed to be georeferenced first and assigned with **a Polar Stereographic projection**. After georeferencing the data, layers were imported in GIS Cloud Map Editor application, which supports most of the global and local projection systems. View more detailed map [here](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/821156/polar-dream). After the initial modifications, it took only a few hours to finish the [appearance settings](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/appearence-settings/) and to complete the [map visualization](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-layer/) of the Antarctic region. The main piece of information on the map is the location of **campsites**. The data was updated daily to track the mileage progress and to record the route that was taken to complete the Polar Dream Expedition. Besides that, it was important to label the surrounding landscape details, such as mountains, land names, sea names, and islands to get a better idea of the morphology of the terrain. If you are planning challenging expeditions like this one, it is essential to have great organization skills and a good preparation plan. Having an online mapping solution to track your progress, upload documentation, update the data and to share it with the public, can definitely be a useful addition to your endeavors. For more news from GIS Cloud, follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/), [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/GisCloud)and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/gis-cloud/). Related content: Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Davor Rostuhar, expedition, South Pole, tracking --- ### [Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) **Published:** December 15, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ## ![electric-utilities-mobile-data-collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Electric-Utilities2-1-1024x536.jpg) Electric utility companies across Nigeria struggle with electricity theft. The illegal connections to the power grid generate huge losses and are a hazard for locals. GIS technology can help mitigate the problem by enabling real-time insights and proper electric network visualization. Learn how Enugu Electricity Distribution Company utilized GIS technology to tackle electricity theft in Nigeria. ## **Complex problems demand versatile solutions** GIS technology is widely used in the field of electric utilities for a range of purposes, from electricity network visualization and real-time insight into the status of the assets to risk management and the efficient resolution of customers’ problems and requests. Knowing that the electricity distribution system comprises of kilometers of power lines connecting the end users to the substation, **it is very important to have the network properly visualized**. This can help with locating issues with connectivity or power outages, as well as with optimizing the usage of resources and identifying sources of energy loss. Customer indexing or enumeration, on the other hand, enables better customer service related to this issue and helps with monitoring consumption in the particular area. This use case demonstrates the benefits of GIS Cloud for mapping both electricity network assets and customers (customer enumeration) in real time. ## **The electricity network mapping project** We spoke with [Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ](https://www.enugudisco.com/)(EEDC) from Nigeria, who have told us how they utilize GIS Cloud to efficiently map their network and improve their decision making process in their project: “**Assets Registration & Customer Enumeration**”. They are distributors of electricity for five Southeastern States of Nigeria: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State. The primary goal of the project was to conduct **mapping of their entire electrical network system** (asset data collection). Each part of the infrastructure needed to be registered on a map. For the data collection part, they hired three different vendors to do the fieldwork. The asset data collection part of the project required collecting a GPS coordinate for each: - transmission substation, - injection substation, - distribution substation, - transformer, - high tension and low tension pole - and other parts of the infrastructure. The GPS location of each asset also needed to include additional data such as photos, status, height (for electric poles), and other data. The end result needed to be a usable spatial model of their electrical network, showing the status of assets in real-time. ## **Customer enumeration** The other part of the project, following immediately after the “Assets Registration” part, was customer indexing. The EEDC needed to **enumerate the electricity consumers associated with each transformer** in their network. Customers are identified using a numeric code. After getting their location, they can be connected with the injection substations and electric poles. ## **Challenges in preventing electricity theft** The main reason for starting the project was to prevent the electricity theft. Illegal connections to the network coming from households that were not in the EEDC billing database. The billing database also needed to be updated because of the change of the EEDC ownership from the Government to private investors. Ultimately, the EEDC wanted to reduce the Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) loses. For this, they needed to register all the assets and evaluate their condition. Customer enumeration was important for updating the billing database. The information EEDC had to start with was too old, so it was important to them not only to get current data, but also to have an overview of the data collection process in real-time. As the data collection crews needed to make estimates of the asset condition to give a cost estimation for maintenance and repairs, having **real-time insight into the data collection** was needed for making this process more efficient and the data quality better. So, the main challenge was not only to find a simple tool to collect the data on substations, transformers and poles (GPS coordinates, photos, status, etc.) in real-time but also **to communicate the feedback on data collection** easily. This was especially important because they had three different vendor companies working for them on data collection process. What they needed was to have a single tool for collecting data, as well as monitoring and coordinating collection activities. The tool they needed would be used not only for decision-making on top of collected data, but also for communicating those decisions in real-time, both with the field workers and the Senior Management. Namely, they needed a **solution for each part of the workflow**. The same tool would be used for the second part of the project, the customer indexing (enumeration process). As there are many stakeholders involved in this process, it was important to **optimize and manage costs and resources** involved in mapping a large and a complex infrastructure. ![macbook-mockup-viewer-electric-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/MacBook-Mockup-Viewer-Electric-s-1.png) ## **One solution for the entire workflow** The challenges of finding a solution for each part of the workflow, including efficient data collection in real-time, visualizing and monitoring results as well as communicating feedback, and sharing data to stakeholders, were easily solved with GIS Cloud. They used the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application to **collect data on substations, transformers, and electric poles, as well for the customer indexing purposes**. The data was collected using simple data collection forms that required no additional training for the fieldworkers. They were able to collect data such as asset type, photo, and assess its condition and send it using their mobile phones and tablets directly from the field. The collected data was instantly visualized in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application, resulting in the **spatial model of the electric network assets and customers**. Information for each electric substation, transformer, and pole appeared on a map as the data was collected. This allowed them to make their workflow and decision-making process more efficient as the coordinators were able to assess the quality of photographs in real-time and coordinate and guide teams based on collected data and by watching their movement in the field. The data could be further edited, including changing the information, adding custom symbology, different layers etc. Also, Map Editor provided a good way to manage permissions for each user, or a user group (some users had permissions only to collect data, some only to view, edit, or export data). The feedback was easily communicated using the [Map Viewer app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), which also enabled them to **share data easily with the stakeholders** in Senior Management. The stakeholders were able to view the data in the cloud using a simple branded interface with custom options, and access it anytime, from any location. ## **Cost optimization – pay only for what you use** Each of these applications can be purchased separately, for any number of users, which was important for **the optimal cost management** because there were many sides included in the process. GIS Cloud offers a flexible pricing structure in which customers can pay only for what they use (only data collecting, viewing, or editing), and for the period they need it. So, with GIS Cloud, not only was EEDC able to find a perfect solution that included each part of their workflow and enabled decision-making in real-time, but one that also proved to be a very cost efficient solution. Interested in learning more about how to use GIS Cloud for Electric Utilities? Watch the [GIS Cloud for Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-for-electric-utilities-webinar-recording/) webinar recording where you can also see a live demo of the apps. Learn about further possibilities of the GIS Cloud platform visiting [Crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) product page. If you want to try it for yourself,[ sign up ](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)here. Related content: Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” Webinar Recording: Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Use Cases **Tags:** Assets Registration, Customer Enumeration, Electric Utilities, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria, use case --- ### [GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-track-key-benefits-of-real-time-tracking-webinar-invite/) **Published:** February 10, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover-1.png) Since the beginning, all GIS Cloud applications have been built and are still being improved by considering our users’ feedback. And it’s not any different with the new product – [GIS Cloud Track](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/). For instance, many organizations asked if there is an application that can track their data collection crews in the field to ensure their safety and optimize costs. Sure, there are fleet management solutions that can somewhat satisfy that requirement. Still, the amount of time and resources they needed to set this up is a challenge. So, they pretty much always asked: Can we use mobile phones to track our crews and get the information we need? Today, the answer is finally yes! With [GIS Cloud Track](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/), you can finally utilize the same application you use for data collection to track your crews and get insights into the real-time location of people, vehicles, fixed assets, and IoT. There are many reasons why this is a must-have tool for experienced managers, but here are the top 3 ones that come to mind: **Safety First!** Currently, there are thousands of GIS Cloud users in the field using our mobile apps to do their job. And we’re proud to say that we work with companies in many different industries across the globe: ![thousands of GIS Cloud users in the field using our mobile apps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Copy-Map.png) Although they have different needs and workflows, there is one thing they all have in common – a need to make sure their crews are as safe as possible. Whether you’re sending crews to disaster areas for emergency calls, or you’re driving great distances to visit the location of interest, or simply inspecting potholes in a crowded street, you always want to make sure you and your crew get to the destination safely. And if that’s not the case, you need to know where and when something went wrong**.** Having that information in real-time is simply a necessity. **Plug & Play!** Another benefit that’s a dealbreaker for many organizations is the ease of deployment and setup costs. With standard fleet management solutions, you need to buy and install a GPS device into a vehicle you wish to track, purchase an additional data plan and make sure everything is properly connected to your application. True, this gives you other options like sensor information and more advanced reporting, which is why we also have a full-blown Fleet management solution through which we already track thousands of vehicles. But, in many cases, you want to start fast and scale up once you get the first results. Getting started is the trickiest part so having the option to utilize what you already have and connect it to the system you already understand is crucial to get the ball rolling. In short, with [GIS Cloud Track](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/), you can get up and running in half a day and without additional costs regular Fleet tools require. **Optimize Operational Costs!** Having the information you can use to understand your needs and operations better in order to cut the operational costs further is one of the main reasons there are so many fleet solutions available. As mentioned above, we already help customers track their fuel consumption (or any other parameter relevant to them like salt in [snowplows](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/fighting-the-snow-with-a-fleet-management-solution-a-case-study/) for example), understand driver behavior, review taken paths to confirm done activities, etc. For that, our customers installed a dedicated GPS device and additional sensor into their vehicles to get all that information to understand and reduce costs. But what if you don’t need all that information, or you don’t have the resources to start big with fleet management at this moment? The question is, what kind of information can you get from a mobile phone that can still help you reduce operational costs? Location is one of the most important parts of any information, and knowing where did your employees go, what route did they take, and when did they do their job can give you insight like: - Job validation – Did they go to the designated area and do their job? - Performance tracking – How many locations were visited by a specific person? Was the job done on time? - Drive costs – Did they take the most optimal route to the destination, and how long does it take to get there? - Geofencing – did they go through areas of interest and avoid restricted areas? For more information, please check out the webinar recording below, where we have talked about Track benefits and shown you a demo of the solution. In the meantime, [create your GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), explore data collection and register for [GIS Cloud Track early access](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/)! Related content: GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets Data Collection & Crew Tracking in a Single Solution GIS Cloud Track GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** assets, benefits, Demo, Fleet Management, Geofencing, GIS Cloud Track, GPS, inspecting, Job validation, Location, Operational Costs, optimal route, Optimize, Performance tracking, Plug & Play, potholes, real-time, Safety, workflow --- ### [Map Engine: Super-fast High Definition Maps!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-super-fast-high-definition-maps/) **Published:** October 1, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![High Definition Map Engine](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/High-definition-maps-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/High-definition-maps-cover.png) We are excited to announce a major update on our map engine technology! **Maps** are now **rendered at high quality** utilizing every pixel on screen to deliver crisp rendering of geometry and labels. Besides providing stunning map visuals, **this update significantly improves speed** in rendering large amounts of map features and provides support for an **unlimited number of layers** without affecting the performance. **As pioneer and inventor of vector tiles, GIS Cloud** is now delivering the **next generation map engine** which again raises the bar in performance and visualization with a goal to deliver the best possible online GIS user experience! More on the technical side of this update: - **Vector tiles are now rendered at high definition using all screen pixels available.** This significantly improves map visualization quality on high pixel density screens on desktop and mobile devices such as Retina screens e.g., on iPhone each map tile is rendered at 3x resolution of current resolution i.e. at 768 x 768, instead of 256 x 256 pixels. The map engine automatically detects screen capabilities and adjusts itself to utilize maximum resolution. - **Rendering of multiple layers has been optimized – the map will perform the same whether there is one layer or thousands of them!** This optimization reduces memory requirements and significantly increases performance. - **Map rendering now happens in a separate CPU thread which makes map interactions and loading much smoother, especially when dealing with large datasets.** This update is available in all our web applications. Support for our mobile applications will come with their next updates. [**Create your account**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try out high definition maps, or[ **log in now**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/) and check your maps in a new shine! Related content: Map Export: High Resolution Maps Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** big data, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, high definition, high definition maps, high quality maps, large data, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, pixel, raster data, screen pixels, super fast maps, vector tiles --- ### [Collecting Field Data For A Water Distribution System In California](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/self-help-enterprises-collecting-data-for-a-water-distribution-system-in-california-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** March 7, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Lack of affordable housing is a [growing problem in California](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/04/income-inequality-in-california-forcing-residents-to-sleep-in-cars.html). Combined with the [severe droughts](https://ca.water.usgs.gov/california-drought/california-drought-comparisons.html) that have afflicted the state in the last few years, this problem only grows worse for the residents in areas such as Tulare County. To alleviate this problem, organizations such as [Self-Help Enterprises (SHE)](https://www.selfhelpenterprises.org/) are continually working together with low-income families to build and sustain healthy homes and communities. Read a case study on how GIS Cloud helped Self-Help Enterprises in constructing a new water distribution system in East Porterville. ![GIS Cloud mapping and collecting data on water distribution system for a nonprofit organization](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SHE-jessi-snider-use-case-wells-distruction-cover-1024x681.png) We talked to **Jessi Snyder**, a Community Development Manager at Self-Help Enterprises, who told us more about the projects they are currently doing. Jessi is the project manager for the East Porterville project. She supervises the people who are in the field, collecting data, interacting with homeowners, and helping with the work of installing water lines and destroying wells. She manages the contractors and the data that is collected in the field. In California’s recent four-year drought, thousands of rural residents lost their residential water wells to falling water tables, leaving families without drinking water and sanitation. One area that was severely hit was the unincorporated area known as East Porterville, adjacent to the City of Porterville in southern Tulare County. SHE was a project partner in the enormous effort, led by the State of California, **to construct a brand-new water distribution system** to serve this area that was previously entirely dependent on individual private water wells. Other project partners included the City of Porterville, who would own and operate the system; CA Department of Water Resources, CA State Water Resources Control Board, County of Tulare, and several other non-governmental organizations. SHE’s primary role in the project was to make the final connection between the newly installed water mains to the homes, and to have the old wells destroyed following the agreements made between the City of Porterville and its new customers. ## **The tools they needed** With **over 750 new connections between water mains and homes** to be made, there was a lot of data to handle. In the first (and smaller) phase of the project, SHE crews marked the future location of water service connections with wooden stakes and flagging. This was not a strategy that held up well over the long term, as stakes would disappear or be relocated by homeowners, and the team would be left without a record of where they had been. So, they decided that a more effective way of tracking the stakes was needed. SHE crews required a tool that would allow them to **digitally record the exact position of the stakes** along with additional information such as photographs or comments. This data should be available in real-time and easily shared between the field crews, office personnel, and the contractors. In a later phase of the project, SHE was tasked with handling the destruction of all the wells that had formerly served the newly connected homes. Every possible variation of well exists in East Porterville: they are hidden in sheds, under boxes, behind houses, and beneath all manner of backyard junk. Knowing this, Self-Help Enterprises wanted to improve the coordination with their contractors and reduce the time their contractors spent on finding and destroying the wells, therefore **helping to keep the overall costs reasonable.** ## The GIS Cloud Solution In the words of Jessi Snyder: > GIS Cloud was brought to our attention when we were looking for a digital way to document the location of the stakes. It was a perfect fit. Our crews were able to use their existing smartphones to digitally record the precise location of the designated service connection location, then further document with photographs. We still placed wooden stakes, but no longer had to worry about them disappearing. The latitude-longitude readings were then transferred to the engineering design team, who were, therefore, able to include the locations of the new service connections in the design plans. This reduced error and problem-solving in the field during construction. ![Mapping Water Wells in California](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SHE-water-distr.mapping-project-1024x632.jpg) The data was collected with GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). It was easily visualized in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application, where all locations of the stakes were easily shown and could be analyzed further. When it came to the next phase of the projects where SHE needed to organize the well destruction, they returned to the field. > To keep costs reasonable and avoid wasted time on the part of the well destruction contractor, SHE crews again went out armed with their smartphones equipped with GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection. Over the course of a few weeks, they made their way through the community again, talking with homeowners and documenting the location, condition, and accessibility of wells on every property. This data, including GPS location data, photographs, and other details, is being shared with the well destruction contractor so they can more efficiently locate and destroy over 750 private wells that are no longer needed, and which present an environmental hazard if left in place. > > – Jessi Snyder. After the success in East Porterville, Self-Help Enterprises moved on to using GIS Cloud to stake proposed water service locations for smaller drought projects in the communities of Okieville and Monson, and a replacement project for the water distribution system in Seville. With GIS Cloud, Self-Help Enterprises got a perfect solution for **managing a large scale project** and having precise location information on the water distribution system, which helped them in streamlining their processes, increased efficiency, and provided the better coordination between all stakeholders in the project. Three key GIS Cloud features which they highlighted as the most important for them were: - Portability and the ease of use - Simple customization - Easy exporting and using the data For more information about Self-Help Enterprises, please visit SHE’s website at [www.selfhelpenterprises.org](https://www.selfhelpenterprises.org/). Interested in using GIS Cloud apps for your project? [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try it for free. Related content: Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica) Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Water Utilities **Tags:** California, nonprofit, Self-Help Enterprises, Water Distribution system --- ### [GIS for Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-electric-utilities/) **Published:** June 11, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![GIS for electric utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-cover-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-cover.png) **GIS software** has been empowering the electric utility industry for decades. It provides a **robust framework for asset and workforce management** as well as tools for planning and analysis. Today, the landscape is filled with desktop solutions like those from ESRI, open-source software like QGIS, but also a host of online GIS solutions. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the uses of **GIS for electric utilities** and provide a real-life example from an electricity distribution company. Also, we’ll show you how to use GIS Cloud, our own solution for field operations and workforce collaboration in electric utilities. **Table of contents:** • [Using GIS in Electric Utilities](#using-GIS) • [Asset Inventory and Infrastructure Insights](#asset) • [Optimizing Field Operations](#field) • [Collaborating and Sharing Geospatial Data](#collab) • [The GIS Cloud Solution Workflow](#workflow) • [1. Creating Field Data Collection Projects](#create) • [2. Collecting Field Data](#collect) • [3. Editing Data and Overseeing Fieldwork](#edit) • [4. Sharing Data With Clients, Subcontractors and Managers](#share) • [Case Study – ENUGU Electricity Distribution Company](#case) • [Key Benefits of GIS for Electric Utilities](#benefits) ## **Using GIS in Electric Utilities** You could say that a geographic information system is essential for electric utility companies. It provides the foundational layer of technology for effective **asset management** as well as regulatory compliance. Companies use GIS for multiple purposes, from managing field operations to performing spatial analysis. Let’s dive in and learn how to utilize GIS and especially online GIS apps in electric utilities. #### **Asset Inventory and Infrastructure Insights** It’s crucial to have an accurate asset inventory with electric poles, transformers, cable lines, substations and other electric utility **assets properly mapped**. GIS allows you to manage the asset data a lot easier and enables you to take insight from the infrastructure. With a properly set up GIS suite, you can get amazing insights from infrastructure data by: - Analyzing usage patterns - Recognizing problems and risks like power outages - Having oversight about energy consumption - Finding potential threats to the power grid - Managing utility asset repairs Before you start with the analysis, it’s essential to have quality data; you need to know the condition of assets, their locations and other info. Which brings us to the next point. #### **Optimizing Field Operations** Field operations in electric utilities are usually about mapping the infrastructure and performing routine inspections. But to get high-quality field data, you need an effective field workflow and a field crew equipped with surveying equipment or [data collection apps](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). In most companies, the daily workflow starts with printing inspection forms and maps of the survey area. The field crews then go on to record the locations of assets and perform inspections. The field data then makes its way to the office where it’s transcribed to a desktop GIS or AutoCAD software. This is a typical paper-based workflow with many drawbacks like illegible inspection forms, uncredited asset photos, lost paper forms and so on. To improve the workflow, we strongly suggest using online GIS apps to **make the workflow paperless** and more efficient. [![GIS for Electric Utilities - electrical gis mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electrical-gis-mapping-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electrical-gis-mapping.jpg)Field crew from [Global Code Technology](https://www.globalcodetechnology.com/) (GIS Cloud partner) using the Mobile Data Collection app. To get there, you’ll need to use data collection apps for surveys and inspections, as well as Cloud GIS web apps to manage the data. **Replace the paper maps** with interactive mobile apps that have the needed infrastructure data. Utilize mobile data collection apps as a substitute for **messy paper forms**. And finally, end the data transcribing for good by using web apps that are in sync with mobile data collection apps. Now you understand how to use GIS to improve your field operations, but what about enhancing collaboration between subcontractors, clients and company management? #### **Collaborating and Sharing Geospatial Data** To get the most out of GIS technology, it’s best to connect everyone in the workflow: field workers, engineers, managers, decision makers and clients. The web-based GIS apps allow you to keep your data centralized in one place enabling, everyone to collaborate over the same geospatial dataset. When the field workers collect data, it immediately populates an online map. That allows the office team to give **direct feedback** regarding the quality of data. It also enables the management to track the productivity for individual workers. After a survey is done, it’s time to share the data with other departments, clients or subcontractors. Here you can get a lot of help from online maps and being able to share them with practically anyone involved in the project. We’ll get into details in the next chapter where we’ll show you how to share geospatial data with GIS Cloud apps. ## **The GIS Cloud Solution Workflow** In this chapter, we’ll show you how to use GIS Cloud apps for projects in electric utilities. The apps are designed to support your entire field operations workflow, from collecting field data to automating tedious office tasks. First, we’ll show you how to create a surveying project in the Mobile Data Collection Portal. #### **1. Creating Field Data Collection Projects** Before you can start collecting data, you need to create a project (survey form) in the Mobile Data Collection Portal (MDCP). There you can create and edit any number of mobile forms and manage the collected field data. Creating a form is easy: name the form, choose what you’re collecting (point, line or polygon), add all the required fields and that’s it. The types of fields you can add to a mobile form: - Standard items (text, number, date & time, checkboxes…) - Media (**photos**, audio recordings, QR/Barcode) - Device and user (user name, device ID, device version…) - Location (latitude, longitude, altitude, GPS heading, accuracy…) There are a lot of features you can use to create a form that suits your needs. You can specify any field as **required**, **read-only**, persistent or **autofill**. Also, you can create **dependent fields** that allow you to manage sets of dependencies between fields. When a field is dependent, it will only be available if the state of the parent field satisfies the right rule. If the rule is not met, it will not be possible to view or edit the dependent form field. Here’s how it looks when creating a mobile form: [![GIS for Electric Utilities - create project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-create-project-1024x703.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-create-project.png)Example of a utility pole inspection form in the Mobile Data Collection Portal (MDCP). To start collecting field data, you need to share the project with your field workers. Just open the project, share to a particular username and assign the desired privileges (View, Share, Edit, Export, Collect and/or Update). #### **2. Collecting Field Data** Now that you’ve created a mobile form and assigned it to your field workers, it’s time to start collecting data with the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). It’s easy as it gets, choose the desired MDCP project (form), fill out the form and press send. The data and the location will instantly show in the MDCP web app and Map Editor. [![GIS for Electric Utilities - mobile forms](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-mobile-forms-1024x780.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-mobile-forms.png)Utility pole inspection forms in the Mobile Data Collection app (MDC). If you find yourself in an area with a weak GPS signal, it’s best to use the pinpoint tool. It allows you to retain good accuracy by pinpointing the location on the map. The MDC app **works offline** as well in case you lose internet connection. The collected data waits in the queue for the mobile phone to connect to the internet and then pulls the data online. Let’s wrap up with the field workflow and take a look at how GIS Cloud apps can help you improve efficiency at the office. #### **3. Editing Data and Overseeing Fieldwork** GIS Cloud apps enable you to digitize your office workflow. There’s no need to transcribe paper forms or print maps, it’s all in one place, always available. We recommend using the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for in-office tasks like editing field data, analysis, and sharing maps and reports. Map Editor is the central app in the GIS Cloud suite. It supports a number of vector and raster formats, **rich GIS symbology** and it has built-in collaboration capabilities which allow real-time editing and sharing. Map Editor is equipped with a file and database manager, and it integrates easily with ArcGIS and QGIS. [![GIS for Electric Utilities - electrical distribution planning](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electrical-distribution-planning-1024x613.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electrical-distribution-planning.png)Utility poles and transformer layers in Map Editor You can also track the progress of your survey. The data collected in the field instantly populates the map in the MDCP or the Map Editor app, giving you real-time oversight over what’s going on in the field. It enables you to **monitor the field data quality**, review the collected data and quickly provide feedback to workers or subcontractors. It’s easy to track productivity, as well. If you want to know how many assets each of the field workers collected, create a filter in the data grid and export the data to CSV format. #### **4. Sharing Data With Clients, Subcontractors and Managers** To share data with clients, you probably use Dropbox, flash drives, or DVDs, making it a messy process with data scattered all around. To fix this issue, it’s best to centralize all of your data by uploading it to the GIS Cloud and using the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app to give access to your clients, subcontractors or management. The Map Viewer makes collaboration on large datasets possible. Everyone involved has access to the same dataset and can filter and export the data. No need to import data to desktop GIS software like ArcGIS or QGIS just to see how it looks. If you need a **branded interface** when sharing data with clients, it’s possible to white label your Map Viewer with custom colors and your logo. Here’s an example of a white-labeled interface from our clients the ENUGU Electricity Distribution Company: [![GIS for electric utilities - gis application in power distribution utility](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-gis-application-in-power-distribution-utility.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-gis-application-in-power-distribution-utility.gif) ## **Case Study – ENUGU Electricity Distribution Company** Now that you know the basics of how GIS Cloud apps work, it’s best you see them in action. We bring you a use case from [ENUGU](https://www.enugudisco.com/), the largest electricity distribution company in Nigeria. The company had serious problems with electricity theft and were losing vast amounts of resources from illegal connections to the grid. To tackle the problem, they planned to embed a smart meter into every household. But first of all, the company needed to **map the electricity distribution network** and index the customers. To map out the electric poles, transformers, substations as well as customer locations, they deployed Mobile Data Collection apps to 150 field workers. The field teams were equipped with pre-made mobile forms for each type of asset (e.g. utility pole inspection form) to make the data collection and asset inspections as fast as possible. To monitor the field data quality, the operations managers from ENUGU used the Map Editor app to review the data for each utility asset. If the data didn’t suffice, they could quickly give feedback to workers and subcontractors. The Map Editor also allowed them to monitor the progress of the survey in real time and for individual workers. [![GIS for Electric Utilities - electric utility asset management software](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electric-utility-asset-management-software-1024x589.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-Electric-Utilities-electric-utility-asset-management-software.png)Overview of the ENUGU power grid in Map Viewer The Map Viewer app was of great use to the project as it allowed the stakeholders to view and share maps and field data online. The subcontractors could share the completed maps for review to the ENUGU supervisors. Learn more about [how ENUGU utilized GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) to optimize the cost of field operations in this comprehensive [case study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/). ## **Key Benefits of GIS for Electric Utilities** There are many ways your field operations and overall collaboration can benefit from GIS and Cloud GIS apps. We’ve mentioned a lot of them in the article but here’s a quick recap: - Cutting Costs by Going Paperless - Real-time insight – instantly available - Instant feedback from the field - React instantly to a project issue - Maintenance, quality control, plan ahead - All in one solution – upload data / collect, sharing, publishing, collaboration - Only get the apps you need this month – **pay as you go** Regarding the last point about the pay-as-you-go model, some of the online GIS providers have a pricing model that allows you to upscale or downscale according to your needs. For example, here at GIS Cloud, you **only pay for what you use**. If the project scope changes, you can easily unsubscribe or subscribe for new licenses. Interested in using GIS Cloud for electric utilities? [Sign up for the free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). You’ll have 30 days to test the apps and see if they fit your field workflow. If you want someone to show you around and propose a possible GIS solution contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording Vegetation Management For Electric Utilities Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Use Cases --- ### [GIS Cloud Presentation at MundoGEO#Connect Latin America](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-presentation-at-mundogeoconnect-latin-america/) **Published:** May 11, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Today, 12th of May 2017, GIS Cloud team will give a talk and show a demo at [MundoGEO#Connect 2017](https://mundogeoconnect.com/2017/) about **“Building Intelligent Cities by Engaging Citizens Through Collaborative Solutions”** at **15h, Auditorium A.** [![GIS Cloud presentation at MundoGeo #Connect 2017 Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-Mundogeo-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-Mundogeo-2.png) During the conference, you can visit GIS Cloud stand (No. 072) in the exhibition space, try our solutions or request a live demo, and hear about recent developments. As you can see from the photos, we have been very busy the last two days. Interest in GIS Cloud solutions is huge and we almost didn’t have the time to grab a coffee! This is the last day of the conference, so seize the opportunity to talk to our core team and learn anything you want to know about GIS Cloud. [![GS Cloud very busy at MundoGeo #Connect 2017 Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-MundoGeo-Connect-1024x693.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-MundoGeo-Connect.jpg) The conference and exhibition is taking place at the Frei Caneca Convention centre in São Paulo, Brazil. Related content: GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017 QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-foss4g-2017-and-east-coast-in-august/) **Published:** June 27, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** In August, we will be in the US on the East Coast in **New York and Boston**. We will be sponsoring the[ FOSS4G 2017 ](https://2017.foss4g.org/)conference in Boston, participating in the program, workshops and other activities. Our visit to the East Coast is **an excellent opportunity to schedule a meeting with our team** and learn about our latest developments first-hand. [![GIS Cloud sponsoring FOSS4G 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GC-at-FOSS4G-Boston-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GC-at-FOSS4G-Boston-2.png) **FOSS4G** is the most important annual global event focused on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial, organized by [OSGeo](https://www.osgeo.org/). Except for many local FOSS4G events around the world, there is also a global event traditionally held in August, this year taking place in Boston from 14th -19th at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center. The event includes talks, code sprints, workshops, social events and other activities bringing together a variety of participants and topics in the range from software development to business, local governments, and education. **Want to meet us at FOSS4G or for a separate meeting?** **Dino**, our Co-Founder and CEO, will hold a workshop titled “[Real-time Collaborative Mapping with GIS Cloud](https://2017.foss4g.org/workshop-signup/)” taking place at the Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis in Cambridge, MA on August 14th. Sign up for the workshop [here](https://docs.google.com/a/giscloud.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq40YPxnjW8Up0SAUhstozwqfFcnJdgbgTreWbYAesBFOKLA/viewform?entry.109657788=113&entry.664662615&entry.1211738297). We will also have two presentations at the conference – “**Don’t Code, Configure: Turn Your Maps into Apps**” at 11:30 am in Harborview 1 and “**Offline Maps Sync using SQLite**” at 2:30 pm in Harborview 2. Also, make sure to stop by our booth #315 in the exhibition space and try our solutions hands on. **To meet with us on the East Coast (Boston, New York, and other locations), drop an e-mail at** Related content: Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston GIS Cloud Training Sessions On August 15th in Boston GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** b2b, Boston, East Coast, FOSS4G 2017 --- ### [Vegetation Survey of Lake Gaston (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-survey-of-lake-gaston-case-study/) **Published:** September 25, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Vegetation survey and shoreline survey of lake gaston](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-of-lake-gaston-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-of-lake-gaston.jpg) Citizens of Lake Gaston wanted to take care of the lake ecosystem. The invasive plant species were spreading out of control, so a vegetation survey was required to determine the best way to fight the invasive flora. This case study is a great example of volunteers working on vegetation management for an entire lake shoreline. ## **About Lake Gaston** [Lake Gaston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Gaston) spans the Virginia and North Carolina border and is a man-made lake with over 22,000 acres and 350 miles of shoreline that provides recreation, power generation, flood prevention and water supply for Virginia Beach, VA, and is home to over 10,000 full and part-time residents. The lake draws visitors and residents from Raleigh, NC and the Washington DC area as well as people from Norfolk and Richmond, VA. Lake Gaston is utilized not only by lakeside property owners, but by anglers, boaters, and other visitors. That’s why the vegetation management activities have the potential to significantly affect: - access to outdoor activities such as swimming, boating, skiing, and angling - property values in and around the lake - local businesses - the county tax base - water quality - the environmental health of the system - tourism ## **The Lake Gaston Association (LGA)** [The LGA](https://www.lakegastonassoc.com/) is a citizens’ organization that actively promotes the interests of Lake Gaston and its households, users, and businesses. The LGA is a volunteer and a non-profit organization that collaborates with state and local officials that have management authority on and around Lake Gaston. The LGA lake survey program, using **65 volunteers** and three technicians from NC State University (NCSU), is one of the largest all-volunteer efforts on a lake the size of Gaston in the southeastern United States. The All-volunteer effort, the technology and tools of sampling had to be designed to easily organize, train, use, and collect the data. All 350 miles of the lake are sampled. ## **Vegetation and shoreline survey project** The LGA association has surveyed the lake on an annual basis for over seven years to determine the presence of healthy vegetation as well as evaluate the levels of invasive species and quality of the water. LGA partner [NC State University’s Aquatic Crop Science Dept.](https://vernonjames.ces.ncsu.edu/department-of-crop-science/) and [Lake Gaston Weed Control Council](http://www.lgwcc.org/) can determine what type of treatments are needed and where treatments should be done in the following year. The lake has some federally listed **noxious invasive species** which include Hydrilla and Lyngbya. Hydrilla is a highly invasive aquatic weed, able to propagate by fragmentation and through tuber production. The primary function of the LGA GIS vegetation and shoreline survey program is to research, monitor and communicate findings concerning Lake Gaston’s environment; including water levels, water quality, biological impacts, and general aesthetics on land and water. The survey program allows the LGA to stay informed and maintain rapport with all appropriate groups involved in the decision-making process for each of these issues. ## **350 miles of shoreline mapped by volunteers** This annual survey is invaluable in determining water clarity and what aquatic plants, good and bad, are growing in and around Lake Gaston. The lake survey commences every year on September 1 and lasts through the end of October. Training is made available to over 65 volunteers in August at various locations to show the volunteers how to do the survey. The biggest challenge the LGA has in achieving the annual project goals is getting sufficient volunteers to do 350 miles of shoreline; thus the software and the process must be simple for a wide variety of users. [![vegetation survey and shoreline GIS survey map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-GIS-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-GIS-map.jpg) The primary objective is **ease of use, training, management of the survey teams, and accuracy of the maps** as well as the ability for the maps to also be shared with other governmental and research entities. The volunteers also include high school students looking for community service credits as well as other volunteers who do not want to spend lots of time learning computer use and functions but want to learn how to do a vegetation survey. LGA was looking for a hand-held system (Android, iOS) for vegetation sampling to evaluate where Hydrilla, Lyngbya, and other nuisance aquatic plants are located along the shoreline. ## **Mapping the vegetation with smartphones** The vegetation is surveyed with the [Mobile Data Collection App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), a cloud-based application that provides simple mapping and survey forms that can be easily loaded on a variety of operating systems. LGA uses a number of different brands of tablets and smartphones based on the Android and Apple operating systems. The Mobile Data Collection App works on Android and iOS so the volunteer can select the type of hardware that is most convenient for them. Convenience and flexibility are important because the volunteers use pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks and other watercraft when collecting field data. The Mobile Data Collection App also allows volunteers to quickly view and edit their work if a mistake in vegetation sampling is made and also review how many samples they have completed. The sampling can be easily seen on a map of the lake to be sure that volunteers have completed their assigned area of survey. [![vegetation survey and shoreline GIS survey map 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-GIS-map-2-1024x494.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/vegetation-survey-and-shoreline-survey-GIS-map-2.jpg) \*The map shows only 20% of the survey The survey workflow is straightforward as well. With the Mobile Data Collection Portal you create a surveying project and the mobile collection forms. Then you just need to share the app licenses to field workers and they can start collecting data. If you want to know more about Mobile Data Collection App, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Also, you can try it out with the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). ## **Vegetation survey results** The LGA vegetation survey has resulted in a significant reduction in Hydrilla over the past three years. Data now show that much of the lake area where this invasive species was found is now free of Hydrilla. The **introduction of sterile grass carp** has been instrumental in the control of this noxious aquatic weed. Lyngbya is now also being evaluated for possible management strategies by NCSU and Clemson University. LGA expects that continued survey of the lake will allow the researchers to assess the impact of current and future treatment options and carry out a complete evaluation of the shoreline environment. The future surveys will help enable lake management to identify possible shoreline conditions that give rise to the newly growing forms of invasive plants. ## **Future plans** LGA plans on extending the use of survey data to include future nutrient surveys of the lake environment as well as surveys of sediment and other environmental conditions that can be added to the survey forms for future use. LGA is also thinking on expanding the survey process to include aerial geospatial surveying of shoreline plant species. LGA plans to extend the work to use aerial geospatial evaluation of the shoreline as possible ways to extend the information and provide more detailed geospatial maps. The surveying efforts will also review areas of the lake where other invasive species have been found, particularly Lyngbya, a cyanobacteria and algae. If you want to know more about the GIS Cloud solution for vegetation management, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Woodland Survey – Evolving Forests Use Case Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) Using GIS for Vegetation Management in Electric Utility **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Vegetation Management --- ### [How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/) **Published:** March 8, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![lewis-county-portal-cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Lewis-County-Portal-cover-1024x589.jpg) Many NGOs, local governments, smart cities and city agencies have enabled the public to access spatial and nonspatial information through GIS. With the right technology and initiative, sharing information on assets and resources with City Map Portals can improve city management, enable collaboration across city departments, engage citizens and build their trust in city governance, aid in the implementation of different initiatives, and enable **data-driven and real-time decision making.** Find out how easy it is to create a city portal with GIS Cloud solutions, in this example of Lewis County, New York’s [**Map Portal**](https://opengisportallewis.giscloud.com/)**.** Lewis County is a small community located in the State of New York. They wanted to enable the public and businesses easy access to the public data via an online map. Lewis County map portal includes different and multiple layers like zoning, wetlands, and mobile railways. ![lewis-county-gif3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2.-Lewis-county-23mb.gif) ## How to Create a Map Portal with GIS Cloud ### 1. Collect, organize and secure the data With the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) web application, local governments and citizens can create an authoritative, digital database with various location-based datasets. Whether you already have existing data or you need to import or create new datasets, web GIS solutions such as the Map Editor offers a wide range of [editing](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-edit-data-geometry/) and [analysis ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/analysis/)tools that help maintain the quality of the data. Storing the spatial data in the cloud changes the administrative and security procedure as it makes it easier to control data backup and to guarantee data safety. Read more about data protection in the cloud in this [article](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/ask-an-engineer-how-safe-is-to-store-data-in-the-cloud-and-other-safety-tips/). ### 2. Customize the map portal interface Every local government or city agency interested in creating and sharing a GIS portal to the public needs a customized and branded portal interface. Usually, it’s a job for developers, but with the [**App Builder application**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/)**,** you can customize your web portal without writing a single line of code. Customize the domain, the theme, the logo, create filters, customize the buttons and panels and choose only the editing and analysis tools that you want. ### 3. Deliver the data to the public. The fastest and easiest way to share information on public facilities and infrastructure between local governments, city departments and the public is with the [Map Portal ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)application. The main advantage is that you can control the visibility of specific datasets, set different export permissions and work in a real-time mapping engine with all the updates visible immediately. Find out more about creating a Map Portal in this [webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/). Interested in smart city technologies? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) How to Transform Your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps? **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, GISCloud, lewic county, Map Portal, open portal --- ### [GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-exhibiting-at-the-australian-utility-week-in-melbourne-in-november/) **Published:** October 19, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are happy to announce our upcoming exhibition at the [Australian Utility Week](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/), taking place in **Melbourne, Australia (29-30 November)** at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. ![GIS Cloud at Australian Utility Week in Melbourne](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GC-at-Australian-Week-1.png) Our participation and exhibition at the Australian Utility Week is a part of GIS Cloud’s **Australia and New Zealand tour** in November. We consider this a great chance to meet our growing community in Australia and New Zealand. > The event is now in its 15th year and will attract 2000+ utility professionals from the electricity, gas and water sectors. The speakers are a mix of Australian and international utility leaders, Smart Grid technology innovators, and R&D professionals. It’s the largest event of its kind in Australasia region and the only event that focuses exclusively on digital and customer facing innovations. > > ([source](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/)) This year, Australian Utility Week includes 3 distinct streams (Field Operations, Smart Grid & Meters, Digital Utility) that are free to attend. Also, there will be a co-located event – [Energy Services Australia ](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/)(ESA). You can meet the GIS Cloud team at **booth D02**, and see a demo of our newest solutions such as [Crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/), as well as get a sneak peek into our new technologies yet to be presented to a wider community. Among other activities that we are preparing, our Business Development Manager, Igor Farkaš, will lead **a focus group for GIS in Utilities**, dedicated to getting feedback and addressing the needs of the professionals who will shape the future of the utilities industry. Entrance to the exhibition part of the event is free for everyone. If you wish to visit the event as our guests, **please register using the** [**GIS Cloud customized e-ticket**](https://powerandutilitiesaustralia.com/)**.** To arrange a **B2B meeting** with our team in Australia or New Zealand, please send us an email at Stay tuned for more information on Australian Utility Week and our November tour of Australia and New Zealand. Interested in getting more updates from GIS Cloud? Follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), [Facebook](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1410379/). Related content: Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation Learn about GIS Cloud Non-profit Use Cases at AidEx in Brussels (15-16 November) GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Australia, Australian Utility Week, conference, Melbourne --- ### [GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-on-codeacross-and-opendataday-in-zagreb/) **Published:** March 1, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/code-across.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/code-across.png) We are happy to sponsor[ CodeAcross and OpenDataDay](https://codeforcroatia.org/) events in Zagreb this weekend (4.-6. of March). A week of civic innovations encourages citizens, software developers, designers and activists to work towards strengthening transparency in local governments and communities across the world. Saturday, March 5th is the [International Open Data Day](https://opendataday.org/) which is gathering citizens all over the world with a goal to create applications, to make public data open for all, together with creating visualizations and publishing analyses using open public data. The main idea behind this global event is to *support and encourage the adoption of open data policies by the world’s local, regional and national governments*. Week of civic innovations in Zagreb will start with the conference [“Open Data and Civic Hackers: From Rare Exceptions towards Becoming the Standard”](https://codeforcroatia.org/). The conference participants will be discussing current developments together with challenges following the process of making data public. This process is also a basis for the platform for achieving goals stated in Republic of Croatia key strategic documents, dedicated to promotion and protection of basic human rights, to a fight against the corruption and to reforms of national information science curriculums. The conference will be followed by a [weekend hackaton](https://github.com/codeforcroatia/opendataday), where citizens, designers and software developers will get a chance to participate in the ongoing projects such as Open Public Registers, Active Citizen Participation, Budget Transparency and many others. Related content: Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Importance of Open Data for Local Governments Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) GeoMeetup Zagreb – Shaping the GEO Community in 2018 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** citizens, Civic Innovations, Code Across, GIS, GIS Cloud, local government, open data, Open Data Day, transparency, Zagreb --- ### [Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone - GIS for NGOs (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-everyone-gis-for-ngos-case-study/) **Published:** June 25, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-case-study-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-case-study-cover.jpg) Water is one of the Earth’s most valuable resources. Some of us take drinking water for granted, while millions of people across the globe can’t even imagine having everyday access to clean water. This is a success story about a [project in Liberia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-every-single-person-ngo-user-story/) that began in 2015, where **nonprofits** joined forces to **map the entire country** and reach a common goal: **bring clean drinking water to every Liberian household by December of 2020.** The results so far are amazing, to say the least, a **95% reduction in symptoms** for water-related illness. Learn about methods used to achieve project goals and amazing results that drastically changed people’s lives in Liberia. **Case Study Outline:** - [The Origins of The Project](#origins) - [Water Pollution and Socio-Economic Situation in Liberia](#polution) - [A Plan to Bring Clean Drinking Water to Every Liberian Household](#plan) - [Getting the NGOs Together and Overcoming Challenges](#ngos) - [Field Data Collection – Multiple surveys analyzed in a single map & data workspace](#data-collection) - [Village Assessment (Census) and Water Resources Mapping](#assessment) - [Filter Installation and Initial Survey](#installation) - [Follow Up Surveys on People’s Health](#follow-up) - [The Results: Significant Health Improvements and Ensured Further Funding](#results) ## **The Origins of the Project** It all started with [Darrel Larson](https://givecleanwater.org/our-story/), International Director of [Sawyer Products](https://www.sawyer.com/) and the founder of [Give Clean Water](https://givecleanwater.org/) nonprofit initiative, and his mission to **bring clean water** to remote parts of the world. In 2008, Darrel wanted to make a difference in the world and help those in need, and as he was aware that **contaminated water consumption** was one of the biggest problems in the world, he decided to try bringing clean drinking water to people living in remote areas and **struggling with illness**. He chose Fiji because he had great relationships and a network of people there. The goal was to bring clean drinking water to everyone by installing water filtration systems. **Water pollution** is the number one cause of water shortage and one of the biggest problems of the modern world. Almost **50% of the Fijian population didn’t have access to clean water** before this initiative many years ago. The success of the project in Fiji acted as a proof of concept which Darrel could expand to other countries like Liberia, a country with almost no access to clean drinking water. Darrel teamed up with [The Last Well](https://thelastwell.org/), an NGO that had experience in clean water projects. The idea was to **bring a water filtration system** to every family in **Liberia**, as the polluted drinking water was making people ill, with symptoms like diarrhea, headache, and cough. With a **GIS solution in the cloud**, mapping households and available water sources, managing the delivery of water filters, and using collected data to **eradicate water-borne sickness** and diminish death rates**,** was no longer an impossible effort. GIS helped to **create a sustainable solution** that brings clean drinking water to people in remote areas**.** What made it all possible was the GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. It enabled the NGOs to conduct **multiple surveys**, manage people in the field as well as to track the process, and make decisions during the project. Keep on reading and learn how a few NGOs managed to make such a massive impact. ## **Water Pollution and Socio-Economic Situation in Liberia** The facts about Liberia are grim, to say the least. It is rated the second poorest and second most miserable country in the world. Take a look at the stats provided by the [IMF](https://www.imf.org/external/index.htm) and [CIA Factbook](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Misery-Index.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Misery-Index.png) In the last three decades, two civil wars that lasted for almost twelve years decimated Liberia. Peace was reestablished in 2003, marking the political end of the conflict and the beginning of the country’s transition to democracy. The number of casualties ranges from 150 000 to 300 000. Several years ago an Ebola outbreak took 10 216 lives in Liberia and neighboring countries in just twelve months. What’s unbelievable is that the water-borne illness in Liberia tops the civil war as well as the Ebola outbreak. There were **300 000 deaths to water-related diseases** since the end of the civil war. That’s up to **100 deaths per day** in Liberia alone. The water in Liberia was contaminated across the country, and the people would drink water from **bacteria-infested rivers and lakes.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Women-bring-water.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Women-bring-water.jpg) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Day-5-Dec-2017-17.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Day-5-Dec-2017-17.jpg) Clean water still is the greatest physical need in Liberia. That’s why this project has such a drastic impact on the local communities. ## **A Plan to Bring Clean Drinking Water to Every Liberian Household** After a successful project in Fiji, Darrel wanted to go to the most challenging place to make the most impact, so he joined [The Last Well](https://thelastwell.org/), who at that time already worked on bringing clean drinking water to the whole country of Liberia and was **installing wells** across the country. As wells installation wasn’t always possible, or those wells weren’t accessible to all residents, Darrel brought the Sawyer water filters into the picture in 2015. Liberia was in dire need of clean drinking water, both **wells and water filters were necessary** to improve the health of the citizens. The water filters were a donation from a US company called [Sawyer Products](https://www.sawyer.com/) that in 2015 provided 100 000 units with the help of an anonymous donor, and Darrel became an International Director of Sawyer Products, making all this possible. The water filters **clean 99.9999% percent of bacteria** from contaminated river water, can filter about **1 liter of water per minute,** and last for 10 years. This means that people living in remote parts of Liberia can **produce clean drinking water from local water sources by themselves.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Water-Filters.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Water-Filters.jpg) Bringing thousands of filters to remote villages located in a jungle and assessing their impact is as difficult as it sounds. To make things happen, they needed dozens of volunteers to install the filters and collect data. Darrel organized and led the **GIS data collection** with a mobile app that involves country-wide county and household surveys, tracking thousands of drilled wells, and most importantly **tracking the distribution of clean drinking filter systems**. Conducting surveys was essential after the filters were in place to see if there were any improvements in the health of the locals. They would perform follow-up surveys 2 weeks after the installation as well as 8 weeks after. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-MDC-Map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-MDC-Map.png) As this was a comprehensive project including entire Liberia, the team from The Last Well had to organize a large number of volunteers across the country and round up other NGOs working on water projects. ## **Getting the NGOs Together and Training Fieldworkers With No GIS Experience** When The Last Well came to Liberia, they found out that many people and organizations were already working on clean water projects. The problem was that their efforts were scattered across Liberia and they didn’t define a unique goal. Eventually, they managed to round up all of the NGOs together as partners. They **divided the country into 15 counties** and assigned the exact locations each organization would focus on. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Plan-The-Last-Well-Liberia-Counties.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Plan-The-Last-Well-Liberia-Counties.jpg) It was essential to **collect quality data** about the locations of households and settlements, information on people’s health and illness symptoms, data about water access, and water quality. Unfortunately, the census data they got from the government wasn’t accurate. So, it was necessary to **map the villages** and have a data collection process in place. Training the volunteers and local people to **use a digital mapping solution** could have been another challenge, but it proved to be fast and effortless. They needed to train lay people, some using tablets for the first time, to install water filters and collect field data. The good thing was that the GIS Cloud **Mobile Data Collection** app was very **user-friendly**, in Darrel Larson words: > *The app was so user-friendly that we didn’t have to hire an engineer. My challenge was, how can I harness the power of this technology without being an engineer. Then I found GIS Cloud.* > > *Mobile Data Collection has changed my entire work process. What I love is the simple user interface. GIS Cloud has done all the heavy lifting of coding and made a very user-friendly solution for me.* Not only did the team from the Last Well and Darrel **train 150 Liberians with no previous GIS experience in just** a few months on how to use the app, **and 30 of them on the very first day,** but they also equipped around 20 Liberians with the knowledge to teach others. That way, Liberians are the ones running the project and can continue the good work when the NGOs pull out. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Day-9-Data-collection.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Day-9-Data-collection.jpg) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-photos1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-photos1.jpg) All in all, around 150 volunteers did a massive amount of **fieldwork** even in remote areas. Using **canoes and ferry to cross rivers**, hike as far as they can into the bushes, venture for **4 to 6 hours in the middle of the jungle** to bring drinking water to small remote villages that nobody would pay attention to. ## **Field Data Collection – Multiple surveys analyzed in a single map and data workspace** To distribute 100 000 water filters and track their impact, they needed a sound field workflow. The team from The Last Well wanted to map the villages and water filter locations, track surveys, and get insight from the data. Back in Fiji, Give Clean Water was using **paper forms** and GPS units **for data collection** and started looking for a more streamlined solution. Bringing paper forms back to the office, entering data into an excel spreadsheet with a lot of overlapping was time-consuming. The paper workflow takes a long time, and the field teams are holding onto paper and notebooks. Imagine 100 000 sheets of paper. They found the GIS Cloud software in 2012 when working in Fiji, which enabled them to digitize their workflow and reduce the paper workload. > *The apps saved us a lot of paperwork and time. The power of this technology is radically transforming the efficiency by which nonprofits can deliver life-changing interventions around the world.* Darrel Larson, Give Clean Water They were aware of some solutions, but they found[ GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/) as the most convenient as it was so user-friendly. It allowed them to collect data on existing water resources and people’s health conditions to assess where to install the filters. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GIS-Workflow-in-one-place.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GIS-Workflow-in-one-place.png) Volunteers go out equipped with tablets or smartphones, to areas with no internet connection, and collect data with the[ Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). Then the teams come back to a wifi area, hit a button on their tablets, and all of the data uploads to a server. The collected data can be shared and instantly accessed across different kinds of devices, web and mobile, so people in Liberia, staff in the US, anyone helping to run the project can immediately see collected data on a map and project status. > *If we didn’t have a tool like this – I don’t think we could have done it. Technology is rapidly impacting the nonprofit world in great ways. What used to take hours, days, weeks, or months, to share data through handwritten forms, then transferring them to Excel worksheets, now can all be shared in real time using GIS technology.* *Darrel Larson* ### 1. Village Assessment (census) and water resources mapping First, NGOs needed to map the villages and get a rough assessment of their water resources status (red dots on the map below). They mapped the locations of villages, their size, number of households, well presence and similar data. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Assessement-map-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Assessement-map-2.jpg) ### 2. Filter Installation and Initial Survey The next step was to install the water filters and take the first survey on the people’s health (marked with green dots). When a team goes into the field, they install a **water filter** with a unique **barcode** and record the data about the installation by filling in one of the **mobile forms**. This way they can know exactly when, where and which filter was installed. That’s where they get the baseline data like: - household location, - how many people live in the family, - how many adults, - how many children, - how many cases of diarrhea, - spend on purchased water, - the medical cost to water-borne illness, - school and workdays missed, etc. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Map-Assessment-New-Initial-distributiob.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Map-Assessment-New-Initial-distributiob.jpg) ### 3. Follow Up Surveys on People’s Health The teams did a follow-up survey 2 weeks after the filters have been installed, to track if there’s any impact from the water filter installation (yellow dots). They collected the same data as the first time to get the before and after picture, to see if there are any **improvements in people’s health**. They also conduct the same survey 8 weeks after the filter installation to see the long term benefits (orange dots). This data is the foundation for further analysis of how water filters impact Liberian communities. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-with-all-layers.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-with-all-layers.jpg) Overview of the field data in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). ## **The Results: Significant Health Improvements and Funding** The Last Well said that the collected data was the game-changer. The ability to collect data, quantify the actual results, and analyze the data with the help of scientists from Calvin College made all the difference. Not only did **GIS technology** allow the **tracking of the filter installations** and follow-up surveys, but robust **health and socio-economic data was also collected**. The data shows **life-changing benefits** of installing water filters, like diarrhea reduction, medical savings, water savings, missed school and work days reduction, after the water filter installation. The results are no less than amazing. In the first 25,000 households analyzed, **2,197** had reported **cases of diarrhea**. After a two-week follow-up, that number was **down to 107**. A second follow up after eight weeks reported another slight decrease in diarrhea reduction. Here’s a comparison of the initial visit and the follow-up. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Stats.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Stats.png) Not long after the first results came in, the **Grand Kro county** got **border-to-border clean water and received a certified completion letter.** That never happened before, so the government went in and checked the collected data to verify it, and they certified the letter. It was a game-changer for the country. > *If we can finish a county, we can finish the entire country.* Todd Phillips, Founder of Last Well These results are a product of drilling wells across the country and installing **40 000 filters** up until 2018, ending that year with **75 000 families equipped with water filters**. With plans to cover the last 20% of Liberia by 2021. To learn first hand about this project from Darrel, [watch this extensive webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-every-single-person-ngo-user-story/) where Darrel was our guest . [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Roadmap-The-Last-Well.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Roadmap-The-Last-Well.jpg) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Dec-2018-Day-3.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Liberia-Dec-2018-Day-3.jpg) The NGOs continue to methodically make accessible clean water in Liberia with the help of about 100 volunteers. The volunteers are Liberians and are capable of sustaining the project by themselves, even when the NGOs pull out. Not only that **clean drinking water** was made available to residents across the country, even in some small villages that were discovered during the mapping process, but the **health of the people improved drastically** over a small time period. Mapping of households and people’s condition, in the end, resulted in a **country-wide census**, accepted as official data by the government. This also **ensured further funding** of the project as data was presented clearly, with spatial information and photos as proof. Interested in the GIS Cloud solution for NGOs and Nonprofits? [Contact us,](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) we’ll be more than happy to give you a live demo. Related content: Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit, Use Cases **Tags:** Case Study, data collection, field data collection, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit --- ### [Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-kindness-worldwide-with-gis-cloud-crowdsourcing-solution/) **Published:** March 21, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Life Vest Inside, one of the winners of the GIS Day Contest 2016, used GIS Cloud [Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) to engage people in pledging acts of kindness worldwide ![kindness-crowdsourcing-solution](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Kindness-Crowdsourcing-cover-1024x681.png) Our Crowdsourcing solution, which allows people to send data on a map in real-time, is used by nonprofit organizations for various purposes. [Engaging the community and increasing visibility of the projects](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/) is one such example. [Life Vest Inside](https://www.lifevestinside.com/), a non-profit organization that inspires, empowers and educates people of all backgrounds to lead a life of kindness, used GIS Cloud to increase the visibility and impact of their projects. One of the events Life Vest Inside organizes annually is the [Dance for Kindness](https://www.danceforkindness.com/). It is a celebration of World Kindness Day in which groups from across the globe join together to perform a Kindness Freezmob/Flashmob to the same song and dance. To spread the word about this event and to inspire people to engage in acts of kindness, they decided on an innovative approach – to design a **portal where people could pledge their acts of kindness in real-time on a map.** ## Building an interactive map portal to pledge acts of kindness worldwide Considering the limited resources and time any NGO has at its disposal, the main prerequisite for building an interactive portal where people could pledge their acts of kindness worldwide was that it’s **very easy and quick to set-up, manage and utilize** by both the Life Vest Inside team and the end-users worldwide. This was important not only because they didn’t have dedicated IT staff for the projects, but also because they didn’t want to waste additional resources for educating staff and people who are going to use the app. All this is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the project. They needed a platform which can also **work in a web browser.** The interactive portal needed to contain different features – **a pinpoint tool** which people could use to add their locations manually, a **fully customized and branded interface** with the organization logo and legend, as well as a **custom data collection form**. Also, it was important to enable the **“admin view”**, in which Life Vest Inside staff could easily review submissions and update the map. Last but not least, their platform of choice should be **cost-effective.** Engaging in the development of a fully customized and specialized app usually involves high costs and considerable time for development. For many nongovernmental organizations, this isn’t a very popular option because of limited resources. So, they were looking for a pre-developed solution which could be easily customized, set up quickly, and wouldn’t require additional education or IT staff. ## Setting up the Crowdsourcing mapping solution > *“We wanted to show how acts of kindness can spread throughout the world and make a positive impact on others. We chose GIS Cloud because of its new Crowdsourcing solution, which was a good fit for what we were trying to accomplish. It also seemed like it was the easiest platform to accomplish this.”* – Mickey Dietrich Life Vest Inside utilized GIS Cloud[ Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/), which was **set up within a couple of days**. Prior to the release, they were able to test and tweak it. The end result was a **fully customized, interactive web portal, [which you can access here](https://kindness.giscloud.com).** People worldwide can access the portal set up at **a custom domain** (kindness.giscloud.com), where they can pledge their acts of kindness by pinpointing their location on a map and filling out a form. It contains different information about the person who is sending the data, including the type of kindness act, their postal or zip code, and other information.The portal is very easy to use and it doesn’t require any technical knowledge on the side of either the organization or its end-users. > “The main capabilities of GIS Cloud that helped us reach our goal, was the ease of use of the Crowdsourcing solution and the great support they provide.” – Mickey Dietrich The solution also includes the **Admin application** where the Life Vest Inside team can manage submissions and change or update the map if necessary. Because Crowdsourcing solution can be **deployed within a few days,** it doesn’t require developing a full solution from scratch. In addition to the interactive map portal for collecting data from anonymous users in real-time and the admin app, it can also include **custom mobile apps** for sending data on a map. One of the key benefits of the Crowdsourcing solution is that the data collected can be further used, shared and analyzed in other GIS Cloud apps, such as GIS Cloud Map Editor solution. To learn more about these benefits and options, [contact our sales team](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). > “GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution provides a great way to engage people and also to collect information that can be used to help lead the organization’s efforts in how best to spread kindness.” – Mickey Dietrich **Plans for the future** The next step for Life Vest Inside is to get the word out about their [Crowdsourcing portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) and to use it actively during the next Dance For Kindness event, taking place worldwide on **November 11, 2018**. > “We hope to make a push to get people to share our application and utilize it in sharing their acts of kindness. We want people to know that they can inspire others to take action.” – Mickey Dietrich **Make sure to** [**visit the Worldwide Kindness portal** ](https://kindness.giscloud.com)**and bring a little good to the world!** If you are interested in learning how to utilize the Crowdsourcing solution for NGOs, [check out our latest webinar.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/) If you want to try it out for yourself, request a demo [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar Recording Discover the world of Geo-Marketing: FiDA & Co. Studios **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** collaboration, crowdsourcing, GIS, GIS Day Contest 2017, NGO, worldwide --- ### [Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/offline-maps-for-mobile-data-collection-and-map-viewer-released/) **Published:** August 31, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Mobile Offline Mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/off-maps.png) We have released latest versions of our mobile applications, [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/ "Mobile Data Collection") and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-map-viewer-for-mobile-released/ "Map Viewer"), with one big addition: access to **Offline Maps** feature that is now available to all GIS Cloud users. When collecting data in the field, there is always a risk that you will have a spotty Internet connection in some areas. To avoid compromising your work, we have implemented Offline Maps feature to all GIS Cloud users. You can simply download multiple maps, including all layers and basemap to your mobile device and use it even in areas with no Internet connection. The number of maps you can download to your mobile device is limited only by its storage capacity. You will find Offline Maps option in the “Settings” section in MDC and you’ll find special “Offline” tab to access Offline Maps in the Map Viewer app. Once you download the Offline Map on your device, your layers in the map will be displayed with full precision and possibility of infinite zoom. You can view and search your data in offline mode both in MDC and Map Viewer app as well as collect and update features on the map with Mobile Data Collection app. Once you have Internet access again, your data will be automatically synchronized and all the map updates will be sent. If you haven’t already done this, you can download the new version of MDC app for [Android ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.mdc&hl=en)or [iOS ](https://apps.apple.com/app/gis-cloud-mobile-data-collection/id640535923)devices as well as the new version of Map Viewer app for [Android ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.giscloud.viewer&hl=en)and [iOS ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gis-cloud-map-viewer/id1059431691)devices. If the apps are already installed on your device, you should update them to the latest version in order to get Offline Maps access. Besides Offline Maps access for all users, we would like to present you another great option available now for Map Viewer app, the **Search** option. It makes it easier to locate features on the map by using any attribute data value as a search word. The map is automatically zoomed to the selected feature and the info window opens with all the attribute data of selected feature. Have feedback? Contact us[ here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). For more info, check out the [User Manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-collect-data-from-the-field-with-no-internet-connection/). Related content: GIS Cloud Map Viewer for Mobile Released Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps Offline Mapping and Data Collection GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps Never Miss a Data Point: Offline Data Collection for GIS Professionals **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, offline maps --- ### [INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/intergeo-2017-cutting-edge-technologies-fueling-the-growth-of-geospatial-industry/) **Published:** October 26, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This year’s [INTERGEO](https://www.intergeo.de/) in Berlin, which took place at the HINTE Messe from 26 to 28 September 2017, was very successful for our team exhibiting at Booth **B5.027.** Aside from the fair, we also held a free workshop in Berlin. ![Intergeo report](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Intergeo-Cover-1.jpg) With the motto “Knowledge and action for planet Earth”, the event gathered more than **17.000** geo technology professionals from all around the world. For our team, this was a great opportunity to showcase our latest developments and get useful feedback directly from the community, as well as meet with existing and future clients and partners. Apart from activities at the booth in **Hall 5**, where we handed out brochures, pens, and most importantly – candy, we also took part in the **Smart Cities Forum,** where our Business Development Manager Igor Farkaš held a talk titled “Smart Workflows Powered by Collaborative Mapping.” ![Smart City Solutions prezentation](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Intergeo-Igor-SCS-Forum-1-1024x339.jpg) Some of the hot topics at the Smart Cities Forum included using geotechnologies in city planning, digitalization in city services, traffic management and transportation and others. We were happy to see that the growing GIS industry is starting to recognize the importance of a collaborative approach when it comes to making the best use of geodata for smart cities and organizations. This year, there were even more attendees at INTERGEO than in the previous year, and this shows that the geo community is growing stronger and more connected than ever, with cutting-edge technologies helping fuel that growth. We were extremely pleased to see that a lot of visitors took an interest in GIS Cloud solutions, which means that we had our hands full almost all the time. Thanks to all who stopped by our stand. The organization of the conference was efficient, bringing together so many people and offering a lot of side-events. During our stay in Berlin, we also decided to offer **a free workshop for our community.** The workshop was held on October 28th, and we received excellent feedback from the attendees, who had a chance to learn more about setting up effective workflows in GIS Cloud in the casual atmosphere of a co-working space. Thanks to all who participated in the workshop. ![Mapping Workshop Berlin](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Intergeo-Workshop-Berlin-1024x380.jpg) Next year, INTERGEO will be held in Frankfurt, from 16-18 October. We are already looking forward to the event in 2018, with a hope that there will be even more visitors and happenings. For more news from GIS Cloud, follow us on[ Twitter](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/giscloud/), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1410379/). Related content: GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin GIS Cloud at INTERGEO Conference Visit GIS Cloud Booth and Attend Collaborative Mapping Workshop at GEO Business Show 2017 in London GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** INTERGEO 2017, reports --- ### [Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geomarketing-and-gis-for-real-estate-finding-potential-new-hotel-locations-in-zagreb-croatia/) **Published:** May 13, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Hotels-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Hotels-cover.png) *Ines Akrap, a Geoinformatics student at the University of Zagreb, created this case study and wrote the accompanying text on creating a geomarketing map using GIS Cloud and QGIS applications.* ## Location Is The Most Important Thing in Marketing [This interactive map](https://geomarketing.giscloud.com/) aims to help potential investors **analyze and visualize** the possible locations for **building a new hotel in Zagreb.** Geomarketing is a discipline that uses geolocation in the process of planning and conducting marketing activities. The main task of geomarketing is to **analyze locations** based on available data and discover where such ‘optimal locations’ are for specific services. Research has shown that **location data** increases the **effectiveness** of marketing campaigns **by up to 80%.** Geomarketing data is used to **determine customer and visitor behavior based on their habits**. The data describes places tourists visit most often based on their interests. This data helps hoteliers improve their marketing. ## Preparing And Gathering The Marketing Data Data used in this project was downloaded online and is publicly available. The official website of the [Zagreb Tourist Board](https://www.infozagreb.hr/) hosts information on all the recommended tourist locations for visiting Zagreb. To gather the mentioned location data, it is enough to copy all of the addresses in the Excel table and load them into the [GIS Cloud Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/) to obtain the coordinates of individual objects used for further analysis. Also, the data of the locations and objects can be easily collected using the[ Mobile Data Collection Application.](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) For building a new hotel, it is necessary to obtain the **noise level and land use** data in Zagreb. This data can be downloaded from the website of the [Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development](https://envi-portal.azo.hr/). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Noise-levels.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Noise-levels.png) Finally, it is necessary to gather the **public transportation data,** which can be downloaded from the [Open Street Map.](https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/45.7760/16.0365) The gathered data was uploaded into the QGIS for further analysis. The analysis was conducted using arbitrarily selected criteria defined in the following section: - The maximum distance of the new hotel from the tram or bus station must be less than 700 meters - The maximum distance of the new hotel to architectural monuments, concert halls, theaters, museums, souvenir shops, or galleries should be less than 5 kilometers - The maximum distance of the new hotel from the park is less than 7 kilometers - The maximum distance of the new hotel from the airport, the main train station, or the bus station is less than 10 kilometers - The maximum distance of the new hotel from restaurants, lounge bars, or patisseries is less than 2 kilometers - The distance from another hotel must be more than 2 kilometers - The maximum distance of the new hotel from nightclubs, jazz clubs, wine shops, pubs, or cocktail bars must be less than 3 kilometers - The new hotel must not be in the high noise zone and must not be in the industrial and economic zone In QGIS, tools such as buffer, intersection, dissolve, difference, union, grid, rasterize, and raster calculator were used in obtaining the potential locations for building a new hotel. After performing the analysis and adding custom symbols in QGIS, the results were uploaded to GIS Cloud using [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis-released/). The plugin allows you to **transfer maps** from QGIS to GIS Cloud in a matter of minutes, **preserving your symbology.** It’s a single-click solution for **sharing maps and data** from the most popular open-source desktop GIS with the rest of the world! ## Editing The Marketing Data The map can be [edited](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-layer/) in the [Map Editor web application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). Mapbox Streets was added for the background using the [Tile Map Service](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/add-layer/). “New folder” option in the layer list helps organize and divide the layers into categories. For example*, museums, concert halls, theatres, and galleries* were categorized as *Culture*. In the Map Editor, [the classification](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-classify-data-in-a-map/) can be done using the “Wizard Tool” and selecting “Distinct or Continuous” values. The classification of the following layers: - Potential Hotel Location - Daily Noise Level - Night Noise Level was [performed ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-classify-data-in-a-map/)by selecting and double-clicking each layer to open the “Layer Settings,” choosing the **“Wizard Option”,** and selecting the values. In this particular project, the “Distinct Value Classification” option was used. Classifying attributes based on distinct values means that all the attributes with **the same values** will be classified into **one** **category**. GIS Cloud also offers the ability to select a column or color by which to classify values. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ezgif.com-gif-maker-2.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ezgif.com-gif-maker-2.gif) In the [Attributes tab](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-attributes-columns/), you can determine all the attributes of individual layers that will be displayed on the map. It is possible to display attributes immediately by checking the “*Use info window to display attributes*” option. Different markers like name and address were added on the map using [Tooltip and Labels](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-add-labels-to-your-map/) tools. In “Map Properties*”*, it is possible to define a **map bound**. Map bound option **saves** **coordinates of your current view** or manually imputed coordinates. Every time you open your map or click on the “*View entire map”* option in the Toolbar, you get the view extent of a map you set the bound to. ## Visualizing And Marketing The Data The last step in creating a map is presenting it to the public, stakeholders, or investors. The easiest way to publish your map is with the [Map Portal](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/map-portal-starting-page/). Map Portal is a **simple and easy** application that supports **map visualization and data publishing** in a friendly and accessible way. This particular Map Portal consists of two maps: - Geomarketing Hotel - Noise Map in Zagreb With GIS Cloud **App Builder**, you can easily and quickly customize your Map Portal according to your needs. In [App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/), you can customize and brand the layout of your map with the help of tools such as: - setting the default map - adding tools to the toolbar - changing the logo - [ribbon colors](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-change-ribbon-color-in-a-custom-app/) - [info window pop up](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-customize-info-window-pop-up/) - data grid - and much more [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Hotels-builder.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-Hotels-builder.png) Also, you can analyze the data on the map with tools like: - Buffer - Nearest Analysis - Hotspot Analysis Add [numerous filters](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-filters-in-map-portal/) for a fully customized and optimized **Geomarketing Map Portal.** Find information on App Builder in this [free webinar recording. ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/) Layers on the map are visualized by simply clicking on the **checkmark** next to the layer name. You can search for various information using the **filter field.** All maps can also be printed. Numerous analyses can be easily conducted. For example, you can find the area where most of the hotels are located with **Hotspot Analysis.** The **completely branded** Map Portal can be **shared with users and investors** to search, visualize and explore the data with **adequate information** to make their decisions. Identifying crucial information and **pain points** will help them with **cost optimization and customer reliability**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-the-best-Locations.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Geomarketing-the-best-Locations.png) [*Explore this amazing **Geomarketing Portal**.*](https://geomarketing.giscloud.com/) Try all the filters and find **your optimal location** for building a new hotel in Zagreb! ## Geomarketing Is Fundamental For Finding, Understanding, And Targeting The Location More and more tourists come to Zagreb each day. The development of hotel marketing is essential because of that. The goal of this case study is to **find new potential locations** for hotels using **geomarketing tools**. Geomarketing enables **faster and more efficient** business decision-making through location and human behavior analysis. With the help of analysis and visualization tools, Maps can help with **spatial planning and construction** of new facilities such as shops, cinemas, schools, etc. GIS Cloud applications and platform greatly help with collecting and visualizing all of the data on a map. It is possible to use different applications to accomplish your project. **Mobile Data Collection App** for field data collection, the **Geocoder to** utilize the downloaded addresses**, Map Editor** to edit and visualize the data, and **Map Portal** to share the data to the public, investors, or stakeholders. The benefit of using the **GIS Cloud platform** is the ability to **bridge the gap** between the desktop GIS solutions like QGIS and ArcGIS and make your maps **visible online** with just a couple of clicks! After performing the analysis using desktop GIS tools, you can get a better and more precise visualization of the project in GIS Cloud with the help of [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) and before mentioned **GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS**. The map presented in this project is just one example of how you can utilize the **GIS Cloud platform** for **geomarketing analysis.** On these links, you can find numerous similar successful projects that used the power of GIS and location in marketing decision making: [Discover The World Of Geo-Marketing: FiDA Co. Studios ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/discover-the-world-of-geo-marketing-fida-co-studios/) This map was designed for geolocation and tracking of billboards, outdoor signages, retail, and other types of assets in real time. [Map Of Business Structure And Activity In City Districts Of Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-of-business-structure-and-activity-in-city-districts-of-zagreb/) Using this interactive map, any business investor can see where the best places for opening a new business unit are. [Using GIS In Tourism – Tourist Map Of Šolta](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-in-tourism-tourist-map-of-solta/) Interactive Tourist Map of island Šolta demonstrates how to combine GIS technology with tourist guidebooks for everyday use. If you want to **build your own Map Portal** app and learn more about GIS Cloud apps and services, [Sign Up for the free 14-day trial.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Related content: GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Case Study, Cloud GIS, collaboration, data visualisation, Geo Marketing, geo portal, geography students, Geolocation, geomarketing, Geoportal, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS For Geomarketing, GIS for Marketing, Hotel Location, Location, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/teramaps-presenting-gis-cloud-solutions-at-the-expo-seguridad-in-chile/) **Published:** October 10, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud solutions will be showcased at the Expo Seguridad in **Santiago de Chile (October 23 to October 25)**. ![Teramaps presenting GIS Cloud at the Security Expo in Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GCTeramaps-conference.png) Expo Seguridad is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions for suppliers that offer products, technology, equipment and services for Civil Security, Security for Emergencies and Disasters, and Labor Security in Chile. The expo is organized by the [Carabineros de Chile](http://www.carabineros.cl/) (Police of Chile) and [FISA](https://www.fisa.cl/). The event will include an international conference on comprehensive security, business round tables, workshops, technical lectures, demonstrations, and exercises. [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile), GIS Cloud’s official partner for Chile, Colombia, and Peru, will showcase GIS Cloud solutions at booth **130-ES,** where the attendees will be able to view a dem of GIS Cloud products and get brochures and information about our newest developments. The event venue is Espacio Riesco, Santiago de Chile. At the event, GIS Cloud will also be showcased in the presentation of the Carabineros de Chile’s crime visualization project “**Plan Quadrant 2.0**“. In this project, the Carabineros de Chile used GIS Cloud to visualize crimes on a map, which enabled the municipalities of Chile to visualize and better understand their crime data and do spatial analysis. You can find out more about this project in our [recent use case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/carabineros-de-chile-crime-risk-map/). Related content: Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Expo Seguridad Chile, Teramaps --- ### [GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-fusion-tables/) **Published:** December 19, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** You have probably heard the news that Google is shutting down Fusion Tables next December. This simple tool for data visualization will start to see errors in August 2019, as the Fusion Tables Layer in the Maps JavaScript API v3.37 will no longer be supported. ## [![Alternative to Google Fusion Tables](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-2-1024x536.png)](https://www.fusiontablesalternative.com/switch-from-google-fusion-tables-to-gis-cloud) If you have already started looking for **[Google Fusion Tables alternatives](https://www.fusiontablesalternative.com/)**, you’re in the right place. Keep on reading and learn how to easily create a map and analyze location data with [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com). ## **Step by step guide to GIS Cloud (for Fusion Tables users)** In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to upload your data, create a map, embed and export the data. ## 1. Export data from Google Fusion Tables First things first, you need to export your Fusion Tables to CSV format, a format you can easily open in Google spreadsheets and that works well with GIS Cloud: 1. 1. Open a fusion table you want to export 2. 2. Click the File menu, then select Download 3. 3. Select the CSV format and click Download Note: GIS Cloud also supports the KML format. ### 2. Upload data to GIS Cloud Now let’s upload the data. Login to your GIS Cloud account and enter the Map Editor application. There you can do all sorts of stuff with your location data. To upload the data navigate to the tools section and open the File Manager. Just drag and drop the data in the box and that is it. Note: If you only use adresses as location data in your fusion tables it’s best to use the [GIS Cloud Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/). [![Upload data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-3-1024x583.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-3.png) If you need more control over your data and want use the **join tables feature**, called merge in Google fusion tables, it is best to upload the data directly to the database. You will need to use the Data Manager located right next to the File Manager. In the Data Manager you can access the join wizard, a tool used for merging tables, we’ll address it later in the article. ### 3. Create a Map Now that you have uploaded the data you’ll need to create a map. Click on the Create New Map button, name your map and choose the basemap. The next step is to add your data to the map. Click on Add Layer and select the desired file. You can also add data from the database. [![Create map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-4-1024x661.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-4.png) As soon as you upload the file, the data is visualized on a map and ready for editing and sharing. ### 4. Data styling and classification GIS Cloud has powerful features for data styling that can help you create a stunning map. - Apply colors and icons based on your data. - Create an intensity map for countries, states or provinces. - Turn data into a map that tells the story visually. [![Fusion tables styling](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fusion-tables-styling-1024x534.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Fusion-tables-styling.jpg) You can modify the display of a layer based on values of its attributes. Operations can be performed based on distinct or continuous values. Colors are automatically defined for the features, but you can manually assign colors to each feature by selecting the appearance box. ### 5. Share, embed and publish your map With GIS Cloud you can share maps with people that also have an account or publish a map to make it accessible to anyone. It is also possible to embed the map to a third party website, just copy the embed code into an iframe. Access all of these features by clicking the Share or Publish button. When sharing a map, you have **full control** over who can view, share, edit or export the map data. If you decide to make a map public, there’s an option to allow or restrict users to export data. Regarding the embed map feature, there are a lot of options as well. Choose between iframe or javascript code. Easily adjust the size of the embedded window. You can also use options like layer list (legend), toolbar or pop-ups over features. [![Share map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-5-1024x633.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-5.png) ### 6. Select and Export data There are many ways to select the data you want to export. From simple tools like area selection or freehand selection to more complex tools like the spatial selection. Let’s start with the basics. **Area selection** Select the layer from the Layer List. Click the Area Select tool on the Toolbar. Drag a box to define the area of selected features. **Freehand selection** Similar to area selection but instead of dragging a box you draw the area you want to select. **Selecting data in the grid (data filtering)** Data filtering tool allows you to filter, find and visualize features by its attributes. After filtering the data grid, you can export the filtered data. [![Filter data grid](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-6-1024x632.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Alternative-to-Google-Fusion-Tables-6.png) For example, you have a tree inventory and need some info about the trees planted in a specific year and then export the data. First you need to open the data grid, select the column named year\_planted and then filter the data by year. To export the filtered data click on the export button below the data grid to download the data as a csv file. **Spatial selection** Spatial selection allows you to create database queries for layers that reside in the database. Note that it only works with database layers, not with files. If you want to perform spatial queries, please import the files into the [database](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/database-manager/) first. This tool allows you to select any database feature from any database layer in your Map View. You can select features by attributes or by location depending on what do you need. If you want to learn more about spatial selection take a look at these [examples](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/spatial-selection-examples/). **Exporting data in GIS Cloud** Now that you know how to select data you can export it as a ShapeFile (shp), MapInfo (tab), KML, DXF or CSV. To export data, you need to create a layer from selected data. After you select the data click on the New Layer From Selection button to generate the layer. To export data follow these steps: 1. 1. Select the layer from the Layer List. 2. 2. Select the Layer tab. 3. 3. Select Export layer option. 4. 4. Select an output file format. 5. 5. Click the link to download the file. ## **Supported data formats** When using Google fusion tables you often need to convert files from one format to another because they only support csv. and kml. formats. With GIS Cloud you can use xls, csv, kml, shp and many other formats: - Spatial Vector files: .shp, .mif, .mid, .tab, .kml, .gpx, .dxf, SQLite - Spatial Raster files: .tif, .tiff, .jpg, .png, .gif, .img, .ecw, .sid, .jp2 - Image files: .jpg, .gif, .swf, .png, .img, .ecw, .sid, .jp2 - Excel and CSV: .csv and .xls ## **Merge tables feature** Google Fusion Tables have a merge feature for combining two or three data tables. In GIS Cloud there is a similar feature called JOIN. It allows you to create a new layer with combine attribute data from two separate layers. Note: To perform join, layer must reside in the Database. Here you can find an [in-depth tutorial](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/database-manager/#7) about the Join Wizard. The join feature works great as an alternative to fusion tables merge feature. Interested in [GIS Cloud as an alternative](https://www.fusiontablesalternative.com/) to Google Fusion Tables? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine Why Go GIS Cloud? Alternative for GME or Simply a Better Solution? Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud Map Editor GIS Cloud And The Different Data Types **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-disease-using-gis-for-improving-malaria-interventions-in-nigeria/) **Published:** April 27, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Malaria GIS Day project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MALARIA1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MALARIA1.png) > 25th of April was [World Malaria Day](https://www.worldmalariaday.org/), an international observance commemorated every year. This year, the main theme is “End Malaria For Good”, building on the progress made in the last 15 years, with malaria mortality rates decreased by 60%. Despite the successes made in defeating malaria, there is still a lot to work on – over the last century, there have been dozens of resurgences of malaria in countries around the world. Many of this cases are directly linked to decreases in funding to fight the disease. We did an interview with **Ayodele Adeyemo,** a geogeek looking for ways to leverage geospatial technologies to provide solutions for human, social and environmental challenges. Ayademo and his team – Ojumu Tijesu, a full-stack web developer Eyo O Eyo and Ogunbanwo Olumide, specialized in electronics, won the 1st prize in GIS Day Contest, awarding project ideas focused on doing valuable work in local communities with the help of geospatial technologies. With their Malaria Risk Map project, Adeyemo, Ojumu, Eyo and Ogunbanwo want to contribute the global initiative in defeating Malaria using their expertises. Knowing that **35% of malaria deaths** occur in just two countries – Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the potential impact of their efforts can be a valuable part of the worldwide fight in ending malaria for good. Find out more about their project using GIS in solving global health problems and what they are planning to do next. **You won the 1st prize in GIS Day contest. Can you tell us more about your project? How did you get an idea to create Malaria Risk Map?** Yes, our project is “Geospatial Modelling of Malaria Risk and Vulnerability (Severity) using Environmental, Climatic and Socio-economic factors”. This initiative was drawn from a number of project ideas that arose in collaboration between myself and my geogeek partner Tijesu, during our internship at the National Space Agency, Nigeria. Tijesu continued to work on the idea for his final year project and this helped us to understand the dynamics of GIS in the public health. Looking at the concrete problem – Malaria, we can say that it is a big challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa based on the percentage of people that have fallen victim as well as the number of lives that are being claimed by malaria across African communities. We were also looking into finding out the number of intervention programmes focused on malaria as well as the amount of grants that have been pushed into the system. On our side, we have now made a plan to help people across communities to find out about their risk of contracting malaria (through the internet and SMS for people without internet connection) as well as a dashboard that will help the intervention programmes know where, when and how much of intervention is needed. **What’s the current status of your project – in which phase are you now?** The project has been coming up slowly but at a steady pace. We have been working on different models for integration while looking for sustainable partnerships that would help us to make the project a success. We are intending to do a call for volunteers in order to gather the datasets that we need. It is worth noting that we had to scale down the project to a small geographic area at this point, so that we could have a pilot done with limited resources, to prove the concept. At the moment, we are talking with a few prospective partners who could help us with the funding for a pilot project. We hope to start with the full implementation of the pilot by the June 2016. **What are the main challenges you are facing with in doing this kind of a large-scale project?** The main challenges we have faced are related to data acquisition and finding funds to provide incentives for the volunteers involved in the programme as well as covering a part of our operational costs. Our partnership with GIS Cloud has alleviated over 60% of our software licenses costs. Basically, our main challenge is getting enough funds to bootstrap the project. **How do you think your project will impact local communities in Nigeria?** If individuals across communities can have access to real time information on their risk for contracting malaria, then they can protect themselves more efficiently from malaria by knowing what is the best time to use the antimalaria drugs. Our platform will also help intervention teams by knowing what are the best places to focus their aid per time, based on the risk indices of the communities. This could go a long way in increasing the accuracy of interventions per time. **April 25th is world Malaria day. What is the current situation with the spread of Malaria in population of Nigeria and what can be done to make it diminish it in the future?** Nigeria still has a long way to go as a developing country. Malaria is still endemic in this part of the world, especially in the rural communities due to a number of factors ranging from socioeconomic situation to climate etc. There are a number of NGOs, civil societies and health communities that are focused on providing aid for areas prone to malaria. Nevertheless, most of the interventions are not data driven, these organizations have a schedule of operations and they mostly focus on distributing treated mosquito nets to individuals across communities. On the other hand, there are a number of organizations that support operations with interventions using a data driven approach like Ehealth Africa. So, i think if organizations will start looking into data driven approach for solving health problems and partnering with tech startups with solutions focused on the social processes, then we can have a more efficient and effective public health system around the world. **What is the role of GIS in solving global health problems and helping to reduce the impact of Malaria in particular?** The relevance of GIS for public health can not be over emphasized because it provides us with the ability to conceptualize and visualize public health data while having a tool for us to understand the spatial trends and patterns of diseases and epidemics. For instance, GIS was used by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International during the Ebola case in Africa in 2014. Also, with tools from GIS Cloud health officers can now gather field data in a professional and efficient manner. In the malaria case, GIS provides us a platform that enable combining different thematic layers and also creating visualizations together with running predictive model algorithms that will help to create an informed health community. **You are looking for local partnership to help you with the project. Can you tell us more about your plans for creating strategic partnerships?** Yes, on the local partnerships, we are working closely with Tech4Dev and Hacey Health Initiative and we currently talking about a partnership. We are also looking forward to partnering with the National Youth Corps Service programme if we can leverage their national presence for data collection using corps members as volunteers. We will also consider partnering with other health organizations within and outside Nigeria. Follow Malaria Risk Map project on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/kickMalaria/). To support the cause, you can contact the project team via [e-mail](about:blank). Related content: Malaria Risk Map: Using GIS to Combat Malaria Disease in Nigeria Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh to Improve Healthcare Interventions GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World Using GIS to strategically treat contaminated water and prevent disease outbreaks (Chennai, India) Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** geospatial, geospatial modeling, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Day Contest, Malaria, Malaria World Day, Nigeria, public health --- ### [Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshop-for-local-governments-in-greece/) **Published:** December 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud partners from Greece, [NubiGroup](https://www.nubigroup.gr/), will hold a free GIS Cloud workshop in Athens, Greece, on **December 15 (9.30 am – 15.30** **pm).** ![Free Mapping Demo in Athens](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Kostas-GC-Workshop.png) The workshop, “**GIS Cloud Solutions for the Public Sector – Learn How to Integrate Spatial Data Into the Workflow of your Organization**”, will be held at the INFOREST company premises (Glaraki 10, Athens). The workshop will be held in the Greek language. The workshop attendees will learn the benefits of cloud mapping technology for their organizations, and how to engage citizens, improve collaboration and increase efficiency, saving time and money in their daily workflows. **REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.** **Workshop Agenda:** 09.30 – 10.00 am – Introduction 10.00 – 10.45 am – Use cases 10.45 – 11.30 am – Field data collection and inspection solution 11.30 am – 12.00 pm – Coffee Break 12.00 – 12.30 pm – How to create interactive maps, visualize, style, edit, and analyze spatial data in the cloud 12.30 – 13.30 pm – GIS Cloud solution for Smart Cities 13.30 – 14.15 pm – How to create a fully branded Map Portal in less than an hour 14.15 – 15.00 pm – Crowdsourcing spatial data – a solution for citizen engagement and more effective urban and infrastructure planning 15.00 – 15.30 pm – Q&A **For more information about the workshop, click [here](https://www.nubigroup.gr/free-seminar-gis-cloud-public_sector-athens/).** Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th Importance of Open Data for Local Governments GIS Cloud Will be Showcased at Geomapplica in Greece GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Greece, local governments, NubiGroup, workshop --- ### [Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-new-zealand/) **Published:** November 15, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a part of the GIS Cloud Australia and New Zealand tour, the GIS Cloud team will organize a number of **workshops in Australia and New Zealand** in collaboration with our partners from [Spatial Vision](https://spatialvision.com.au/). ![GIS Workshops in Auckland and Wellington](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-Workshops-NZ-1.png) New Zealand workshops will be held in: - **Wellington (December 7) –** Copthorne Hotel Wellington, Oriental Bay 100 Oriental Parade Wellington 6141 - **Auckland (December 8) –** Rydges Auckland 59 Federal Street, Cnr Kingston Street, Central City Auckland 1010 To see agenda for workshops in Australia, click [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-australia-melbourne-sydney-and-brisbane/). All attendees will receive trial access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution and a City Portal, as well as exclusive early access to the new GIS Cloud platform. After the workshop, all participants will get **a certificate of attendance.** The workshops are free to attend, but the number of seats is limited, so participants will need to **register by filling in the registration form below** in order to attend. **Apply here:** Name Organization Email Phone Select Workshop Location (City) WellingtonAuckland **GIS Cloud Workshop Sessions Agenda:** **10.00 – 11.00 GIS Cloud and Spatial Vision Introduction** **11.00 – 12.30 Mobile Data Collection, Map Editor & Beyond** – Learn how to create projects and collect data using your smartphones and tablets. Also, you will learn what to do after the data is gathered. You will learn how to deploy various data collection projects like tree inspections, utility maintenance, city infrastructure monitoring, and more through existing use cases and live hands-on demos. You will also get an insight into all the possibilities of a powerful Map Editor after data is collected. Every attendee will end up with a data collection project of their own and will be able to set up new projects according to their needs. **12.30 – 1.15** LUNCH BREAK **1.15 – 1.45 City Portal and App Builder – Create your own branded web app without coding** Learn how to create a custom and branded app without having to write a single line of code in just a few minutes. All participants will have their own branded City Portal ready for testing after the session. **1.45 – 2.15 Crowdsourcing Solution – Enable the public to send information from the field through your own branded mobile app** Learn what’s needed to enable your communities to report from the field and what the benefits are of having a GIS Cloud [Crowdsourcing Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/). After the session, you will get an access code for the complete crowdsourcing solution for testing purposes. **2.15 – 3.00** **GIS Cloud vol. 2 – Get an early preview of the new GIS Cloud platform and Q&A Session** Get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud collaborative streams technology which will revolutionize today known workflows on a map, and learn about how to make the best use of collaborative mapping in different set-ups and use cases. Related content: Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th Cemetery Map: Creating Online Burial Records of Maori Tribe (New Zealand) Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Auckland, GIS Cloud, New Zealand, Spatial Vision, Wellington, workshops --- ### [FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/fida-co-studios-presenting-gis-cloud-at-the-intelligent-cities-exhibition-conference/) **Published:** September 28, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud’s partners, [FIDA & CO. Studios](http://www.fidandco.com/) (F&CS) are exhibiting and promoting GIS Cloud solutions at the leading smart and sustainable cities event in Egypt – [Intelligent Cities Exhibition and Conference](https://platforms-root-technologies.com/icec-2021/) (ICEC 2016). ![ICEC 2016 GIS Cloud Egypt](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/FidaCo-Partners-Conference.png) The event is taking place at Fairmont Heliopolis Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, **28 – 29 of September, 2016**. The two day exhibition and conference brings together over 1,000 senior level decision makers and over 3,000 participants to discuss and showcase latest technologies, sustainable solutions and products as well as best practices on managing and building the cities of tomorrow. FIDA & Co. Studios will present GIS Cloud solutions at the Booth number EX.5 . ![ICEC 2016 GIS Cloud Egypt Ahmed Amin F&CS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/FidaCo-Booth.jpg) > Smart cities are one of the biggest growth areas and trends impacting the ICT and real estate sectors today. Driven by the demand for advanced and ‘always on’ solutions and services, the Middle East region is expected to play a leading role. The need to improve existing infrastructure and intelligently maximize current resources is further fuelling the need to develop smart cities. Smart cities bring value added benefits to governments and developers by increasing investment returns, while new services built on cutting edge technologies enrich citizens’ quality of life. (Quote from the official conference page) The conference is underway, so hurry up and catch up with our partners from FIDA & Co. Studios to learn all about GIS Cloud cutting edge technology for smart cities in person! Follow updates from the conference on F&CS [Official Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/fidandco/). Related content: Discover the world of Geo-Marketing: FiDA & Co. Studios UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” GIS Cloud at INTERGEO Conference Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Egypt, fiDA&Co Studios, GIS Cloud, ICEC 2016, Smart Cities --- ### [GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-utilities-managing-water-infrastructure/) **Published:** May 31, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Water-Utilities-cover-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Water-Utilities-cover-2.jpg) Online GIS is of great value in terms of planning, managing, and maintenance of utility infrastructures such as water resources and services. Efficient and smart use of high-quality spatial data becomes imperative in a competitive economy for many electrical, gas and water utilities. Locating facilities, tracking jobs, planning operations in utilities relies on having all of the **data accessible online and open for collaboration** between managers, field crews, local governments, and citizens. We bring you an example of using cloud-based GIS by a water utility services company in Croatia, Liburnijske vode (Liburnian Waters), responsible for water network maintenance in 4 local government districts in the region of Istria. For even more insight and an elaborated case study, read our [in depth article about this case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/). [Liburnijske vode](https://www.liburnijske-vode.hr/web/) are using GIS Cloud for collaboration with local government units, together with data collection, field inspections, and an infrastructure overview, maintenance and planning. We talked with Siniša Čulić, GIS officer in the Water Supply and Drainage department. > GIS Cloud enables collaboration between our company and local government units. Our management now has an overview of existing water infrastructure and drainage data on their smartphones while in the field. Moreover, our employees are using forms to enter information about sanitary network cleanups, field inspections and water supply shortages. All data can be monitored from any location – with GIS Cloud Map Viewer, those who are in need of an accurate information now have a way to access it quickly and efficiently. [![Liburnijske vode GIS software](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-Picture1.2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-Picture1.2.jpg) ## What were the challenges? Liburnijske vode needed to comply with government regulations that required having a backup for all of their data. They needed a solution for a secure backup of their spatial data that could be updated easily and quickly. The other challenge was to facilitate their collaboration with external stakeholders such as local governments and citizens. At the same time, their idea was to improve communication and collaboration in the company while **reducing the paperwork involved in field inspections**. Extensive paperwork and paper maps often involved outdated information, slow data collection processes and slow information flow between their employees. ## Transferring geospatial data to the cloud Liburnijske vode had a priority to comply with regulations and store their data to a secure location. Having this in mind, the logical choice was to transfer their data to a cloud-based system that could be updated regularly. In words of Siniša Čulić: > GIS Cloud was a logical solution for a number of reasons, the most important being a price model, user support and the ease of use. They were already using ArcGIS desktop solution and this meant that the existing data needed to be transferred to the cloud. It was easily transferred with the [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/). This was a first step toward having a reliable backup system accessible from anywhere. The second step was to work with the data using [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), providing different GIS tools such as polygon, line and points editing, and attaching additional data with information about their facilities. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-sanitary-shafts-logo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-sanitary-shafts-logo.jpg) ## Improving the field data collection process After they have made sure that everything was in compliance with regulation, Liburnijske vode started working on improving their internal processes and collaboration. They used [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) for fast and accurate field data collection, providing customized data entry forms that helped in reducing paperwork. More importantly, the application was easy to use and didn’t require any specialized training for their field crew. Also, it greatly improved their coordination and communication. The new **field data collection process improved productivity** and reduced the time it takes to collect the data (Field inspection and maintenance, adding new sanitary network, facilities, drainage and water shortages data). > GIS Cloud enabled our employees to add different types of data such as sanitary network cleanups, inspections and water shortages directly from the field. All of this data was now available to the office crews and management enabling them to plan their operations and prioritize tasks with more efficiency than ever. It also helped them to collaborate with local government units giving them access to different segments of spatial data. [Map Viewer ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)allowed an easy access to spatial data using smartphones and tablets, what was especially useful to management that was now able to monitor the situation any time regardless of the location or device. Encouraged by the excellent results achieved with GIS Cloud, Liburnijske vode are planning to **continue improving their business processes** by including field workers in the process of ensuring infrastructure data accuracy. To sum it up, Siniša Čulić listed the main reasons for using GIS Cloud for water utilities: - Intuitive platform for collaboration with people within an organization, as well as with stakeholders from local government and citizens - Reasonable cloud service pricing in comparison to alternatives - Easy-to-use and doesn’t require additional training or IT resources. Interested in GIS solutions for utilities? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for a free trial. You can visit their public portal here: [![Water Utilities Map GIS cloud software](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-Map-Portal-s.png)](https://liburnijskevode.giscloud.com/) Related content: Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, GIS, GIS Cloud, Liburnijske Vode, Map Editor, Map Viewer, mapping, mapping water utilities, Mobile Data Collection, sanitary infrastructure, Siniša Čulić, water infrastructure, water supply and drainage, web map, web mapping --- ### [GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-mapping-and-benefits-of-online-solutions/) **Published:** July 2, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-Mapping-cover-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-Mapping-cover-1.png) **GIS** is a **software** that helps users create interactive smart maps that visualize spatial information and help make **better** and **wiser business decisions** that are important for the organization of work. Sometimes you can’t read your data and visualize it at the same time. GIS is the right solution to help you achieve that ultimate goal, notice and communicate something raw data isn’t able to do. In this article, we will reveal **all you need to know about GIS!** **OUTLINE:** - [Introduction to GIS](#introduction) - [Use Cases and Examples](#cases) - [GIS for Public Services](#public) - [Disease Mapping](#disease) - [GIS for Water Utilities](#water) - [GIS for Electric Utilities](#electric) - [GIS For Landslide Mapping and Safe Construction Planning](#landslide) - [Empowering People With Disabilities Using GIS](#disabilities) - [GIS for Vegetation Management](#vegetation) - [GIS for Local Government](#gov) - [GIS for NGOs and Nonprofits](#ngo) - [GIS and Archeology](#archeology) - [South Pole Expedition Powered by GIS](#expedition) - [The Evolution of GIS Mapping](#evolution) - [Mapping Techniques](#techniques) - [Map Types](#types) - [Desktop and Online Mapping Software](#software) Whether you are **new to GIS** or already an **expert**, through this blog, we will address the importance and implementation of GIS solutions throughout numerous industries and point out the benefits that GIS offers. ## **Introduction to GIS** To start things off here is one of many definitions – **Geographic Information System** is a software tool that analyzes, stores, manipulates and visualizes geographic information. GIS originated not only to collect and visualize data but to **draw conclusions** and **take action** based on **spatial analysis.** These actions can vary from useful public and social services to complex business decisions. As such, GIS is a crucial **solution** for managing space, organizations, communities, cities and countries. **To break it down, GIS allows you to:** - Create or import spatial and geographic data - Organize and manage data - Analyze data - Visualize and display the data on a map All this **makes a big difference in your business workflow and decision making** for your field teams and office managers. Let’s keep in mind that every GIS specialist has a definition, depending on why and how they use GIS solutions. That being said, you don’t need to be a GIS expert to use GIS technology. Many people even use GIS without being aware of it. It is indispensable in the management of business organizations, cities and countries. It allows you to answer questions about spatial data related to a particular location. In this article, we will explore examples and use cases of GIS mapping to help you better understand and appreciate this versatile software. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ezgif.com-gif-maker.gif) Each day, countless decisions in various fields are empowered by GIS and spatial thinking. Since everything occurs in a **specific location**, all of these “geographic” problems require **spatial reasoning** and **spatial analysis**. That’s where GIS steps in. With just a few tricks, it can do all the work for you. The motto is – **work smarter, not harder!** Thanks to GIS you can connect **attribute data** *(the equivalent of columns in Excel)* with their **geographic location** (coordinates, longitude and latitude), therefore bringing scattered pieces of information to life and understanding the key parameters of your spatial data visualizing it on a map. Performing analysis of georeferenced data makes it easier to process presented information and extract what is relevant for your workflow. This includes everything, from field data collection and inspection to monitoring project progress from the office and creating maps in real-time. Many online GIS solutions enable easy collaboration and simultaneous work on data, maps and team organization. ## **Use cases and examples** **So, who uses GIS?** Nowadays, almost **all industries** are using a particular form of GIS software. It can be implemented by individuals, small or huge companies, communities (states and cities), research institutions, environmental scientists, health organizations, land-use planners, businesses, government agencies, education centres… well pretty much anyone! If your data is connected to specific locations, you have enough material for a map. GIS can do so much, but long story short, it helps you to create maps and maps are pretty amazing. They’re **informative and fun**, and when done right, they provide a simple and practical **understanding** of physical space and what happens in it. In case you still wonder if you need GIS software and if visually representing attribute data is beneficial for your business, you might find this blog post very helpful. There are many uses of GIS. We would like to start things off with a widely used web-based mapping solution people use for navigation daily, the **Google Maps**. There are many other such navigation apps available online, but we are pretty sure you heard of this one. GIS also helps in dealing with **transportation issues, infrastructure assessment, network and telecom services, electricity and natural resources management and maintenance, geologic and agricultural applications, community development and urban planning, accidents and hot spot analysis, environmental impact analysis, surveying, crowdsourcing…** we could go on, but let’s instead show some examples. Throughout the years, we at **GIS Cloud** have gathered experience and exciting case studies that explain how **versatile** GIS solutions are. ### GIS for Public Services – Fire Departments In 2017, when the **firefighters of Chile** were facing massive fires across the country, they decided to [implement our dynamic GIS solution](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/firefighters-of-chile-use-a-dynamic-gis-solution-for-strategic-planning-and-fieldwork-coordination-case-study/) for strategic planning and fieldwork coordination. They integrated real-time information on the closest active firefighters and the location of equipment available to them to provide the best possible service to their community. They were voted the **most trusted** brand in the country. In this project, GIS mapping improved their internal processes and increased efficiency. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-for-Fire-Depafrtments-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-for-Fire-Depafrtments-2.jpg) ### Disease Mapping – Combating Malaria With GIS The next case study is based on the project [“Geospatial modelling of malaria risk areas and vulnerability (severity) using environmental, climatic and socio-economic factors](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/malaria-risk-map-using-gis-to-combat-malaria-disease-in-nigeria/)“. This demonstrates how to use **GIS technology** for **solving global health problems**, like the malaria epidemic. The project was developed to help people and communities find out about malaria risk areas. With the help of the Internet and SMS for people with a poor internet connection, an interactive malaria risk map was generated. Volunteers created a dashboard for intervention programs, so they can know where, when, and what type of intervention is needed. > “The relevance of GIS for public health, in this case, cannot be overemphasized because it provides us with the ability to conceptualize and visualize public health data while having a tool for us to understand the spatial trends and patterns of diseases and epidemics.” Ayodele Adeyemo [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Malaria-Map-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Malaria-Map-s.png) ### GIS for Water Utilities The implementation of field inspection via surveys on mobile phones has a significant impact on water utility companies and their general workflow. [Digital Transformation Of Field Operations In A Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/)helped increase their workflow. This water utility company digitized all of their data and made it accessible online in the cloud. They organized everyday **data collection** with **mobile data collection app**. This improved the process of field data collection and infrastructure data management, utilizing multi-level collaboration with local governments and public sectors. Companies increased their data accuracy and reduced the job timeframe by eliminating paper forms. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Liburnijske-vode-case-fb-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Liburnijske-vode-case-fb-cover.jpg) ### GIS for Electric Utilities GIS software has been **empowering** the **electric utility industry** for decades. It provides a robust framework for asset and workforce management as well as tools for planning and analysis. Today, the landscape is filled with desktop solutions like those from ESRI, open-source software like QGIS, but also a host of online GIS solutions. [Fighting electricity theft](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) in Nigeria (Africa) is an interesting case that helps a local company fight crime embracing GIS Cloud technology. They **utilized** the **GIS solution** for **each part of the workflow**, including efficient data collection in real-time, visualizing and monitoring results as well as communicating feedback, and sharing data to the stakeholders for decision making. If you wish to learn more about the uses of GIS for Electric Utilities read this [article with examples.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-electric-utilities/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Uche-electricity-f.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Uche-electricity-f.gif) ### GIS for Landslide Mapping and Safe Construction Planning **Landslides** are a **severe problem** in some regions of the world. They cause significant socio-economic difficulties and have a high impact on people’s lives. How can mapping landslides with GIS solutions help reduce people’s vulnerability living in habitats susceptible to natural disasters? [This case study on safe housing and construction](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landslide-prediction-mapping-for-safe-housing-and-construction-planning-using-gis/) shows the benefits of using GIS to create a heatmap of landslides in the Kivu Region of DR Kongo. Landslides in this region took over **130 lives**, destroyed **700 houses** and **4 schools.** Heatmap makes it possible to see the spatial analysis of the vulnerability, hazards and public perception of landslide risks. The most important is that these results enable **safe construction and housing** which helps to save human lives. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Landslides-mapping.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Landslides-mapping.jpg) ### Empowering People With Disabilities Using GIS The noteworthy project, started by **geography students** from the **City of Zagreb** called [‘Mobility for everyone](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/accessibility-map-of-zagreb-for-persons-in-wheelchairs-collecting-lines-case-study/),’ recognized the importance of mapping handicap parking and other assets to **improve** the **mobility of people with disabilities**. They focused on mapping the city infrastructure that helps people with disabilities, resulting in a publicly accessible map portal. Students collected the required data using the Mobile[ Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. Organized and edited information was released to the public through our [ Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). With this[ custom GIS app](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/), people with disabilities can now plan their activities and routes around the city faster and more efficiently. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mobility-map-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mobility-map-2.jpg) ### GIS for Vegetation Management An excellent example of [volunteers working on vegetation management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/vegetation-survey-of-lake-gaston-case-study/) for an entire lake Gaston shoreline, between Virginia and North Carolina, shows that GIS is an essential tool in **ecology research and vegetation maintenance**. The shore was threatened by invasive plants spreading out of control. Therefore, a vegetation survey was required to determine the best way to fight invasive flora. Primarily, the **LGA** (Lake Gaston Association) GIS vegetation and shoreline survey program combines research, monitoring and communication that keeps the LGA informed and maintains rapport with all appropriate groups involved in the decision-making process for each environmental issue in this area. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Lae-Gaston-Map-2.2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Lae-Gaston-Map-2.2.jpg) ### GIS for Local Government – Create an Open City Map Portal With GIS Many, local governments, smart cities and city agencies have [enabled the public to access spatial and nonspatial information through GIS solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/) like Map Portal – a custom GIS app. With GIS, cities, counties, and even states can manage their data better throughout departments to [lower the costs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cutting-administrative-costs-with-online-maps-for-lewis-county-case-study/) of administration and dispose of their budget more efficiently. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2.-Lewis-county-23mb.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2.-Lewis-county-23mb.gif) ### GIS for NGOs and Nonprofits Nonprofits and NGOs face many common challenges when trying to **promote** and **achieve sustainability**, **equality** or develop **smart solutions** for various causes, from finding funds, time and resources, to living up to the project’s expectations. [Online mapping solutions for NGOs](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/improving-non-governmental-and-non-profit-organizations-through-smart-mapping-solutions/) like GIS Cloud can help alleviate and address many of these challenges like assessing water resources in Liberia. Nonprofits there joined forces to map the entire country and reach a common goal: [bring clean drinking water](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-everyone-gis-for-ngos-case-study/) to every Liberian household by December of 2020. They located and mapped water resources and then tracked the installation of water filters using the Mobile Data Collection app. This resulted in a 95% reduction in symptoms for water-borne illness. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Liberia-case-study.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Liberia-case-study.jpg) ### GIS and Archeology A case study that demonstrates how using online GIS solutions helps **achieve project goals** even in remote areas with **low or no internet connectivity**. A successful field data collection solution enabled a complex archaeological survey. Dr. Gugl at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Culture in Austria said that this solution satisfies all of the prerequisites for their project to be effective and accurate. They used GIS Cloud in their research of [Roman Military Camp – Municipium – Late Antique and Byzantine Fortification](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-in-archaeology-mapping-roman-and-byzantine-ruins-case-study/). From the archaeologist’s point of view, GIS has simplified not only their data collection and visualization but also the perception of space itself, considering that the spatial dimension of archaeological research is essential. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-in-Archeology.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-in-Archeology.jpg) ### Conquering the South Pole – Expedition Powered by GIS We are really proud to be a part of the great [Croatian South Pole expedition mapping project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/conquering-the-south-pole-davor-rostuhars-interactive-map/)! Renowned Croatian adventurer **Davor Rostuhar** completed his South Pole journey on foot in January of 2018. The expedition was tracked from the **Antarctic shores** to the **South Pole,** covering the whole distance of **1200 km**, that Davor courageously passed solo, unsupported and unassisted in **47 days.** His endeavor was followed and supported directly from our office in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, and we were thrilled to track the daily progress of this fantastic polar expedition. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Expedition-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Expedition-map.jpg) All of the mentioned cases used online **GIS solutions** that can be integrated with desktop GIS solutions. This way, **all project participants** have been able to **bridge the gap** between the desktop and the cloud to **collaborate** between teams and display the data in real-time. This helped with important decision making! ## **The Evolution of GIS Mapping** GIS mapping is not as revolutionary as you may think. Fascination and interest with exploration and maps have been inherent to human nature since prehistoric times. Looking back (way back), the practice of capturing the world and drawing maps by hand were **originally merely artistic**, but through time their value turned them into **scientific disciplines**. We have to mention one of the best known early applications of **location Intelligence** by an English physician named **Jon Snow** (not the popular Game of Thrones character). His [map of cholera outbreaks](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-as-a-lifesaving-tool/) in London from 1854. recorded cases of cholera and discovered that a vast majority was concentrated around **specific water pumps**. By identifying the source, people were able to take action. This was regarded as the founding event of **epidemiology** but also a great example of **spatial analysis** and the very **beginning** of GIS. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Colera-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Colera-cover.jpg) Talking about the evolution of mapping, first thing geography enthusiasts among you will probably think of is **cartography** and **land surveying**. Both are very closely connected to GIS. The **key difference** between **cartography** and **GIS** is that cartography deals with **representation**, while GIS is concerned with the **analysis** of **spatial relationships**. Basically, GIS represents a **blend of digital cartography** including **database managemen****t**, **computer science** and **geography**, along with some other disciplines. Its evolution was boosted by a technology growth in the mid 20th century making it a relatively new field originating in the 1960s. Within the last five decades, GIS evolved from a concept to this robust platform that keeps growing and changing the way we implement spatial information in our decision-making processes. Today, thousands of organizations from all kinds of fields keep **creating** and **sharing** their stories through interactive maps and visualizations. ## **Mapping techniques** GIS is **interdisciplinary**. It studies data structures and computational techniques to capture, represent, process, and analyze geographic information. GIS is a system that transforms the way an organization works. It can significantly improve the performance of an organization by analyzing and implementing spatial analysis and visualization of data into its workflow. Let’s get more technical as we go through some terms and tools that GIS offers! Of course, there is a lot of interesting literature available on GIS, but if you are an enthusiast like us, we suggest that you explore the world of GIS starting with this particular [Geo-portal](https://geoawesomeness.com/). GIS data represents **real objects** (roads, land use, elevation, trees, waterways, etc.) whose representation can be divided into two abstractions: **discrete objects** (e.g., a house) and **continuous fields** (e.g. elevations). Methods that are used to store data in GIS for both kinds of abstractions mapping references are **vector models** and **raster images**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/vector-raster.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/vector-raster.jpg)Raster vs Vector; image source: https://guides.lib.uw.edu For example, the vector data model represents geography as collections of **points**, **lines**, and **polygons** (each component is referred to as a ‘feature’). The raster data model represents geography as **cell matrices** that store **numeric values** and **TIN** – an alternative to the raster data model for representing continuous surface as the sets of contiguous, non-overlapping triangles. In GIS, these models **store information** about the real world as **thematic layers.** Layers are positioned and linked according to their geographic coordinates and stacked on top of each other. As a result, adequate groups of data are easily gathered and managed. This way, robust spatial analysis can be performed more accurately and with ease. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-Data-Layers.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GIS-Data-Layers.jpg)Image source: https://sectionhiker.com You can analyze and compare terrains and datasets quite easily. The map you see is a simplified model of the terrain. A grid-based GIS offers some algebraic functions to help you fine-tune a search. GIS provides a variety of outputs:- maps - charts - 3D diagrams, etc All of these unique capabilities enable GIS to reveal **more profound insights** into data, such as **patterns**, **relationships**, and **situations** helping users **make smarter decisions**. To get a better understanding of all of this geo-lingo, here’s an example. Let’s start things off with something simple – **B****asemap.** It is a **predefined** map that forms the background onto which you can add your data and create a new map. For example, you can add a **raster** image on your basemap which represents the **elevation** of the terrain. Next, you can add **vector** layers, like a **polygon** layer representing the country states, a **line** layer representing the roads and a **point** layer representing cities. You can also adjust the size of the points according to the size of the population of each city. **You’ve created a map!** With this introduction into the world of GIS mapping, we’ll focus on its everyday use to get a better idea. Since its primary purpose is to produce **data visualizations** in the form of a map, we’ll mention a few map types. ## **Map Types** One of the most commonly used GIS map creations in any field is a **thematic map**, a way to simplify and present raw data to a broader audience. Thematic maps are designed to **highlight information** on a specific topic. They can symbolize value distributions, processes, phenomena, and patterns in a straightforward way, making them easy to read. Choosing the right type of visualization will profoundly influence the understanding and interpretation done by users. It depends on the data you are working with and the information you wish to communicate to the audience. Let’s explore some of them: #### **Choropleth map** This is a map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or the placing of symbols within predefined areas to indicate the **average values** of a particular quantity in those areas. Those areal unit’s **statistical variables** are being **displayed** on the map. For example, you could present the population density of a country by its administrative areas, with densely populated areas shown with a darker shade while the less populated areas are shown with a lighter shade. Other examples include per capita income, votes for a specific political party by administrative areas, frequency of bicycle use, criminal activities in certain cities, and many more. #### [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/choropleth-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/choropleth-map.jpg) #### **Cartograms** Cartogram is a unique type of map because it combines **statistical information with geographic location** (such as travel time, population, or GNP) is substituted for land area or distance. The geometry or space of the map is distorted, sometimes immensely, and sacrificed to convey the information of this other variable. A cartogram could, for instance, consist of a choropleth map that has been modified to show the size range of data in a much clearer way. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cartogram.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Cartogram.jpg) **Heatmaps** A heatmap is a **graphical representation** of data that uses **color-coding** showing the density of the values. The primary purpose is to visualize and emphasize the areas that matter the most and represent the message you wish to convey. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Heatmap.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Heatmap.jpg) It creates an intensely colored cloud-looking cluster where the points are more densely located. Similar to a cartogram, it uses colour to represent the intensity, and it does not apply geographical or geo-political boundaries to group data. #### **Graduated Symbol Map** Sometimes called a bubble map, it uses a symbol to represent the data at that specific or aggregate point, which is scaled by value – a more significant symbol represents a higher value. The size of each symbol can be proportional to the value you are visualizing, or you can set 3 to 5 ‘classes’ of values allowing for comparison and classification of locations. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Graduated-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Graduated-map.jpg) Even though the final product looks quite different, it basically works similar to a choropleth map, but it uses point size instead of color to represent the difference among data. #### **Dot density map** This one is pretty self-explanatory; it uses **point (dot) features** to **represent** your **data**. In a way, they look like a raw version of a heatmap, showing areas where the dots are densely clustered but without creating an interpolated colored surface. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dot-density-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Dot-density-map.jpg) One of the best-known examples of this type of mapping is the before mentioned map of cholera patients in London by physician John Snow, one of the first examples of location intelligence. He mapped the location of patients dot by dot and realized they are densely located near water pumps which were the source of the disease. #### **Isoline Maps** If your data focuses on continuity over distance, you might want to consider an isoline map, which uses **continuous lines to indicate points of the same value**. There are many types of isolines depending on what they represent, and the most famous is a contour line that represents elevation on a map by connecting points of equal height. You must have seen these on topographic maps as they are commonly used to visualize terrain (together with colors). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/isoline-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/isoline-map.jpg) This was just a simple breakdown of a couple of most commonly used thematic maps but in general, depending on how you categorize your data and which results you wish to represent. There are many variations and combinations of these techniques available. You can even have a few layers of different visualizations inside one map to convey your desired information. Keep in mind that there are a few cartographic and data visualization rules that must be followed when creating a map (most of them are based on shared knowledge and logic). Other than that, you’re free to explore and work around with the various options the software provides. ## **Desktop and Online Mapping Software – Unique Benefits** There is a variety of GIS software available out there. So many options and variations don’t seem to differ as much, primarily through the eyes of a rookie. GIS enthusiasts know that the power of GIS lies in its ability to **perform analysis**, and this is where the GIS software starts to differ. Most **desktop GIS** solutions include complex analysis and tools invaluable for GIS experts. GIS software is an excellent addition to the workflow of any company. It is a powerful and useful solution that will digitize and improve decision making, and help you understand spatial data better. However, in recent years, one of the most important benefits of any **GIS solution** became the possibility to **share and collaborate on maps and data in real-time.** We have witnessed an increased usage in online GIS solutions such as [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/), which are user-friendly and easy to learn and can thus empower **even non-gis expert****s**. There is a big advantage in using **online GIS** solutions, such as **real-time data collection, inspection and editing, team and job management.** This helps your organization to make faster, better and more accurate decisions, saving time and paperwork. It becomes easy to exchange data and geographical information between users on a different level of permissions, allowing them to participate in projects regardless of their location. When it comes to pricing, sophisticated desktop GIS software, that is created for GIS specialists and professionals, can be somewhat expensive. If you don’t need all the comprehensive tools they offer it even might be a bit overwhelming. You must have heard of **ESRI ArcGIS,** one of the leading mapping and spatial analytics software for desktop. **GIS Cloud** offers a [Publisher for ArcMap plugin](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) for transferring your maps and data from ESRI directly to GIS Cloud with just one click. This enables you to make your maps accessible online so you could collaborate on them with your team. This is also a simple and efficient solution for all ESRI users who wish to publish or embed maps and data into their website or blog without needing their own servers. It is noteworthy to mention there are some great **free and open-source solutions** like **QGIS** software. We have also developed a [QGIS Publisher plugin](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) that enables you to publish your maps to the GIS Cloud Platform with just a couple of clicks, preserving your symbology. That makes your maps publicly available and ready for collaboration. You can also update and sync your maps to GIS Cloud as you go. Whether you wish to represent statistical data with an interactive map, collect field data, or perform complex spatial analysis – there is a GIS solution out there for you! The thing is, you’ll have to explore and evaluate these options first before you find the one that suits the needs of your business the best. World of GIS mapping keeps moving forward and grows on a daily basis. We hope this article provided you with a simple yet interesting insight into the world of **Geographic Information Systems.** It may inspire you to explore further and take a step forward in improving and simplifying your business process and decision making. If you need help or any additional information feel free to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for details. Have a Mapful Day! Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Case Study, Cloud GIS, collaboration, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, local government, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, nonprofit --- ### [New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-release-add-electronic-signature-to-your-digital-forms/) **Published:** February 18, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Electronic Signature](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-cover.png) Our development team has been working on one of the key features for digital forms and delivered the **Electronic Signature**, an indispensable feature to support users in the field and make GIS Cloud solution for data collection even more powerful. This form field allows you to capture an electronic signature on your survey and use it as a **proof of authenticity and data integrity,** within the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app. This will be an excellent addition for various **field inspections, evaluation surveys,** or any other forms for data collection, allowing you to **sign off work in the field** and help you **mitigate any possible liability.** When you log into the GIS Cloud web app and go to the [Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) to create your custom form, you can choose the Electronic Signature item from the **Form items** list. This will create a new field in your form which you can name, and decide if it needs to be required, persistent or read-only. You can also add a description for the field data collector with a detailed **Agreement Text** for the signee**.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-1.png) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-2.png) Learn more on [how to create your custom forms](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/) for data collection, and all about the [different form items](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/) that you can use. In your Mobile Data Collection app, find the project you created in the web app, and open the form for data collection. The form will include a “Sign the Form” button. Tap on the button to open a blank space for your signature, including the agreement text if it is added. Once you are satisfied with your signature, hit the Done button and continue filling in the form, or just click **Send**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-3.png) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-4.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-4.png) The signature will be saved as a **PNG picture**. There is a possibility to view and delete the signature or add a new one later if required. The electronic signature feature appears in custom reports and exports of collected data. It can help you if you need printable evidence and documents for stakeholders, inspectors, landowners, or any other signature work authorisations. While going over the data in Map Editor, you will also be able to access the Signature through the Datagrid and feature Info windows. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Signature-map.png) We developed this feature as an empowering solution to simplify field data processes and reduce the requirement for messy paper forms and documents. If you would like to try out this feature, [**Sign Up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the 14 day FREE Premium GIS Cloud trial! Related content: Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data collection, developers, electronic signature, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, new release, signature, survey, surveying --- ### [Using GIS to strategically treat contaminated water and prevent disease outbreaks (Chennai, India)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/chennai-silver-lining-a-community-sanitation-planning-using-gis/) **Published:** December 23, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chennai-Contaminated-Water-case-study-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chennai-Contaminated-Water-case-study-cover.jpg) In 2015 the Chennai district in India experienced severe flooding. To quickly eliminate the threat of disease outbreaks from contaminated water across the district, volunteers decided to use online GIS and strategically apply a sanitation agent.We talked to one of the volunteers included in the [Chennai Silver Lining](https://www.facebook.com/ChennaisSilverLining/) – A Sanitation Drive project. Read a story about a great community initiative of Chennai’s citizens who decided to organize to reduce health risks the flooding posed to Chennai’s population. ## Community Sanitation Project – an Action Plan for Emergency Relief ![Chennai](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature.jpg) A group of volunteers led by Mr. Sai Shankar decided to initiate the Chennai’s Silver Lining project after the heavy rainfall from Nov 30 to Dec 2 in 2015, which caused severe flooding that posed significant health risks for the Chennai population. They wanted to **prevent the post-flooding epidemic breakout** by reaching out to every corner of the Chennai district with a 7 days action plan, to sanitize the water deluged area with bleaching powder. Chennai Silver Lining project needed **over 100 volunteers** to cover different parts of this megacity district. They used guidelines about post-flood emergency health precautions – community sanitation from Disaster Management Education Planning & Training (ADEPT). The idea was to prevent outbreaks of diseases like typhoid, dysentery, infectious hepatitis, and other diseases associated with floodwaters. ## Applying a Sanitizing Agent Across the megacity to Eliminate Bacteria in Water Cleanup procedures included using a sanitizing agent such as hypochlorite in the form of bleaching powder or commercial household bleach, which is the most widely accepted, safe and effective sanitizing agent. **Hypochlorite is used for eliminating bacteria, viruses and fungi** during the cleanup process. ![Volunteers](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/chD.jpg) It is important to **act quickly** during a flood relief to **prevent the spreading of pathogenic organisms**. They will not become airborne as long as the surfaces they have contaminated remain wet. Pathogenic organisms can enter the body and cause disease through water splashing into the mouth, mucous membranes, open cuts, etc. Once dried, organisms can spread on dust particles by air movement. That’s why it is important to “sow” the bleaching powder into all wet and marshy areas, and bring all contaminated surfaces into contact with the bleaching powder as soon as possible. ## Marking HUB points on a map to organize volunteers Volunteers needed to act quickly and those with the experience in GIS decided to use a cloud-based mapping solution to achieve fast and effective team coordination. They used GIS Cloud’s [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to create a map with HUB points, with the location name, address and contact number. This way they could plan which team will dispense the sanitizing agent in specific areas of the district. Later, [this map](http://chennai.giscloud.com/) was published through the GIS Cloud Map Portal to be easily accessible to a wider public and volunteers. Learn more about the Map Portal [here](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). Chennai volunteers were motivated to implement a Silver Lining project after they have studied the dangerous after-effects of flooding. They decided to help their community by organizing themselves to participate in flood relief. Volunteers have organized 13 HUB stations, [marked on a ](http://chennai.giscloud.com/)[map](http://chennai.giscloud.com/), for different areas of the Chennai district and conducted the project with the help of Chennai’s community. The full number of volunteers and the percentage of the sanitized area still isn’t available, but project participants claim that the Chennai Silver Lining achieved a community-based success that proved the strength of unity in extreme circumstances. ![Chennai Map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Chennai-Map.png) ## **Importance of GIS in Disease Prevention** This project offers a good example of a community-based initiative that highlights the importance of spatial thinking in disease prevention. Roots of using **spatial thinking in risk management in the case of the disease** date back to the 19th century when [Dr. Snow used a map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-as-a-lifesaving-tool/) to find the source of the cholera outbreak. In the 21th century, we have various web mapping tools which can do the same, and more. Chennai Silver Lining project volunteers agreed on the importance of education for encouraging the spatial thinking of students, policy-makers, government, and NGOs, because “prevention is better than cure.” In this case, GIS proves to be a great decision-making tool that can be used for any risk and mitigation plan. They believe that GIS can be extensively used to **re-survey the complete land use and land cover** of the Chennai district to make a digital copy/map of the area. Volunteers would like the Metropolitan authorities to have this map **for future decision-making** and coordination activities, initiating research and development in the National Disaster Management. This map should be available to the public, being a good start in encouraging spatial thinking for all the people. Chennai Silver Lining project serves as an exemplary case for both GIS and non-GIS experts that want to do something for their community by applying spatial thinking and spatial knowledge to a specific project or cause. Cloud-based GIS tools are a great way for volunteers in different [initiatives](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/volunteer-watershed-cleanup-events-orange-county-ca-case-study/) to organize themselves, collaborate, and improve their decision-making, with the help of technology. You can browse the Chennai volunteer’s map [here](http://chennai.giscloud.com/). If you want to start using online GIS to tackle your disease prevention or other environmental projects, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and learn as you go. Related content: GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria STOP Corona! Crowdsourcing App Uses Heatmap Analysis to Predict Coronavirus Outbreaks Malaria Risk Map: Using GIS to Combat Malaria Disease in Nigeria Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Chennai, disaster relief, disease outbreak prevention, emergency preparedness, flooding, floods, GIS, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, treating contaminated water --- ### [Engaging Citizens with the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing App](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-gis-cloud-crowdsourcing-app-to-engage-citizens/) **Published:** June 14, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Every organization needs to gather and manage data, especially location-based data which can be represented visually on a map. Crowdsourcing apps are used to **collect data from a large number of users** using a single app on their mobile devices. Administrators control the information and decide whether it will be accepted and visible publicly, in a crowdsourced map portal. [![Collect data from a large number of users](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Crowdsourcing-Solution-complete2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Crowdsourcing-Solution-complete2.png) When we talk about Smart Cities and online communities, we can say that collaboration and citizen engagement can drastically change city dynamics. With significant growth in mobile technology and availability of smartphones, crowdsourcing apps have taken over the marketplace with almost 60% of the annual increase in the Market Size (2016). Acquiring feedback and ideas from a large group of people and outsourcing tasks brings substantial advantages to your city or organization. That is why we are excited to present our [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) for governments, organizations, and cities with a goal to engage communities in active citizenship. ## Creating your branded crowdsourcing application GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing apps are configurable applications, **customized and branded** for each client individually**.** Once the crowdsourcing mobile app is built and branded, citizens and organization members can download the [M](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Mobile-App)[obile App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Mobile-App) directly from App Store or Google Play. At the same time, [Crowdsourcing Web App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Web-App) is instantly accessible, and it allows citizens to anonymously report issues online from their desktop computers. Project Coordinators can track the submissions and review the reports to decide whether they will accept them, using the [Admin Web App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Admin-App). They also control the visibility of reported issues by approving them for public viewing. An organization can create a unique survey project by creating a custom form using GIS Cloud form builder for [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). This form, along with the colors and logo from an organization, is the basis for the crowdsourcing data collection app the GIS Cloud team builds in a matter of days. Survey and form fields can be easily modified at any moment using the same builder they were created in. Forms are quickly deployed and **instantly updated on Mobile and Public Web Apps. Once you’re done setting up your project and the app is built, citizens can download the app and start contributing to your project immediately, without the need to create an account. [![GIS Clodu Crowdsourcing mobile apps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Mob-App.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Mob-App.png) A project is presented to citizens as an interactive map, used to report a problem or observation. Citizens can easily and **anonymously submit reports** about a location or an asset**, including photos and comments** using Mobile or Web App. They can **track status** and review existing reports, vote on critical issues in their areas and publicly propose a solution. Everyone benefits from collaboration due to more effective communication, more efficient delivery of services and faster response time in the process of reporting and solving issues between organizations, cities and the public. The main application used to edit crowdsourcing projects is the [Admin Web App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Admin-App), which is only a part of the Crowdsourcing solution. Project form can be modified at any time, and it can have many different attribute field types (Date & Time, Checkboxes, Photos, Audio field, etc.). This app allows the Project Coordinator to review submitted reports, problems, and observations. **Project Coordinator can** **approve or reject submissions, update the status of the reported issue and coordinate between departments. He can also** **track progress and have an overview of statistics through graphs and charts**. The project Coordinator’s ability to approve or reject a submission for public viewing stands as a form of protection, that is **data liability control** because not all submissions are always complete or adequate for release to the public. Project Coordinator will accept only the reports and submissions that are complete and in compliance with the regulations of the organization which is collecting the data. After the data is collected, you can use other GIS Cloud apps such as Map Editor to style and analyze the data, import more layers of data to have a better overview of the project, as well as to share it with other interested parties. You can also organize teams which have to do repairs or replacements or confirm the reported issues. [![Application for crowdsourced mapping administrators](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Admin-Web-App.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Admin-Web-App.png) ## Crowdsourcing use case: City Issues Reporting and Neighborhood Development With many problems cities are facing around the world, crowdsourcing tools have proved to be an ideal solution for organizations that wish to promote more efficient community governance. The City Issue Reporting and Neighborhood Development use case presented in this article aims to engage the community in active citizenship with a goal to transform and improve cities together with local and city leaders. Following the Smart City trends, engaging citizens to get more involved in identifying issues, neighborhood development and implementation of solutions in their areas will benefit the overall city structure, strengthen communication and interconnect technological infrastructure in a city. Project area chosen for this use case is the City of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The project consists of two parts, **City Issues Reporting** and **Neighborhood Development**. The first part aims to engage citizens engage in crowdsourced mapping to report public and private safety issues, road and traffic or littering issues in the city. Citizens who wish to collaborate can report neighborhood issues like graffiti, illegal occupancies, broken windows, maintenance of non-residential structures, sidewalk obstructions, potholes, low visibility intersections, illegal dumping sites and many more general and specific issues in the city. Registering and forwarding **citizens concerns** about neighborhood issues to the City Services results in a more efficient and effective city management system. The second part of the project was focused on **citizens reports**, suggestions and comments on neighborhood development opportunities and potential improvements in park & recreation, road & traffic and utility infrastructure. Citizens who wish to include in the development of their neighborhood can suggest neighborhood improvements like an extra bench, street light, a new playground for kids, trash cans, recycle bins, video surveillance, pedestrian crossing or noise barrier and much more. Project Coordinator evaluates and prioritizes the reports, suggestions and comments then forwards those to the City District Committees that are responsible for implementation of future improvements. ## Challenges when collecting data from a large number of users It is often hard to gather data from a large number of citizens or members of a big organization, and have all data centralized in one place. Let alone to be able to organize the data, track the process of ongoing projects an report to the public and stakeholders on the project status. Existing solutions for data collection rarely offer the possibility of including thousands of collectors in the process, using the same simple application for the same project or a goal. The key challenges for organizations are to find an efficient way to: - Visualize and categorize reports on a map - Review and approve submissions for public viewing - Prioritize tasks and reduce response time - Coordinate teams and plan actions - Monitor progress and track details of an individual report in real time We held two webinars regarding a specific use of our online crowdsourcing platform in different industries, which can help you to understand the workflow of an organization using this solution. The first webinar was about [Crowdsourcing for Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-crowdsourcing-for-utilities/), explaining which problems can be solved by crowdsourcing spatial data from your clients and coworkers. The second webinar showcased [crowdsourcing solutions for ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/)[NGOs and Nonprofits](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/) who wish to attract sponsors, support micro-volunteering practices and engage communities in various projects. [![Public web portal for crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Public-Web-App.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Public-Web-App.png) ## A complete solution to engage citizens GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing app is a perfect solution for engaging citizens in the city development. Project Coordinator creates a unique form using GIS Cloud form builder, which is then built into a unique branded app, accessible as a [Mobile](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Mobile-App) or [Web App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/#Web-App) to citizens and the public. Citizens report issues using automatic geolocation or by pinpointing the location for better precision. Reports include photos, comments, descriptions, suggestions and additional information relevant to a project. Project Coordinator evaluates received reports, problems, suggestions, and observations, and approves or rejects submissions for public viewing. Allowing the public to view reported issues, comment and propose solutions to problems, **makes citizens feel more involved in the decision-making process** of the city they live in. Both project Coordinator and city leaders can track the progress and status of reported issues using charts and graphs in the web interface. Project Coordinator can forward issue reports or development suggestions to a city department responsible for it’s solving. Establishing critical infrastructure and delivery of services effectively and efficiently completes the circle and thus increases connectivity in a city. Crowdsourcing solutions are **strategic models used to open up governments and cities** to fresh and innovative ideas and solutions. Crowdsourcing data collection can be applied in a variety of different industries and projects like environmental protection, rising crime rates, unemployment, overcrowding and urban sprawls, resource management and many more. It is a powerful tool that can change organization dynamics and become the primary tool for decision-makers in organizations and communities. Take a look at this [amazing project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/educating-about-dry-stone-heritage-in-the-eastern-adriatic-through-interactive-maps/) which aims to [preserve national heritage of drystone in Croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/educating-about-dry-stone-heritage-in-the-eastern-adriatic-through-interactive-maps/), using Crowdsourcing solution alongside other GIS Cloud solutions. If you want to learn more about **GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution** or try it for yourself, [contact our consultants ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)and they will get you started. Related content: Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Branded Admin App, Branded Mobile App, Branded Web App, Case Study, Crowdsourcing application, GIS Cloud, local governments --- ### [Mineral Resources Map of Croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mineral-resources-map-of-croatia/) **Published:** May 30, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Mineral resources map of Croatia](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Minerals-resources-cover-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Minerals-resources-cover.png) Every country wants to make use of its mineral resources in the best way possible – economically, but also environmentally. It is necessary to monitor permits for exploitation, represent potential exploitation fields for new investors and easily keep track of every mineral resource. Their **smart management** is, therefore, highly important. That’s why Domagoj Grgurić, a Mining Engineering student from the University of Zagreb, created a map of mineral resources and exploitation fields in Croatia. Here’s the [Map Portal](https://resources-croatia.giscloud.com/) where you can explore the map. ## **Overview Of Mineral Resources In Croatia** This map represents all of Croatia’s exploitation fields of mineral resources. Exploitation fields represent the areas where mining activity is legally allowed. Data we’ve used for the project is based on a public document “Management strategy for mineral resources in Croatia.” Geologically speaking, Croatia is divided into two regions – Inner Dinaride Belt and Outer Dinarides. A majority of those two regions consists of sedimentary rocks like limestones, dolomites, and other unconsolidated sedimentary deposits. ![Mineral resources map of Croatia - overview](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/resource-croatia-1.gif) Most of the exploitation fields in Croatia are crushed stone aggregate. It can be used for the construction of roads, production of concrete, groundwork for the construction of railways, building dams and also as an aggregate for the production of construction materials. The second highest number of exploitation fields are construction grade sand and gravel. A large amount of these fields are located around river Drave, an area that offers almost endless amounts of high-quality sand and gravel. Their primary use is in construction of roads and tunnels, but also for the production of concrete. On the third place is the dimension stone. It is represented in the southern part of Croatia, the region called Dalmatia. Since, geologically, limestones are most common, the area abounds with quarries for the production of dimension stone. Later on, after exploitation and processing, dimension stone is used as a decorative element in interiors or exteriors. [![Mineral-ressources-map-clay](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mineral-ressources-map-clay-1024x562.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mineral-ressources-map-clay.png) ## **Creating the Map Portal** In these three steps, we are going to show you how Domagoj designed a map and then built a custom [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). 1. **1. Preparing the Data** As it was mentioned before, the basis for this map was “Management strategy for mineral resources in Croatia” document. The first step was to use already created polygons from the mentioned document and using [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) recreate them on our map. Apart from polygon’s geometry, all of the available information was also used, like the type of mineral resource, area dimensions, county, and owner information. Collected data for every polygon was easily inserted through the data grid. 2. **2. Changing the Symbology** Polygons were then grouped based on the type of mineral resource they represent. Using Map Editor, their symbology was changed in accordant to the mining engineering standards. To create a better view of polygons on “Resources in counties” map, out of every polygon, we created a point and turned off the visibility of points after some zoom level. This way on lower zoom it is possible to see the position of every polygon, but after a specified level of zooming the points will disappear. After fixing some redundant data and adding some new, as the name of exploitation fields, coordinates, and location, the map was ready for the next step. 3. **3. Creating the Map Portal using App Builder** We decided to create four different maps out of one map. Publishing those maps on Map Portal was intuitive and easy with **App builder**. The first step in creating a custom Map Portal was to pick a default map. After that, we have added three more maps. On two of them, we created dropdown filters, which was both easy to create and easy to use. The introduction text was added for new users on how to use the Map Portal properly. Lastly, details like background color were changed and our Map Portal was ready for publishing. [![App builder](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Minerals-App_builder_screen-1024x523.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Minerals-App_builder_screen.png) ## **The Results** Result of this project is an **interactive Map Portal** with four distinct maps. In the Mineral resources map it possible to get an overview of every mineral resource which is under exploitation. Hydrocarbon resources map shows only Croatia’s hydrocarbon exploitation fields. The vast majority of them are oil fields owned by one company, but also there are some geothermal water fields. In the Resources in counties map, by **using the filter**, mineral aggregates are represented by their location in counties. Lastly, we have the Heatmap of resources; it is a statistical map where red areas show a high density of exploitation fields, while blue areas show low density. Map of resources in Croatia can be used in educational purposes during classes on nature science and related schools or faculties. Its significant advantage is that it is easy to use and easy to filter through. Aside from education, the map can be used by government authorities to manage the system of the mineral resource, monitor their usage and to analyze the data. Are you interested in creating a GIS Cloud Map Portal? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Mapping the Geothermal Resources of Croatia Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** App Builder, change symbology, data sharing and analyisis, filter, interactive map, Map Portal, smart management --- ### [Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/educating-about-dry-stone-heritage-in-the-eastern-adriatic-through-interactive-maps/) **Published:** November 9, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We had the pleasure to work with [4 GRADA DRAGODID](http://www.dragodid.org/), an NGO working on restoring and preserving the dry stone in Croatia. We got to know them during the GIS Day Contest 2016 where they won the special award, GIS Cloud solution for **field data collection, map editing and a public map portal**. GIS Cloud mapping solution enabled the nonprofit to continue their project that almost came to a stop because their previous mapping solution was too complicated to develop and maintain. The collaboration resulted in [suhozid.hr](https://suhozid.giscloud.com/), an interactive Map Portal showing locations of the dry stone localities and its historical data throughout Croatia. [![dry stone field data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-cover.jpg) We spoke with **Grga Frangeš** from 4 GRADA DRAGODID, who explained the organization’s activities, their project Suhozid.hr, as well as their goals and plans for the future. But, let’s start with a quick introduction about dry stone in Croatia. ## The importance of dry stone as cultural heritage Although at first glance dry stone wall construction may appear to be an uninteresting, even ‘primitive’ type of structure, its importance needs to be assessed from a wider perspective. In a literal, visual sense, the ‘wider perspective’ is available to us through **aerial and satellite imagery** visualized using web mapping technologies. When we take a look at the dry stone construction, we will see that they are widespread in the karst areas, where the stone is the principal material in the landscape. In areas populated with human settlements, the stone is also considered ‘an excess,’ that has to be removed or put to a particular use in order to survive in an often inhospitable environment. From a cultural or less literal perspective, the dry stone heritage represents a kind of the “**infrastructure of survival**” through which people have tailored and modified the merciless environment to their life needs. ![dry stone wall 4 GRADA DRAGODID](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-zid.jpg)“An example of the dry stone wall. Dry stone is a stone wall that is made without mortar to hold the stones together (Merriam-Webster)” ## The historical significance of dry stone in Croatia The skill of dry stone building and drywall construction is a traditional legacy of the Mediterranean area even from prehistoric times. This **ancient building skill** shaped the eastern Adriatic as it is today. For centuries people laid stone on top of stone creating impressive structures. The dry stone had many applications that were essential for local communities. Dry stone walls prevented livestock from fleeing, and the **walls doubled as boundaries between properties**. Also, people would sift through dirt and extract the rocks to make it suitable for cultivation. The rocks were then used for building the dry stone. It was a cumbersome type of work that was essential for local communities. ## The nonprofit behind suhozid.hr 4 GRADA DRAGODID is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the dry stone walls in Croatia and the Eastern Adriatic, as well as educating and informing the public about dry stone heritage, its history, function, and importance. ![Suhozid.hr](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-duo.jpg)Photo Credits: 4 GRADA DRAGODID The organization was established in 2007, but their first activities date back to 2002 when the **first international dry stone workshop** was held in Dragodid, a village in the vicinity of Komiža, the island of Vis (Croatia). Today, they are present in various localities throughout the Croatian coast and nearby countries. 4 GRADA DRAGODID has 40 members, and their main activities consist of organizing dry stone workshops in different locations, and research into the dry stone heritage in collaboration with local dry stone artisans. ## The beginnings of Suhozid.hr project Having in mind the scale of the dry stone heritage and its importance for the local culture, the primary goal of the project was **to map various dry stone localities** in order to preserve the heritage and raise awareness of its importance using GIS technology. The idea was conceived and the domain Suhozid.hr was registered by ethnologist **Jadran Kale**, architect **Filip Šrajer** from 4 GRADA DRAGODID operationalized it into a project assignment and contacted **Dražen Odobašić** who developed the system’s architecture. The project was named “The open public inventory of Croatian dry stone walls.” The first stage of the project was launched in 2013, a customized web solution was implemented with a PostGIS database built on a Linux VPS server, visualized and published using a custom web GIS interface built on OpenLayers technology. During 4 years of continuous work, **more than 3200 entries that included GPS locations, dry stone photos, and descriptions** were collected by the members of the 4 GRADA DRAGODID organization. Their next goal was to build a community of people who would be motivated to contribute to the project with a system that would encourage **social interaction within the community** by rewarding the most active members and those with the best data collection contributions. ## Challenges with the initial mapping solution The initial advantage of the project, its customizability gained by web development efforts of the volunteers, proved to be a **disadvantage in the long term**. Namely, as the whole project was based on the volunteer work, the first problems arose when the developers didn’t have enough time to spare to continue the maintenance, upgrades, and administration of the project. **Because the web solution they had was unique and custom**, and it didn’t have sufficient documentation and details necessary for the knowledge transfer that would allow other volunteers to take over, **the project came to a halt**. What they needed to continue the project was **a simpler solution** that wouldn’t require additional web development skills from the volunteers, and that would be easy to update, customize, and maintain. For some time, there was no sign that the volunteers would be able to continue the project. However, the project came to a turning point when the team from 4 GRADA DRAGODID got an opportunity to **revitalize their project** after they learned about the GIS Day Contest in 2016. The GIS Day Contest was conceived as a platform to support the realization of mapping projects that contribute to a local community by providing the necessary tools and technical support for their realization. They decided to enter the contest and got selected as one of the contest’s special award winners in the category of nonprofit organizations. It meant that they finally had the means to revive the project, this time on top of the [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/) platform, and with the help of the GIS Cloud team. [![dry stone builders](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-gradnja-2-1-1024x507.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-gradnja-2-1.jpg) Photo Credits: 4 GRADA DRAGODID ## Preparing the data for the new GIS solution The solution provided by GIS Cloud proved to be the best way to continue and overcome the challenge of maintaining the project with easy-to-use tools which **don’t require web development skills** from the volunteers working on the project. First, the most significant technical effort was put forth in consolidation and adjustment of the original PostGIS database data structure. The original PostGIS database needed adjustment for several requirements before the connection could be established, like ensuring that the user and PostGIS tables have the relevant database permissions necessary to read them, modifying the column names connected to feature geometry and primary keys (ID), etc. After the initial phase finished, the further steps were rather simple, and the **implementation of the new solution went smoothly.** One of the most important **GIS Cloud features** for the project was establishing a link with the external PostGIS server using a secure SSL connection. Maintaining the database on their servers meant that 4 GRADA DRAGODID could retain **full control of the access and use** of their data. Besides the importance of establishing a link between external PostGIS database and GIS Cloud, one of the significant advantages was the option to **manage the external PostGIS database directly in GIS Cloud**. It offers the ability to import and/or delete shapefiles or CSV/XLS files in your external database, to modify and edit the features and attribute data from tables. As an addition, the external PostGIS database can be connected to the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app so the collected field data can be stored directly in the external PostGIS database. ## GIS Cloud solution for field data collection, map editing and a public Map Portal The map of dry stone localities was easily modified and styled in the [Map Editor,](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) which also had options to add custom symbology for different attributes on the map. For data collection, the nonprofit used [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. It proved to be a very intuitive tool that brought the fieldwork to the next level as the **custom data collection forms** can be set up really fast and with useful features such as **offline** data collection. ![4 GRADA DRAGODID project](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iphone6whiteforma-suhozid-1024x683.png)An example of the data collection form used for the project The new portal was published using [GIS Cloud Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), enabling simple customization through [App Builder](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/), in which a fully custom interface can be built without having to write a single line of code. You can see the result of the project in the map below ([direct link to the portal](https://suhozid.giscloud.com/)). [![4 GRADA DRAGODID map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-portal00-1024x538.jpg)](https://suhozid.giscloud.com/)Suhozid.hr interactive map portal ## The future plans: Crowdsourcing solution Currently, the 4 GRADA DRAGODID team is striving to improve the quality of the data they have already collected while collecting new data for which they now have new standards of quality and structure. They plan to extend their project using [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) that would allow for anybody interested in the dry stone heritage to contribute to the data collection process, regardless of their expertise and technical ability. As with the Mobile Data Collection application, the data quality can be easily controlled by setting up predefined fields as required or optional in the custom form. The dry stone craftsmanship has recently been protected as a part of [intangible Croatian cultural heritage](https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/16259-traditional-dry-stone-wall-construction-technique-declared-cultural-heritage), and it is expected to be put by UNESCO on a list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. As 4 GRADA DRAGODID is intensively involved in this process of protecting the dry stone heritage, their next goal is to publish a new dataset on the [Suhozid.hr Portal](https://suhozid.giscloud.com/), with data about bearers of this cultural heritage and the active dry stone masters/builders/craftsmen available for engagement in different projects with their contact information. With this, the organization wants to contribute to the professionalization of this craft, which is also one of the preconditions of its survival into the future. ![GIS Cloud and 4 GRADA DRAGODID](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Suhozid-duo2-1024x371.jpg) To learn more about Suhozid.hr and 4 GRADA DRAGODID, visit their [homepage](http://www.dragodid.org/). If you are interested in our Crowdsourcing solution, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) Using Maps to Identify Homeless Population in Milwaukee (Case Study) GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) Mapping the Italian Heritage – A Story about GIS Cloud Implementation for the Proditerr@ Project **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** 4 GRADA DRAGODID, dry stone walls, Eastern Adriatic, GIS Day Contest, mapping cutural hertage --- ### [MetaSUB Use Case: Building Healthier and Smarter Cities with the Help of GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/metasub-use-case-building-healthier-and-smarter-cities-with-the-help-of-gis/) **Published:** October 6, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** One of the cloud-based GIS applications in creating a smart city and a more responsive and sustainable environment is in public health. Increasing urbanization and a significant growth of international transport of people and goods creates unique challenges for the disease control and prevention in urban areas. ![GIS Cloud worldwide research Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Metasub-cover.jpg) These challenges are not new, nor are the means to solve them – as you probably know, we can trace the first successful attempts at mapping the disease back in the 19th century. It was when the [British doctor John Snow](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/map-as-a-lifesaving-tool/) prevented the further spread of the cholera outbreak in London by mapping its incidences. Those incidences were traced back to a single source of contaminated water – a water pump at the Broad Street. Today we have much more advanced technologies for disease control and prevention as well as the other aspects of public health than ever before. GIS Cloud technologies are just beginning to show their potential applications in various projects driven by the incentive to create more sustainable future for the urban population all around the world. One such example is the [MetaSUB](http://metasub.org/) (The Metagenomics and Metadesign of the Subways and Urban Biomes) project. **The project** MetaSUB was launched by **Mason Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine,** as an interdisciplinary initiative whose goal is to integrate microbial ecosystems into the design of cities. Their goal is to find out more about the complex microbiome lying on the surface of public transit systems all around the world. The researchers want to use this knowledge to improve city design, planning, and public health and contribute in building more responsive and smarter cities. The initiative started with the pilot project called PathoMap, launched in 2013 in the New York City subway system. In 2016, this pilot has expanded into the global MetaSUB project. **On June 21st, 2016, researchers from more than 58 cities all around the globe were swabbing public transit surfaces** such as emergency exits, ticket kiosks, benches, stairwell handrails, garbage cans and elevators, as well as inside of trains, buses, and mass-transit hubs. ![GIS Cloud data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Metasub-Zagreb3.jpg)Zagreb, Croatia The geospatial component is an important part of the research – its results will be displayed in metagenetic and forensic maps that will help in discovering new species and biosynthetic gene clusters. Also, they will map pathogens such as viruses and bacteria together with Anti-Microbial Resistance Markers in public transits in different parts of the world. **Challenges** Of course, undertaking the simultaneous mapping project in more than 58 cities around the world brings its challenges. In the data collection phase of the project, it was important to ensure a strict methodology that would guarantee **good data quality**. Using old data collection methods, like doing paperwork and adding data manually to a map (especially multimedia), for more than 100 locations across each city, would be an impractical solution that would also take too much time. Moreover, paper-based forms bring unpredictable results because it is not easy to control if all the necessary data is there. At the same time, written form also isn’t precise enough for capturing the exact GPS location and time when data was collected. Of course, paper data could be lost and isn’t the most convenient way of adding an extensive amount of information to a map. ![Rio de Janeiro Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/metaub-Rio-De-Janeiro00.jpg)Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Except the methodology, one other common problem occurring in mapping projects operating on a global scale is **coordination with and between the field crews**. To get a complete picture of different transit spots in the cities, it is important to have a good overview of transit routes and to be able to make on-site decisions if something unpredictable happens. Having this in mind, **an alternative approach to data collection consists of using mobile applications that could help in doing all the work**. This brings different kind of challenges such as no internet connectivity in some areas and training data collectors who do not have previous mapping experience to use new methods. **Methodology** As we stated in previous paragraphs, the geospatial dimension of the MetaSUB project relies on precise field data. For practical reasons, researchers working on the project decided to collect necessary sample data with **mobile devices** (smartphones and tablets). As it was important to have an ability to coordinate activities in different places, they choose GIS Cloud mapping system that will allow them to observe and collect data in real time. Also, choosing cloud-based platform solved the problem of having to add all data and multimedia manually, which would require a significant amount of time. These challenges are not uncommon when we talk about fast-paced urban environments that require a high level of responsiveness. Uploading data directly to a cloud saves a lot of time while ensuring better decision-making based on accurate real-time data. ![Zagreb Trams GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Metasub-Zagreb1.jpg)Zagreb, Croatia The first event of the worldwide swabbing action on June 21, 2016 was a great success, using GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application. Cloud-based GIS platform enabled the researchers to **capture data in real-time** and have it instantly visible on a map in a web browser. This means that real-time data could be **accessed by different people from any location in the world**. The web map data was **accessible through any device** (mobile, tablet, laptop), which is practical when you need to monitor a project taking place in different time zones. **Data Collection process** To begin with, surfaces inside of the vehicles and on train stations of the each transit system were swabbed. After swabbing, relevant data, such as location and time stamps (collected automatically), sample ID, surface, traffic level, notes, and pictures were added through the forms in the Mobile Data Collection app. This information was visible on a dedicated point layer of web map showing the swabbing process in real time. ![GIS Cloud MetaSUB France ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/metasub-marseille.jpg)Marseille, France Different form sets are also available for other public surfaces such as buses, taxis, parks, and airports. Each collector opened data collection form and added the required info. To avoid missing data, all required fields had to be filled before sending information on a map. This was an important step in ensuring good data quality. Also, GPS and time stamps were added automatically for the maximal precision. Another important aspect was that collectors anywhere in the world used the same collection forms to get a complete picture of the environmental factors relevant for understanding sample results. ![Taking samples in public transportation GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Metasub-Zagreb2.jpg) **The forms were easy to use for anybody who knows how to operate a smartphone or a tablet**. Ease of use meant that there was no need for additional staff training thus saving time and money, and this was especially important on a project of such a large scale. Having all this data available in the cloud solved the challenge of coordination and decision-making. For example, In Zagreb (Croatia), routes were planned considering the local temperatures on particular train stations. The additional benefit of cloud-based GIS system was that all this data could be published on the web for anyone who wants to see how the project is progressing. So, after sample data is collected, it is instantly visualised on a map and can be published to a [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) for public viewing with the help of the [Map](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) [Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)app. ![GIS Cloud web map sample collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Metasub-screen-shot.png) We can conclude that spatial visualisation and map-based data collection can bring together various aspects of elements vital for cities around the world: transport and traffic, emergency response, disease control and prevention, smart architecture, and design. The responsiveness of cities and local communities can be significantly increased through cloud mapping collaboration system that works in real-time and is accessible through all devices. Mobile Data Collection combined with web mapping and collaboration apps can play an essential role in building smarter cities. Applications used: - [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) - [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) Interested in GIS Cloud solutions for Smart Cities? Contact us at: Links to other Smart City resources: - [GIS Solutions for Smart Cities webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-gis-solutions-for-smart-cities-webinar-recording/) - [Geospatial Technology for Building Smarter Cities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geospatial-technology-for-building-smarter-cities/) - [How to Transform your City Public Works in a Few Simple Steps webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-transform-your-city-public-works-in-a-few-simple-steps/) - [GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/a-webinar-recording-gis-cloud-smart-cities-city-portal/) Related content: Geospatial Technology for Building Smarter Cities A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference Introducing GIS Solutions for Smart Cities Webinar Recording Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Cloud GIS, field data collection, GIS Cloud, mapping pathogens, metaSUB, Mobile Data Collection, sample data collection, web map, Zagreb --- ### [How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-add-items-in-bulk-to-a-select-list-in-mobile-data-collection-form-via-json/) **Published:** January 24, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** Some of our customers wanted to add a large number of items to a Mobile Data Collection select list. It would take them ages to do it manually, adding one item at a time. So we helped them do it all at once by using JSON. [![How to add items in bulk to a select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/How-to-add-items-in-bulk-to-a-select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/How-to-add-items-in-bulk-to-a-select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON.png) To make things easier for customers in the future we have created this step-by-step guide on how to add multiple items to a Mobile Data Collection select list via JSON. ## **1. Preparing the data (Excel to JSON)** For example purposes, let’s say we want to create a select list of countries. First, you’ll need to prepare the data you want to add to a select list. List the items in an Excel file in two columns named ‘value’ and ‘title,’ as shown on the picture below. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/list-in-excel.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/list-in-excel-2.png) The next step is to turn the Excel file to JSON format. You will need an online [Excel to JSON generator](https://codebeautify.org/excel-to-json). Upload the Excel file to the generator to get the JSON code. The result should look like this example: \[ { “value”: “Afghanistan”, “title”: “Afghanistan” }, { “value”: “Albania”, “title”: “Albania” }, { “value”: “Algeria”, “title”: “Algeria” }, { “value”: “Andorra”, “title”: “Andorra” } \] ## **2. Loading the custom form in Map Editor** Now that you have the JSON code [log in to Map Editor](https://editor.giscloud.com/) and open the desired project/map. Click the Tools tab and open [Forms Manager.](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/forms-manager/) Here you can create a new form or load an already available form. **Note:** in this tutorial, you are creating forms with Map Editor Click ‘**Load custom form**‘ and choose the project you have already created in the Mobile Data Collection Portal. Click ‘**Duplicate form**‘ and change its name so you can find it easier later. Click Save. If you wish to create a new form, click [**Create New Form**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-map-editor/). After you have loaded or created the form, click ‘**Add new field**.’ Choose the type ‘**Select list**‘ which will represent your category and name it ‘Select list\_countries’(in this example we use a list of countries). ## **3. Adding JSON code to a Select List** Now that the form contains the select list click ‘**Switch to JSON view.**‘ Locate this part (select list code): *{* *“type”: “select”,* *“uuid”: “123456-0012-3456-789-12346789”,* *“name”: “Select list\_countries”,* *“persistent”: false,* *“required”: false,* *“title”: “select”,* *“description”: “”,* “options”: \[ \]* *}* Find the “**options**“: \[ \] delete \[ \] (square brackets) and paste your JSON code where you deleted the square brackets. It should look like this: *“options”: \[ { “value”: “Afghanistan”, “title”: “Afghanistan” }, { “value”: “Albania”, “title”: “Albania” }, { “value”: “Algeria”, “title”: “Algeria” }, { “value”: “Andorra”, “title”: “Andorra” } \] Click **Save**. Now if you click ‘Switch to designer’ and open the details of your Select list named ‘Select list\_countries,’ you’ll see the countries listed. ## [![select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON - forms manager](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON-forms-manager.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON-forms-manager.png) ## **4. Connecting the form to a layer** Next step is to connect the newly created form to the [map layer](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-edit-data-geometry/). **Note:** If you created the project in the Mobile Data Collection Portal, it is not possible to edit the layer’s attributes unless you duplicate the map. Close the Forms Manager. Click ‘**Duplicate map**‘ and rename the map in Map Properties so you can find it easily later. Open the layers properties to connect the layer and the new form following the instructions [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-map-editor/). **Now you’re ready to collect data in the field**. Open the Mobile Data Collection on your device and under Settings click ‘Maps and Layers’, select the map you duplicated in the previous step and select the Layer in that map. [![Mobile data collection - Select list](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mobile-data-collection-Select-list-982x1024.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Mobile-data-collection-Select-list.png) ## **Bonus Guide: Create an autocomplete text field for a list of items via JSON** If you’d prefer to have an autocomplete text field with a fixed list of values follow the next steps. You’ll notice that the procedure is quite similar to the former one. Let’s begin. Learn more about autocomplete fields in this [manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-map-editor/). **To prepare the data follow the exact same steps from the first section at the beginning of the article.** When the data is ready, create a new form or load an existing one in Forms Manager click ‘**Add new field**’ and choose a **‘Text’** type. Name the field **‘Autocomplete\_countries’** and click **‘Save.’** Now click ‘Switch to JSON view.’ Find the part with your newly created text field called ‘Autocomplete\_countries’: *{* ***“type”: “text”****,* *“uuid”: “bf980a80-8334-4219-be05-5ce9f429034e”,* *“name”:* ***“Autocomplete\_countries”****,* *“persistent”: false,* *“required”: false,* *“readOnly”: false,* *“title”: “”,* “description”: “”* *}* Under the part ‘’description’’ add: *“autocomplete”: { “data”:* **Paste the JSON code containing the items here** The final result should look like this: { “name”: “Countries”, “title”: “”, “items”: \[ { “type”: “text”, “uuid”: “bf980a80-8334-4219-be05-5ce9f429034e”, “name”: “Autocomplete\_countries”, “persistent”: false, “required”: false, “readOnly”: false, “title”: “”, “description”: “” “autocomplete”: { “data”: \[ { “value”: “Afghanistan”, “title”: “Afghanistan” }, { “value”: “Albania”, “title”: “Albania” }, { “value”: “Algeria”, “title”: “Algeria” }, { “value”: “Andorra”, “title”: “Andorra” } \] } } \] [![Select list in Mobile Data Collection form via JSON - forms manager](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON-forms-manager2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Select-list-in-Mobile-Data-Collection-form-via-JSON-forms-manager2.png) Don’t forget to click **Save**. The next step is to open the Forms Manager and connect the form fields. Open the layers properties and connect the layer and the new form following the instructions [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-map-editor/). Now you can start collecting field data. Open your MDC mobile app and under the tab ‘**Maps & Layers’** find your map. When you open the form and start typing, results should appear as in these pictures: [![Autocomplete select list in mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Autocomplete-select-list-in-mobile-data-collection-1024x593.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Autocomplete-select-list-in-mobile-data-collection.png) Related content: How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app How To Use The Mobile Data Collection App For Soil Sampling in Agriculture Mobile Data Collection How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers **Categories:** Blog --- ### [New MDC Features: Read-only Fields, Navigate to Feature and Audio Recorder](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-mdc-features-read-only-fields-navigate-to-feature-and-manual-audio-recorder/) **Published:** January 17, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Mobile data collection update - navigate to feature](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-Update-cover-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-Update-cover.png) The new Mobile Data Collection app update is up and running. We have upgraded the audio recording, added read-only fields to forms and enabled navigation links on map features. Let’s dive in. ## **Read-only fields** We recently added a new type of form item – a field that is read-only. This means that the owner of the project controls which forms fields can be edited (input made by field data collectors), and which are in the form as static non-editable data. The field value is set in the Mobile Data Collection Portal (web app – form builder), while [creating your form and project](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/), and can’t be changed from within the Mobile Data Collection app. [![Mobile data collection update read only 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-upadate-read-only-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-upadate-read-only-2.png) ## **Navigate to feature** This feature enables you to navigate directly to a map feature from MDC app via Google maps. Here’s what you need to do: 1. 1. Select a map feature 2. 2. Click on navigate to feature button (opens Google maps) 3. 3. Select “Directions” in Google maps [![Mobile data collection update - navigate to feature with google maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-update-navigation-1024x1004.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-update-navigation.png) ## **Audio recording** MDC app allows creating a form item for collecting an audio recording in the field up to 5 minutes long. Before the latest update, the MDC app would record audio with a third party voice recording app that was already installed on your smartphone. Now, the audio recorder is built in the MDC app. Resulting in a smooth recording experience and no need for a preinstalled recorder. **Note:** the new audio recorder works only on devices that use Android 8.1 version and higher. [![Mobile data collection update - audio recorder](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-update-recording-1024x599.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MDC-update-recording.png) If you have any questions about the new Mobile Data Collection features, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Video Blog: Introducing MDC Dependent Fields How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Copy Symbology – New Feature Release **Categories:** Blog --- ### [How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-lines-in-the-field-using-mobile-data-collection-app/) **Published:** June 7, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** We introduced a brand new feature in GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app – **Line & Polygon collection!** In this post we are going to explain **how to set up a line collecting project** and highlight options and tools that can be useful for your field collection project. ![how-to-collect-lines2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/How-to-Collect-Lines2-1024x536.png) Line collection in the field can be an essential feature for organizations in utility industry, collecting data on electric power lines, sewer pipelines and inspecting pipes for leakages, repairing roads and maintaining traffic infrastructure, and so on. **How to set up a Line collection project** We are going to cover basic steps from creating a custom project, collecting data in the field to reviewing and editing the data with mobile or web GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) apps. You can always find additional help in our [User Manual](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/). - **Create and share a project** First you need to create a Mobile Data Collection project which is basically a structured PostGIS database. This means you are going to create a custom survey form for fieldworkers to collect data. With a single MDC project you can collect only **one type of geometry** (point, line or polygon) so it is necessary to define the [type of geometry](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/) you wish to collect from the select list in project settings. Project managers can create simple **online forms** with different types of [questions and attribute fields](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/overview-of-available-form-items/). You can set up single or multi-choice questions, numeric or textual inputs or capture geotagged photos or audio files. The greatest benefit of using MDC app for field collection is that you can **share data** **with the stakeholders and other team** members with [different permissions](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/). You can collaborate and organize your field teams so you know exactly which team is responsible for the collection process or for making updates to the existing data. Project managers and stakeholders can control **how the project is progressing in real time** through private and branded interface with custom options. - **Collect by Tracking your location with GPS or manually Draw a line** Line features can be collected automatically with GPS from the mobile device or by manually adding points on the map to create a line feature. We implemented an option in the collection process which allows you to **combine automatic GPS and manual collection methods** to increase the accuracy of your features on a map. The option allows you to collect data faster and more efficiently when you are mapping large areas. To begin recording, simply tap Start tracking button on the top of the form view. Below you can find information about the accuracy of GPS location and a number of points that you collected so far. In this section you can **pause tracking while filling out the survey** form and continue tracking if you’re not finished. When you’re done, tap the Send button to submit the tracking activity and attributes connected to the line feature. - **Review and edit data** After submitting the data, field collectors can review the data they submitted and make edits and updates to the data. Great option is **Search tool** which you can use to access your data by typing in the ID number or any other attribute value. You can select a feature on a map to open info pop-up with all the collected attribute information and documents. You can toggle from form view to map view where you can view and control the tracking location on the map and edit the feature at the same time. If you hit the ‘Delete’ button you can choose whether you would like to remove the last vertex or you want to remove the whole line. To get you started, read our [user manual on Mobile Data Collection](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/mobile-data-collection-app/) and how to [set up your Line and Polygon projects](https://manual.giscloud.com/2018/06/16/collecting-lines-and-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection-webinar/). We hope you find this article useful. If you are interested in utilizing GIS Cloud technologies [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection vs. ESRI’s Field Maps QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Field Data Collection: Best Practices **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** collect lines, collect polygons, field data collection, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/urbangis-presenting-gis-cloud-solutions-at-kortdage-conference-in-denmark/) **Published:** October 31, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud solutions will be showcased at [Kortdage 2017 Conference](https://kortdage.dk/om-kortdage/english/) in Aalborg, Denmark (November 8 to November 10). ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GC-at-Kortdage-2017-2.png) Kortdage, or “Map Days” 2017 is the annual national GIS Conference in Denmark, organized by [Geoforum Danmark](https://geoforum.dk/). The event gathers up to 700 attendees, discussing the latest developments and research as well as national strategic use of geospatial information and technologies in Denmark. The conference language is Danish but Norwegian, Swedish, and English are also commonly used among visitors and participants. Over time, Kortdage has become the central meeting point for the exchange of experience, knowledge and networking in the field of GIS in Denmark, while also involving other countries in the region such as Norway and Sweden. Our partners for Denmark, UrbanGIS, will showcase GIS Cloud solutions during the exhibition at **stand B6**. Visit them to learn more about our newest developments such as [Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/), see a demo, and get advice on how to set up the best possible workflow for your organization using GIS Cloud. Interested in getting more updates from GIS Cloud? Follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), [Facebook](https://twitter.com/GISCloud), and [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1410379/). Related content: FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” GIS Cloud at INTERGEO Conference Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** conference, Denmark, Kortdage, Partners, UrbanGIS --- ### [Introducing Teramaps, an official GIS Cloud Reseller in Colombia, Chile, and Perú](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/introducing-teramaps-an-official-gis-cloud-reseller-in-colombia-chile-and-peru/) **Published:** September 14, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are happy to announce that our partnership with [Teramaps](https://www.teramaps.com/mapas/santiago-de-chile), a company based in Santiago, Chile is expanding to include the markets of Colombia and Peru, where Teramaps will distribute and promote GIS Cloud solutions to clients from various industries. [![GIS Cloud Partnership Program in Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Teramaps-PARTNER.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Teramaps-PARTNER.jpg) In the words of **Igor Farkaš**, a Business Development and Partners Manager at GIS Cloud: > We’ve been working closely with Teramaps on introducing GIS Cloud solutions into the Chilean market on a broader scale which proved to be a very successful venture so I’m very pleased to say we’ve expanded our collaboration to the Colombian and Peruvian markets as well. There’s a great momentum happening in Latin America when it comes to cloud and mapping solutions and, with the help of our partner, we expect to significantly increase our growth in these new markets. For our users, this means that GIS Cloud **technical support and consulting will now be available in the Spanish language, and in the local time zones of Chile, Colombia and Peru**. Since the beginning of our partnership with Teramaps, a number of great projects and use cases have been realized, such as [Solution for the Police of Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/carabineros-de-chile-crime-risk-map/), and [Thematic Maps of Minerals in Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/supporting-the-mining-activity-in-chile-through-interactive-thematic-maps/), among others. Teramaps will also present GIS Cloud at a number of upcoming conferences and events, such as Security Expo, and The Geospatial Conference in Chile. Stay tuned for more information that will be announced on the GIS Cloud blog within the next few weeks. For more information, drop us an email at and visit GIS Cloud’s [web page in Spanish](http://es.giscloud.com). Related content: Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 Crime Risk Map – Carabineros de Chile (Case Study) Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Mining in Chile Through Interactive Maps Firefighters of Chile Used a Dynamic GIS Solution for Strategic Planning and Fieldwork Coordination (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Business Development, Chile, Colombia, Partnership, Peru, Teramaps --- ### [FOSS4G 2016: Three days of great talks and cool hangouts](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/foss4g-2016-three-days-of-great-talks-and-cool-hangouts/) **Published:** September 1, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** The [2016 FOSS4G](http://foss4g2016.org/) was a very successful and eventful gathering, which completely justified the ‘Building bridges’ theme, chosen for this year. [![Cruise FOSS4G](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cruise-bonn-foss4g-2016-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cruise-bonn-foss4g-2016-s.jpg)Group photo during the cruise by Jurate Jablonskyte Even though there was an extensive list of technical talks, as well as talks about Open Data, Remote Sensing for Earth Observation, Land information and Disaster management, numerous social events and hangouts (such as Icebreaker, the Gala Dinner boat cruise and Pub Race) were what strengthened the position of FOSS4G as a platform for collaboration, business and networking. We were happy to see that this year’s major topic throughout the conference were vector tiles, something that has already been a standard for GIS Cloud mapping experience for the last five years. It seems the community is catching up! Beside the popular Internet of Things theme, talks about 3D tools and web visualizations also caught our eye. **Day Zero** Upon our arrival to Bonn, late on Monday evening, the city immediately agreed with us as it exudes a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, which also contributed to the general impression of the conference. The next day we attended a B2B meeting where people held “[Pecha Kucha](https://www.pechakucha.com/about)” presentations and audience was invited to vote for the best presentation. That was a great introduction to the conference because we had an opportunity to get to know companies and individuals from the geo industry in just 5 minutes and 20 slides, 15 seconds each. This format proved itself as a brief, informative and fun way to present your projects, ideas, your goal during the stay and to reach out to others. ![B2B FOSS4G OSGeo](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/B2B-Dino-s.jpg)Dino Ravnić presenting at B2B meeting Dino, CEO and co-founder of the company talked about our take on the industry, as well as our mission and vision for the future. The presentation was very well received and, as we found out later during the conference, it was one of the presentations that shared the runner-up position. The winner was in for a surprise when he found out his “award” was to give an improvised presentation on the spot, with previously prepared slides by the organizers. Nevertheless, he was up to the task! [![GIS Cloud team in Bonn](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Mayor-Bonn-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Mayor-Bonn-s.jpg)Reception at Mayor’s Palace, Team photo by Jody Garnett In the evening we attended a reception at the palace of the Mayor, which was another occasion to hang and network in a casual atmosphere. **First Day** When on Wednesday morning 900 people occupied the World Conference Center, our booth was all set up, attracting numerous visitors who wanted to know more about GIS Cloud platform and applications. ![GIS Cloud team in Bonn](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/booth.jpg)GIS Cloud Booth at FOSS4G Some of them just dropped by to grab a lollipop or to ask us for a t-shirt. Nevertheless, we were so busy talking to people that we barely managed to get away at times to attend some interesting talks. It was great meeting folks of the geo community from all over the world – Malaysia, India and Africa, across Germany, France, Finland and others to US, Canada, South Korea and many more. Everything was well organized up to the last detail and always on time. [![FOSS4G 2016 Bonn](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/GIS-Cloud-in-Bonn-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/GIS-Cloud-in-Bonn-s.jpg) We were pleasantly surprised by the Map Your Beer event in the afternoon where we could taste some beers from all over the world at the booth next door. This was a great warm up for the evening Icebreaker event at the BaseCamp Bonn, cool and colorful place with vintage caravans where we could relax after a long day, grab some drinks and something to eat. **Day Two** This was the day of most interesting talks and definitely one of the most memorable evening events. We also prepared a presentation that raised a lot of interest. It was held by Dino and titled *[Using SQLite to take maps offline on mobile devices](http://ftp5.gwdg.de/pub/misc/openstreetmap/FOSS4G-2016/foss4g-2016-1375-using_sqlite_to_take_maps_offline_on_mobile_devices-hd.webm)*. The room was packed and the presentation was followed by multiple questions, which deserved GIS Cloud t-shirts. [![Offline Maps at FOSS4G 2016](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Dino-SQLite-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Dino-SQLite-s.jpg)No free chair left at Dino’s presentation After the day filled with presentations and visits to our booth, we were almost late to board the ship in the evening, but luckily we made it just in time. What began as a lovely cruise down the Rhine over some beers and pleasant conversation, ended as a full-blooded Queens cover group concert during and after a gourmet dinner. We hit the floor as one of the attendees took over the mike, right after Till Adams (the Chair of FOSS4G 2016) gave a talk, jumped off the stage into the crowd and was carried out by his fans. [![Gala FOSS4G2016](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Boat-cruise-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Boat-cruise-s.jpg)The Gala Event **The Final Day** When we came to our booth the last day, we were a bit surprised to see that a great number of people still came, even though we expected lower attendance. It turned out to be as busy as any other day, at times even more so. ![GIS Cloud and Athina Trakas at FOSS4G 2016 in Bonn](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Team-Athina-Trakas-s.jpg)GIS Cloud Team with Athina Trakas from Open Geospatial Consortium After the lunch, Igor, our business and partner manager, held a *Collaborative Mapping* presentation. It was very interesting because of its ‘solution for the entire organization’ approach, which offers mapping solutions for every step of your daily workflow. ![Igor Farkaš presenting GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Igor-Collaborative-Mapping-s.jpg)Igor Farkaš talking about Collaborative Mapping We completed our stay in Bonn with a Pub Race in the evening at Namenlos, the official FOSS4G pub where we enjoyed some beers (again) with our fellow GIS geeks. ![Bonn Namenlos FOSS4G](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pub-Race-s.jpg)Pub Race, Photo by Jody Garnett Looking forward to seeing you next year and building even more bridges! Related content: Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn! GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** b2b, FOSS4G 2016, geo, GIS, GIS Cloud, open source, Till Adams --- ### [GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-gis-cloud-in-urban-tree-management-planning/) **Published:** June 26, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Mapping trees with mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tree-Management.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tree-Management.jpg) Urban tree management and maintenance can be very useful for increasing the quality of life in urban areas. For example, optimal tree density and distribution is an essential part of every modern urban planning strategy as trees have various benefits on humans and the environment. Arborists create the urban tree management plan and conduct fieldwork, but their research or workflow is often interrupted by inefficient tools and poor visualization of field data. They also face problems while doing fieldwork, such as using paper maps and forms that decrease data quality and require additional data entry work back in the office. Modern data collection and visualization starts with an online mapping tool that guarantees an **efficient field workflow** and better data quality. ## **Visualizing And Planning Spatial Distribution Of Trees** In terms of urban planning, arborists need to assess and evaluate adequate sites for new tree cultivation projects. Proper tree density can be achieved if the spatial distribution is **properly visualized**, analyzed and monitored. With [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), arborists can easily visualize and determine which parts of the city lack tree cover so they can propose a new urban tree management program. [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) enables arborists to easily map and collect data on particular city areas or trees using smartphones. It’s possible to customize categories for data collection, collect and upload data online and offline. The data is later visualized in Map Editor, where it is easy to detect the areas with suboptimal density using the buffer tool, as well as view the data from the field. On the other hand, the new [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) offers a possibility to include a local community in planning new tree cultivation process, where collaborators can anonymously suggest areas that would benefit from tree planting. ## **Highlighting Features That Require Maintenance** Arborists, or even non-experts, can collect data about trees that present a potential danger to public safety. Often trees extend over roads or power lines potentially endangering people and infrastructure. Information about damaged and unhealthy trees can be easily and quickly recorded with Mobile Data Collection by a tree maintenance crew. It’s also possible to supervise the field workers. Also, GIS Cloud **Crowdsourcing** solution enables city residents to highlight trees requiring immediate maintenance so during extreme weather conditions public safety is maximized. Utilizing these data collection methods saves a lot of money – as it costs less if trees are regularly maintained. [![GIS-based tree maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tree-inventory-pic.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/tree-inventory-pic.jpg) ## **Creating An Urban Tree Inventory** Urban forests provide benefits in terms of life quality, environmental and economic stability, as well as having a long-term effect on global climate. Creating an updated urban tree inventory would open a new approach to the problem of tree management in cities. Creating the inventory can be challenging if arborists have a small budget and not enough workforce. To see how arborists can overcome these challenges, watch the Tree Inventory webinar. It highlights the benefits of mobile and web apps for large tree inventory projects. For more efficient management and review of collected data, it’s best to create a public urban tree inventory using Mobile Data Collection and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). With the Mobile Data Collection, it’s easy to map features and view them on an **interactive Map Portal** in real time. The Map Portal can also provide information to the public about all the trees planted and their current condition. Such urban tree inventory would help educate the public about the importance of arboriculture, as well as teach younger generations about preserving trees and urban geoecology system. Also, it would provide transparency in budget spending for local governments. ## **Preventing Disease Spreading** Urban forests are very fragile ecosystems, and arborists often have problems when uncontrolled diseases start spreading. If there is a pattern of disease spreading sources, using outdated techniques like paper forms and maps, is not nearly as effective as web-based tree mapping software that provides an opportunity to collaborate and work on projects in real-time. With GIS Cloud apps you can [highlight contaminated trees in situ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/maple-grove-tree-inventory-case-study/) and quickly prevent disease spreading with timely maintenance interventions. [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) offers you a possibility to create **heat zones** of infected trees that can help detect a pattern of disease spreading. To sum up, an efficient and up-to-date urban tree management is necessary for urban areas and can assist in planning spatial distribution of trees, preventing diseases, creating urban forest inventory, and highlighting trees that need maintenance or pose a threat to public safety. GIS Cloud works well as a tree mapping software that facilitates collecting, categorizing and visualizing data, as well as effectively coordinating workforce. Interested in trying the GIS Cloud solution for tree management? Sign up [here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** arborists, forestry, Tree Inventory --- ### [Learn about GIS Cloud Non-profit Use Cases at AidEx in Brussels (15-16 November)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/learn-about-gis-cloud-non-profit-use-cases-at-aidex-in-brussels-15-16-november/) **Published:** November 9, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Darrel Larson**, one of GIS Cloud’s clients who is doing an exquisite job within his non-profit organization [Give Clean Water](https://givecleanwater.org/) (where he is the founder and chairman) and [The Last Well,](https://thelastwell.org/) another non-profit he is working with in Liberia, will be showcasing his projects at the AidEx event in Brussels in November. ![Darrel Larson Give Clean Water Initiative and the Last Well projects](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC-at-AidEx-Brusseles-2017.png) [AidEx](https://www.aid-expo.com/) (Aid Expo) is the leading platform for professionals in humanitarian aid and international development. Their flagship conference and exhibition is in **Brussels** (15-16 November) and this year it will take place at Brussels Expo (Hall 11). **AidEx** encompasses a conference, exhibition, meeting areas, awards, and workshops. Its fundamental aim is to engage the sector at every level and provide an annual forum for the visitors to meet, source, supply and learn. The 2017 conference theme will be ‘Aid and Development Effectiveness: Results through transparency and accountability.’ Darrel Larson, who will be exhibiting at the conference at **booth B40** as part of Sawyer Products, will among other things showcase the work done within his organization The Last Well and talk about successful use cases such as one we already wrote about on our blog – i[nstalling water filters in Fiji and Liberia](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-is-radically-transforming-non-profit-interventions-around-the-world/) to provide clean drinking water to communities with no access to it. You can visit Darrel and Sawyer Products at their booth to **learn more about using GIS Cloud for non-governmental projects, get a live demo, and hear about successful use cases first-hand**. Their work with GIS Cloud applications will also be featured in the event magazine. Interested in using GIS Cloud for a non-profit project? Contact us [here](mailto:hello@giscloud.com). Related content: GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the Australian Utility Week in Melbourne in November Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World Teramaps Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at the Expo Seguridad in Chile UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** AidEx. Darrel Larson, Brussels, conference, non-profit --- ### [Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-for-efficient-inspection-of-hydroelectric-reservoirs-in-brazil/) **Published:** April 27, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Inspecting and mapping permanent protection areas](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Inspection-of-Hydroelectric-Reservoirs-1024x681.jpg) This use case features [Socioambiental Consultores Associados](https://socioambiental.com.br/), a company located in Florianópolis, Brazil. They use GIS Cloud for inspecting and overseeing the Permanent Protection Areas of the Hydroelectric Power Plants reservoirs located on the Uruguay River. ## The reservoir inspection project The Socioambiental Consultores Associados provide solutions for planning, utilizing and protecting natural resources and the environment. One of the major projects they are currently working on is the Socioambiental and Patrimonial Inspection (FASP) of the Itá and Machadinho Hydroelectric Plants, located on the Uruguay River. The field team is responsible for inspecting and overseeing the state of reservoirs of the Hydroelectric Power Plants (Permanent Protection Areas). The main task is to **find the irregularities like undue occupation, or possible environmental damages**. Learn more about the challenges they face in the field and their daily workflow. ## Challenges in the field data collection process The main challenge was to find a way to make the collection of data in the field **faster and more efficient**. Another thing the project team needed was to find a better way to communicate results between themselves and others involved in a project in real-time. ![Brazil mapping the river](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/collection-1024x681.jpg) This also meant **sharing and visualizing data** on the permanent protection areas easily using any mobile device. Even to users without experience in using mobile and web based solutions. Additionally, they were searching for a way to reduce errors in the collected data. The errors occurred because the data was written down on a piece of paper. ## From paper forms to mobile data collection Previously, they were using paper forms to collect data manually in the field. This often caused mistakes when writing field records, which were sometimes impossible to track. In some cases, there were gaps in a particular record, and in other cases it was difficult to transcribe what was noted. Also, using paper forms meant that they needed to process data manually in the office after the data collection, which took additional time and made the workflow less efficient. To solve this problem they needed a GIS solution that works in the cloud. ## A complete solution for field data collection and visualisation The socioambiental team used the [**Mobile Data Collection app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to collect data with custom forms that could be used on tablets and mobile phones and published on a map in real-time. The fact that some of the fields in a form were mandatory to successfully collect data helped to **reduce the loss of information and reduce errors.** The collected data on reservoirs, possible environmental damages and irregularities were immediately visible in the [**GIS Cloud Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**,** where the results are visualized, analyzed and edited if necessary. Map Editor also enabled sharing data to users with different permissions such as viewing, editing, collecting or reporting, depending on their role in the team or a project. ![Socioambiental Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/map-1024x513.jpg) In just a few clicks, the map **was easily shared** with other people working on a project, who were able to **access it at any time using any device**. This was especially useful when they needed to share data with their contractor in order to show the work that was already done. Also, having data easily accessible in any moment on smartphones and tablets meant that their field technicians were always able to know which are the places to be surveyed or to consult the project database and search for information about the owners or past irregularities of each area surveyed. To sum it up, the Socioambiental team recommended using GIS Cloud for these 3 key features: 1\. Faster, more efficient and better organization of the data collection process 2\. Ability to follow up and share geospatial information with clients in real time 3\. Systematization of the existing data collection process that helped to drastically reduce errors in the data digitization process. Interested in trying out GIS Cloud solution for creating a more efficient workflow?[ Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace GIS Cloud Expanding to Brazil **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, hydroelectric plant, inspecting and overseeing, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, Socioambiental Consultores Associados, use case --- ### [Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/rabine-paving-use-case-efficiently-managing-operations-in-construction-industry/) **Published:** May 10, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** “In operations, we’re always looking for ways to take a process and make it better and faster. For me, GIS has helped to speed up the job tracking process that would normally require massive amounts of paperwork and organization.” [![Rabine-Paving](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rabine-Paving.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rabine-Paving.png) Geospatial intelligence plays an important role in construction industry. In the words of Brad Rouse, the operations analyst for Rabine Paving in Chicago, Illinois: > I think that GIS is very valuable. Construction specifically is very much focused on location efficiency. It’s difficult to keep track of massive amounts of jobs the old fashioned way. Different types of construction works require efficient planning, coordination and collaboration between many stakeholders involved in a project, such as project managers, field workers, clients and contractors. Especially if your job is to coordinate a large amount of construction works of a smaller scale such as pavement repairs or reconstruction jobs, geospatial technology can be of great help in organizing, prioritizing and coordinating various activities. This is precisely the case with [Rabine Paving](https://www.rabine.com/rabine-paving-america-announces-new-sr-director-operations/), a paving company that provides comprehensive, innovative commercial asphalt and concrete pavement solutions in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan. Being the leader in parking lot engineering, concrete construction and asphalt maintenance, they are always looking for ways to make their operations better and more efficient utilizing the most innovative concepts in the field. **What were the challenges?** In our talk with Brad Rouse, the operations analyst at Rabine Paving, we found out what are the main daily challenges in managing operations in the construction industry. His job consists of analyzing costs and revenue associated with incoming concrete and asphalt work Rabine Paving receives from the city, as well as tracking how much of that work they actually have on hand on a day to day basis. Incoming workload can be very demanding, entailing a lot of paperwork. Keeping track of massive amounts of jobs incoming everyday can be a very time-consuming process if you don’t set up a reliable system for managing operations. That is why Rabine Paving operations needed an accurate and efficient way to reduce paperwork and at the same time have a real-time overview of the all incoming jobs as well as of those that are in the process, and to create a report on the finished works. Basically, they wanted to speed up a job tracking process, increase efficiency and therefore save time and money. **How did they improve their daily operations?** > Since we are a paving company, we decided to use cloud based software to essentially create a map of all the work we receive throughout the year and plot the addresses using points to give us a visual representation of where our work is located. – Brad Rouse Rabine Paving used [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Geocoder ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/)to manage incoming work and geocode addresses where the job is located, represented by a specific color point on the map. Each job was marked with a different color, depending on its current stage. For example, if a job is new then the color of the point would be black. If the job is completed, then the color of the point is changed to green. Rabine Paving staff does this procedure every day to keep track of what has been completed and what hasn’t. This helps them to have an excellent real-time overview of the situation and at the same time it improves their team coordination and helps in saving time and money: > Our efficiency has definitely improved! By seeing where the jobs are located in the city, we can plan out daily routes to send our crews to. We need to be efficient in planning out where we haul our equipment since time is money. The longer our crews are out working, the less profitable we become. Therefore, planning out how to get done as much work possible in the least amount of time is crucial to our success. ![Rabine-Paving-2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rabine-Paving-2.jpg) Rabine Paving also encourages their field crews to use [Mobile Data Collection ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)if they want to enter any important information regarding a specific job out on the field. This significantly improves the communication between operations team in the office and workers who are doing paving jobs in the field. > We improved our efficiency greatly by using GIS and communication has improved as well. If something goes wrong during a job, crew members can enter any notes right on the spot using GIS as opposed to trying to remember what exactly happened during the day. To sum it all up; the 3 key features that Brad Rouse would recommend GIS Cloud for in the construction industry and operations are: **job tracking, job planning analysis, and job information storage.** With the help of GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), [Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), Rabine Paving have set up a an excellent system for tracking a great amount of daily workload, observable in real-time, with an innovative approach to team coordination that helped them to be more efficient and save time, money and improve the reporting process. Interested in GIS Solutions for Engineering and Construction? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) Optimizing Operations with Online GIS in Sustainable Forestry (case study) GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Brad Rouse, Construction Industry, geocoding, GIS, GIS Cloud, map, Map Editor, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, Operations, Rabine Paving, tracking works, use case --- ### [GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-the-mundogeoconnect-latin-america-2017/) **Published:** April 13, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This year, we are proud to sponsor the [MundoGEO#connect Latin America](https://mundogeoconnect.com/2017/) conference, taking place in **São Paulo, Brazil,** from **9 to 11 of May** 2017. [![mundogeo-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MundoGeo-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MundoGeo-s.png) The seventh edition of the conference hosted by MundoGEO will be held at the Centro de Convenções Frei Caneca in São Paulo, bringing together more than **3, 200 participants, 120 speakers, 52 exhibitors and 102 Brazilian and international brands**. The event includes the conference, exhibition and the largest and most important conference and the fair in the drone business, the [DroneShow Latin America](https://droneshowla.com/). If you are visiting the conference, make sure to stop by the **Booth No. 72**, where we will showcase GIS Cloud solutions as well as the exclusive previews and offers. Also, the members of GIS Cloud team – Dino Ravnić, Igor Farkaš, and Andrea Kovač will hold a presentation “Building Intelligent Cities by Engaging Citizens Through Collaborative Solutions” in Portuguese, at the seminar for local governments **Seminário Gestão Municipal on 11th of May**. Want to arrange a meeting with the GIS Cloud team at the conference? Contact us at Related content: GIS Cloud Presentation at MundoGEO#Connect Latin America QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Learn about GIS Cloud Solutions at Geoespacial Chile 2017 GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin GIS Cloud Expanding to Brazil **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Andrea Kovač, Brazil, Drone Show, GIS, GIS Cloud, MundoGeo Connect Latin America 2017 --- ### [Using GIS Cloud With External Databases](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-gis-cloud-with-external-databases/) **Published:** May 20, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** ***Author: Jonathan Stanger, Phd** Spatial Partners, Australia – GIS Cloud partner* [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases-cover.png) Using GIS Cloud out-of-the-box provides most users with a cloud mapping application that fits all their business needs. While all platforms have limitations to their functionality, **GIS Cloud** is somewhat unique due to its willingness to **offer integration opportunities via REST API**, **JavaScript library,** and **external databases.** The cloud-hosted database that is included with every [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) license is very convenient so that your data is kept secure, but access to the actual database server is not available. The limitations imposed by a lack of that access can be circumvented by **configuring GIS Cloud to** **retrieve data directly from a server** that you host and manage, such as AWS RDS for PostGIS. Some reasons why you would go through all this trouble are: - you don’t want to migrate or mirror an existing spatial database of data to the GIS Cloud database - your organization uses an existing spatial database for other applications such as QGIS or Carto (perhaps consider the [QGIS plugin](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) or the GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)) - you need to have direct control over where the data is hosted, such as for compliance reasons - you will use direct database access to facilitate integration or reporting - your spatial data has a data model that is too complex to work with GIS Cloud - you want to use Triggers/Views/Materialized Views to interact with your data If you are considering **working with an external database**, this article can provide you with a few hints on making the process easier. ## **Location** Your first consideration is where your external database will be hosted. Every time two devices need to communicate there is a short delay known as latency. The further away each device is, the more likely you will experience slower performance. **Global GIS Cloud servers** are hosted on **AWS** in the **“us-east-1” availability region.** Therefore, if you can host your database there, it will have the best chance for low latency because the two servers are “close” to each other. This diagram shows the impact that path distance can have on a user. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GIS-Cloud-and-External-Databases.png) If your existing database is stored **on-premise,** then you may wish to consider hosting a **mirror on AWS** to shorten the path that GIS Cloud needs to take to retrieve the data while maintaining your “primary” database on-premise. Rather than this, it may be better to **mirror your data directly** to GIS Cloud’s database for optimal performance. If you need to host your data elsewhere for compliance reasons, check with GIS Cloud as there are some locally deployed instances in other countries. We were able to **improve the** [**MDC**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **access speed** by a **factor of 10** by hosting the data in the same AWS availability zone as GIS Cloud servers. ## **Table Schema** When GIS Cloud accesses tables via an external connection, it will try to treat the tables the same as tables in the GIS Cloud database. Because there is no way to know the details about how your table is designed in GIS Cloud, it is better to copy the table structure that GIS Cloud uses so that you do not experience any unusual behavior. The first consideration is recognizing that **geometry columns** should be created as one of the **primary types** (point, linestring, polygon, or the multi versions of these). Similar to most GIS applications, GIS Cloud layers are limited to **one single** geometry type per layer. Following from this would be setting the name of your geometry column. If your geometry column is using, say the PostGIS default of **“geom”,** the column will show up in your layer definition as if it were an attribute. If you use **“\_\_geometry”** as the name, this will be hidden automatically by GIS Cloud as it recognizes it as the geometry. Some additional columns to include in your table schema for GIS Cloud are “\_\_created”, “\_\_modified” and “\_\_owner” which should all be of a large integer type. Similarly, if your Primary Key column is named “id” or “\_\_id” this will hide it from the user which can be desirable. Next is choosing data types. **The GIS Cloud REST API** **and forms** are quite permissive with respect to what kind of data they accept. What I mean by this is that if you pass a number to GIS Cloud and the destination is a string, it will coerce the value to match, minimizing errors. However, when **configuring your table schema** you may be tempted to be very strict with your column types. This can cause unexpected conflicts as the GIS Cloud API has done its best to work with your data, but the database has rejected the value entered into a Mobile Data Collection form. A classic example of this might be a *datetime* which can take many different formats but GIS Cloud will happily work with dates as strings **eliminating** **the need to debug mystery errors.** Related to data types is the question of adding a “NOT NULL” constraint to your columns. This is often sensible but can result in unexpected failures if your GIS Cloud form attached to the layer doesn’t align with your database constraints. To minimize unexpected issues, it is better to **impose required fields at the Form level** rather than at the Database level. Finally, the most critical table requirement if you intend to collect new features into your external table. GIS Cloud is not able to easily determine the Primary Key requirements from your external table and therefore adopts a hands-off approach. Therefore, your **Primary Key column** should be defined as **auto-incrementing/generating** as appropriate to your SQL dialect. ## **Triggers/Views/Materialized Views, oh my!** GIS Cloud supports the use of Views to access spatial tables which can be a great way to “flatten” a more complex data model using a set of SELECT JOIN ON statements. This means you might have one spatial table that has a **Foreign Key** to join to another SQL table, that itself might have a Foreign Key to join to another table; with a view you can create one “table” that has columns from all three tables to display in GIS Cloud. PostgreSQL, which is the basis of PostGIS, has a somewhat unique feature of **Materialized Views**. These are just like a View but the result of the **SQL query is cached** within the database and must be manually triggered to update. The advantage of this approach is that you can **define spatial and non-spatial indexes** on the View results which can **speed up searching/retrieval**. It also offers a way to separate a “working” copy of your GIS data and a “published” copy. However, GIS Cloud doesn’t support these tables yet, so to get around this you need to create a View that selects from the Materialized View. Lastly, a classic feature of databases is **Triggers**. If you have your own database then you have no restriction in applying triggers. But do be careful to consider potential performance impacts as GIS Cloud still needs to read and write to your database and will not be aware of these triggers. Anything that delays responding to a **SELECT or UPDATE** statement may negatively impact application performance. ## **Author Bio** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Jonathan-Stanger-Spatial-Partners.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Jonathan-Stanger-Spatial-Partners.png) ### Dr. Jon Stanger **Head Solution Architect – Spatial Partners** Dr. Jon Stanger started his career in Nanotechnology, holding a Masters in Physics and a PhD in Materials Engineering. However, the academic industry did not quite suit him, and for the last 6 years he has been working in the GIS industry with Spatial Partners. By nature, he is very multidisciplinary which makes him a bit of a swiss army knife for data driven challenges, mainly working with clients in the telecommunications, utility and construction industries. In his role as Head Solution Architect, he has carried this passion for listening, learning and applying knowledge into the culture of Spatial Partners which has allowed the creation of unique, cost effective, functional and at time unexpected solutions to be delivered by the company. Our partners from Australia – [**Spatial Partners**](https://www.spatialpartners.com.au/) specialize in spatial technology and data automation. They define and design solutions to complex data challenges, and build their own solutions on top of the GIS Cloud platform. Their **Head Solution Architect, Dr. Jonathan Stanger** showcased one of these solutions in a presentation held on May 12th at the [Safe Software FME World Fair 2021](https://www.safe.com/worldtour/) in a session “Where Your Data Dreams Come True”. He talked about “Magic Tricks for taming wild external systems using SSH Tunnels and high-volume HTTP calls.” [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/FME-and-GIS-Cloud-IntegrationTalk.png)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHKVuVMuGo&t=3s%20noopener) **FME** is the gold **standard for GIS-based ETL, integration, and automation** but it encounters a significant issue when working with cloud-based GIS APIs such as what is available for GIS Cloud. With FME out-of-the-box and GIS Clouds API**,** you may face upwards of 5 minutes to update only 1000 features. [Watch this presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHKVuVMuGo&t=3s) and learn how to bring the same operation **down to 30 seconds, making automation possible,** via FME and GIS Cloud integration**!** Related content: Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud GIS Cloud Services **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advice for developers, API integration, Case Study, Cloud GIS, developer GIS, ETL, external database, external GIS database, FME, geometry, GIS API, GIS Based ETL, GIS Cloud, GIS Cloud REST API, GIS server, GIS servers, GIS Solution architect, HTTP, HTTP Calls, Map Editor, Map Portal, Mobile Data Collection, nanotechnology, on-premise, postGIS, qgis plugin, rest api, Spatial Partners, Spatial Partners Australia --- ### [7 Ways Online Maps Can Empower Your NGO or Nonprofit](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/improving-non-governmental-and-non-profit-organizations-through-smart-mapping-solutions/) **Published:** February 14, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Field data collection and crowdsourcing for nonprofits](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NGO-Non-Profits-1024x682.jpg) Nonprofits and NGOs face many common challenges when trying to promote and achieve sustainability, equality or develop smart solutions for various causes. For example, finding funds for an ambitious project can be demanding, never mind living up to donors’ expectations, or getting the word out about the awesome projects you’ve been working on. Connecting with the community is another challenge, along with coordinating own team efforts. If you work for a nonprofit or a non-governmental organization, there’s a good chance that you’ve encountered some of these challenges yourself. Knowing all this, now imagine there is a solution that can help you to raise awareness of your project, attract donors, increase your effectiveness, and give you a single way to deliver results in a visually appealing way. Online mapping software like GIS Cloud can help alleviate and address many of these challenges. Some of them we’ve covered in our *Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar* you can watch [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/). > Technology is rapidly impacting the nonprofit world in great ways. What used to take hours, days, and weeks, or months, to share data through handwritten forms, then transferring them to Excel worksheets, now can all be shared in real time using GIS technology. The power of this technology is radically transforming the efficiency by which non profits can deliver life changing interventions around the world. > – Darrel Larson, Give Clean Water Initiative and The Last Well No matter if you are doing a nature or [heritage conservation project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/educating-about-dry-stone-heritage-in-the-eastern-adriatic-through-interactive-maps/), helping [homeless people ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-mobile-data-collection-for-the-point-in-time-count-of-homelessness-in-st-louis/)and vulnerable social groups, working in [health and disease control,](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-disease-using-gis-for-improving-malaria-interventions-in-nigeria/) [emergency relief](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/chennai-silver-lining-a-community-sanitation-planning-using-gis/), [environmental preservation](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/weforest-increasing-efficiency-and-transparency-in-forest-restoration-process-with-gis-cloud/) or want to raise awareness about an issue, the work can be much easier if maps guide your efforts. *So, what are the ways you can use online maps to improve your NGO or NPO project?* ## **1. Increasing Awareness and Attracting Sponsors** If an image is worth a thousand words, a map is worth a thousand more. If your efforts are scattered around the world, working on various locations and projects, there is no better visualization tool than a map to effortlessly showcase what has been done, or will be done. For example, a map can show all the locations of environmental cleanup events, places to sign petitions, protected habitats, illegal landfills, emergency centers and anything else that comes to mind, to deliver the information in the best possible way, directly to your audience. **Scenario 1:** Create an interactive and fully branded [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) which can be set up in less than half an hour. The Map Portal can have its domain, and you can use it to effectively deliver a message across various platforms (for example, you can embed it on different sites and landing pages). **Scenario 2:** Launch a Crowdsourcing campaign where you can get donors around the world to pledge for your cause. One great example is this Dance of [Kindness Crowdsourcing Portal.](https://kindness.giscloud.com/) ## **2. Delivering Results to the Public and Sponsors** For NGOs and nonprofit organizations, retaining funds and reporting to sponsors is almost as crucial as getting the funding in the first place. People and organizations that have invested in your project or cause need to have a clear and unambiguous overview of how their money has been spent. **Scenario 1**: Showcase your work on an Interactive Map Portal. For example, if you pledged to [plant or protect a certain number of trees](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/weforest-increasing-efficiency-and-transparency-in-forest-restoration-process-with-gis-cloud/) in an area, a public map portal is a great way to show what has been done and also what your plans and estimations for the next stages of the projects are. **Scenario 2:** If your data is sensitive or you want to address specific people or organizations, you can fully control what you want to deliver and to whom via the [Map Viewer application](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) for **private access to your maps and projects**. ## **3. Microvolunteering, Building Networks, Engaging Citizens and Local Communities in your Initiatives** ![Mapping Solidarity Network in Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GeoAid-cover.jpg) **Scenario 1:** If you are doing a project where you count on high community engagement in to reach your goals, look for the [Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) to help you out. You can engage your network in **microvolunteering, sharing knowledge, voting on particular improvements in your neighborhood**, etc., or give your supporters a perfect platform to share their achievements and inspire others. **Scenario 2:** If you are doing a project that requires individual action taking place at a particular location, and you want to be in control of the data collection process, you can use [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to gather real-time data from volunteers or staff in the field. It is a great way to engage your network in initiatives such as local cleanup events, interviewing citizens or collecting data about households, etc. One such example is the [GeoAid project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geoaid-mapping-humanitarian-solidarity-network-in-athens-greece/) shown on the map above, in which data about services for socially vulnerable groups were mapped. ## **4. Better Team Coordination and More Effective Fieldwork** **Scenario 1:** If your organization does a lot of fieldwork, like [Engineers without Borders](https://www.ewb-international.org/), or the [Give Clean Water](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-is-radically-transforming-non-profit-interventions-around-the-world/) Initiative, you can organize your entire workflow around maps – from collecting data (even offline) with Mobile Data Collection, to sharing priorities to people directly on the field. For example, if you work in an emergency relief situation, you can use your smartphone to fill in data about resources needed in a particular shelter or facility, and it will be shown on a map in real-time. It can be used to coordinate your team better and also to communicate data to team coordinators at other locations. They, in turn, can gain immediate insight into where to send people in need of shelter, just by looking at a map. **Scenario 2:** Use the field data you collected to notify stakeholders in different agencies and organizations directly. It can help you coordinate and be more effective not just within your organization, but also on a larger scale with other stakeholders. ![Nonprofit mobile data collection in Liberia and Fiji](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Give-Clean-Water-2-1024x669.jpg) ## **5. Better Governance: Decision Making Based on Real-time Data** **Scenario 1**: Once you collect data in the field, either via Mobile Data Collection or Crowdsourcing, you can further use and analyze data to make decisions. For example, based on a particular type of data you collected (e.g., number of hospitals in an area that is affected by the disease), you can do a heatmap analysis in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to determine what areas don’t have a facility nearby or where you can put a field hospital in case of emergency. It is also a good way to prioritize tasks for your field crew even when they are collecting data. **Scenario 2:** You can filter data about work that needs to be done and do custom reports which can be shared with field coordinators via Map Viewer. They can then determine directly in the field where to send their field crew next, without having to inspect the situation themselves, saving time and energy for remote teams. These are just some of the examples of how mapping software can be of help to NGOs and nonprofit organizations. We are always eager to support great initiatives and projects, such as those we support each year during the GIS Day Contest. If you have an idea on how to utilize cloud mapping for your organization, [let us know](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). ## **6. Predicting Environmental Risks with GIS tools** **Scenario 1**: Choosing the right solution to achieve project goals is really important. BEGE-RDC an NGO from DR Kongo recognized the importance of **GIS tools** to predict environmental risks. [In this case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landslide-prediction-mapping-for-safe-housing-and-construction-planning-using-gis/), they made a map of susceptibility and a heatmap of **landslides** in the South Kivu region. Between 2010 and 2015, landslides caused the death of 134 people, destruction of 700 homes and 4 schools in that region. They made a landslide survey that helped them get the necessary information on the frequency of the landslides in that area and establish a Risk Perception Index. This made possible to spatially present the level of perceptions of the respondents in relations to landslides on a map. **Scenario 2:** If your project is looking for volunteers who are constantly interchanging in the field, with our [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) you don’t need to worry. Replacing paper and reducing costs, with the use of smartphones, can help you collect more accurate and accessible data in the field. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-Susceptibility-map-GIS-Cloud-3-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-Susceptibility-map-GIS-Cloud-3-1.jpg) ## **7. Open Source Software Integration with GIS Cloud** **Scenario 1**: Different categorical data (hydrological, topographic, human activities, etc.) that volunteers collect and prepare subsequently can be a problem when integrating within different software solutions. Different data can be processed in open source software such as: - **R software –** open source for creating a wide variety of statistical (linear and nonlinear modelling, classical statistical tests, time-series analysis, classification, clustering, …) and graphical techniques, and is highly extensible. - **QGIS –** open source software where you can process raster and vector data to get a better picture of spatial data that is actually the key of GIS software. **Scenario 2:** Now, with the help of the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/)and [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/), you can present and analyze all the collected spatial data with just one click in [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)application. In this case, GIS Cloud helps optimize, integrate and visualise your data with just one click on your computer. This helps to easier communicate important information to people, helping them understand and perceive what is happening around them. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-QGIS-GIS-Cloud-logo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslide-QGIS-GIS-Cloud-logo.jpg) These are just some of the examples of how mapping software can be of help to NGOs and nonprofit organizations. We are always eager to support great initiatives and projects, such as those we support each year during the GIS Day Contest. If you have an idea on how to utilize cloud mapping for your organization,[ let us know](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) GIS Mapping and Benefits of Online Solutions **Categories:** Blog, Non Profit **Tags:** NGO, nongovernmental organization, nonprofit --- ### [Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/top-10-most-read-articles-and-the-2020-review/) **Published:** January 5, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/To-10-cover-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/To-10-cover-2.png) 2020 has been a **challenging year** for all of us. Despite the lockdowns, and earthquakes that affected our region in Southeastern Europe, we have been working diligently, to improve GIS Cloud platform and provide the best services for our users! Throughout the year, our team has been focused on releasing a lot of new features and completed many interesting projects. We supported and covered a variety of different case studies, use cases and other mapping projects. Last year, amongst important projects we would highlight creating extensive **GIS Cloud Certification programs and [Learning Center](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-launches-learning-center/)** to help our clients and users resolve their crucial workflow issues. At the beginning of the year, we released the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) along with [WMS and WFS features](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-wfs-and-wms-to-view-and-edit-gis-cloud-data-in-other-apps-new-release/) to consume GIS Cloud data in third-party apps. We’ve implemented a connection to the [external ORACLE database](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connect-external-oracle-database-new-gis-cloud-release/) and released an option to[ Archive and Restore your maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/archive-and-restore-maps-new-gis-cloud-release/)! We also supported many nonprofit projects that used GIS Cloud platform as a solution for helping their local communities. In case you were wondering, we are planning lots of new features, webinars and interesting projects in 2021 and we can’t wait to present them to you, so stay tuned! If you missed some of our articles last year, check out the **top 10 most read blogs of 2020**. ### 1. [GIS for Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-electric-utilities/) [![GIS for electric utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GIS-for-electric-utilities-cover.png) GIS software has been empowering the electric utility industry for decades. It provides a robust framework for asset and workforce management as well as tools for planning and analysis. In this article, we give you an overview of the uses of GIS for electric utilities and provide a real-life example from an electricity distribution company. ### 2. [GIS Cloud as an Alternative To Google Fusion Tables](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-fusion-tables/) Since August 2019, people have been looking for an alternative for **Google Fusion Tables**. GIS Cloud has been recognized as an exceptional solution and in our article, you will find out how to easily create a map, analyze location data, embed and export data from GIS Cloud. ### 3. [GIS Cloud In-Depth Online Certificate Program!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-in-depth-online-certificate-program-enroll-now/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-cover3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-cover3.png) In April, as a contribution to “**stay at home**” global initiative, we started the GIS Cloud Certificate Program, to help GIS professionals extend their knowledge and become certified specialists in GIS Cloud solutions and technology. This program began to expand with a series of [Crash Courses](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-is-launching-monthly-crash-courses/) as a part of GIS Cloud Online Education program. Along with these courses as an introduction to GIS Cloud, in 2021 we will also launch Advanced courses. Thanks to the initiative and the immense effort of our **Customer Success and Support team**, we have also launched a new [GIS Cloud Learning Center.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-launches-learning-center/) ### 4. [Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-and-planning-of-electric-distribution-network/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-Distribution-Networ-use-case.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-Distribution-Networ-use-case.jpg) GIS Cloud mapping technologies play a central role in planning, management and monitoring operations within the electric utility information system where powerful visualization and analytics tools can resolve data accessibility issues and improve the decision making process. Learn how to resolve challenges that distribution network operators and electric utility engineers face to supply, assure and enhance power system sustainability and efficiency. ### 5. [GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-offers-technology-and-support-for-free-to-projects-fighting-to-contain-coronavirus/) As Coronavirus quickly started to spread globally in March, we offered GIS Cloud platform and technology for free to organisations and communities to help them understand the patterns, and plan the interventions to contain the virus. We’ve also developed our own free crowdsourcing solution [STOP Corona!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/stop-corona-crowdsourcing-app-uses-heatmap-analysis-to-predict-coronavirus-outbreaks/), to anonymously collect symptoms from the public to help detect potential hotspots of the spreading virus and help authorities gain insight on the Coronavirus. ### 6. [Turn Your Map Into a Cloud-Based GIS App](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/) [![gis app development](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-app-development-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-app-development-1.png) With this easy to follow and straightforward guide, we’ll show you the fastest and easiest way to create an **online GIS app** with little or no coding, using the [GIS Cloud App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/app-builder/). You’ll also learn about the benefits of online GIS solutions over desktop GIS. ### 7. [GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-utilities-managing-water-infrastructure/) Online GIS is of great value in terms of **planning, managing, and maintenance** of **utility infrastructures** such as **water resources and services**. Efficient and smart use of high-quality spatial data becomes imperative for many electrical, gas and water utilities. In this interesting case study, you will find out how [Liburnian Waters](https://www.liburnijske-vode.hr/web/), a utility services company in Croatia, are using **GIS Cloud for collaboration with local government units**, together with data collection, field inspections, and an infrastructure overview, maintenance and planning. ### 8. [Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Liburnijske-vode-case-cover-text-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Liburnijske-vode-case-cover-text-s.png) As we mentioned above, **digitizing** the process of field data collection and infrastructure data management. This article is an in-depth analysis and explanation of the Liburnian Waters operational system with examples of their daily workflow, reducing the job timeframe and eliminating all the unnecessary and outdated paper forms. [SmartAqua ](http://smartaqua.co/)application, specialized in **water utility data management**, became an important asset in everyday **field operations, team management and regulatory compliance** for water utility companies. ### 9. [How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-hydrological-map-portal/) Hydrology databases make it possible to map, track and observe **water resources**. A hydrogeology student from the University of Zagreb, created this project to bring the hydrology data of the Karlovac Municipality, to civil engineers, geo-technicians, hydrogeologists, scientists and others who can make good use of the data. This comprehensive [hydrology inventory](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) was made public via a map portal powered by GIS Cloud. If you wish to create interactive graphs and understand the data better, you can create your map portal integrating the [D3.js with GIS Clouds API.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/spatial-visualization-with-animated-graphs-using-gis-cloud-map-portal-and-d3-js/) ### 10. [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS Released!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis-released/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QGIS-Plugin-Released-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/QGIS-Plugin-Released-cover.png) We were really proud and excited when we presented the [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/)! It allows you to **transfer maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud** in a matter of minutes, preserving your symbology. This was great news for all the GIS professionals in need of a quick and affordable way to **share ‘heavy’ maps** and datasets with clients or make the data public. There’s no need to export the dataset from QGIS and then import it manually to GIS Cloud, the publisher does this for you now completely free. If you wish to expand your workflow and consume or even **collect field data directly into QGIS**, you can use new [WMS and WFS ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-wfs-and-wms-to-view-and-edit-gis-cloud-data-in-other-apps-new-release/)features. Follow [this webinar](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-north-america-conference-consume-field-collected-data-directly-in-qgis-using-a-plugin-for-map-publishing/) to learn how. Related content: GIS Day Contest 2020 – Apply Now Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS GIS Cloud Services Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! GIS For Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** 2020, Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, consulting, crowdsourcing, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS day, GIS Day Contest, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, recording, use case, Utilities, webinar, webinar recording --- ### [Spatial Visualization with Animated Graphs Using GIS Cloud Map Portal and D3.js](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/spatial-visualization-with-animated-graphs-using-gis-cloud-map-portal-and-d3-js/) **Published:** October 29, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** *Author:* [*Marko Polovina*](https://www.giscloud.com/team/marko-polovina/)*, Frontend Developer at GIS Cloud* [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/portal-with-graphs.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/portal-with-graphs.gif) [GIS Cloud API](https://docs.giscloud.com/) is, and always was, flexible and open for interaction with other frameworks and libraries. [D3.js](https://d3js.org/) (Data-Driven Documents JS library) is not an exception. Using D3.js we are able to **create interactive graphs** and consequently **better understand the data** we are consuming. With **GIS Cloud API and D3.js integration**, we created a [Map Portal](https://graphs.giscloud.com/) (custom GIS app) that connects best from both of the frameworks. The result is information-rich water pipelines **map integrated with two graph types**; histogram and donut chart. ### **How to start building a GIS app with interactive graphs** First, you need to [set up your Map Portal app](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/map-portal-starting-page/). To be able to do so, you will need to upload data and create a map in GIS Cloud Map Editor, go to the App builder application and [build your map portal](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/customise-your-map-portal-with-app-builder/) using created maps. If you need additional instructions on how to create your own Map Portal take a look at [this example](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-gis-open-city-portal-lewis-county-ny/) or [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) directly. When your Map Portal is up, your map is populated with data and you are done with the initial portal customization and branding, it’s time to start coding. **Add D3.js library to your Map Portal** together with (for now empty) app.js and app.css files. Go to [GIS Cloud Manager](https://manager.giscloud.com/) and open the Apps tab from the Dashboard. Find your Map Portal from the Apps list, click on Edit, open the Advanced tab, scroll down and Open app folder. Upload your D3.js library to the Source Browser. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Portal-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Portal-1.png) In the [app.json file](https://docs.giscloud.com/apps/configuration) (which is created automatically once you have opened your portal in the App Builder and saved the changes), we can load all JavaScript and CSS files. For the JS code, set your own namespace. Then, add the first function in app.js that will show a modal window with two graphs. ``` { "responsive": true, "scripts": { "namespace": "gcd3", "init": ["d3/d3.js"], "app": ["app.js"] }, "styles": [ "app.css" ], "sections": { "top": { "logo": {}, "menu": { "items": [{ "label_i18n": "Show graph", "href": "javascript:;", "onclick": "gcd3.show();" }] } } } } ``` ### **Understanding The Data** Don’t forget that there is no universal way to visualise the data, on the map or on the graph. First, try to understand the data. Sometimes it can be harder to decide what to do with the data then the rest of the job. For example, you can visualise your data on the map with different colours, and choose colours that are similar to the project theme. In our example, we decided to go with the blue shades for the types of water pipelines. We used the data for the town of Wellington, New Zealand. Now we will **combine the map** and **graph visualization** to better understand the amount of **water pipelines types** in the different areas. At the end, we will integrate graphs and GIS Cloud map to achieve the **interactive data visualization**. Response for features request in GIS Cloud: [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Code-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Code-1.png) ### **Histogram Graph and Animations** We decided to start with one of the most popular graph types – Histogram. We will display that graph in the GIS Cloud modal window after the map is loaded. For this purpose, we are using jQuery Deferred object in the background. You can use ***then*** to wait until GIS Cloud UI is ready. ``` const loadGraph = () => { // show graph in modal window const modalWindow = giscloud.ui.modal({ content: "", title: "Pipelines", overlay: false, draggable: true, extraClass: "gc-histogram-modal" }); }; gcd3.show = () => { giscloud.ui.ready.then(() => { const viewer = giscloud.ui.map; // if histogram is visible, don't try to create a new one if ($("#gc-histogram").length > 0) { return; } // load graph if viewer is ready (for menu click) if (viewer.mapId) { return loadGraph(); } // load graph when viewer is ready viewer.bind("ready", loadGraph); }); }; gcd3.show(); ``` After that, inside ***loadGraph*** function, load the feature data for the “Pipelines” layer. To achieve this, we will use the d3.json method. Prepare feature data for the graph. ``` d3.json("/rest/1/layers/3432375/features.json", features => { const fields = []; const graphData = []; features.data.forEach(feature => { if ( fields.filter(field => { return field === feature.data.water_type; }).length === 0 ) { // add field fields.push(feature.data.water_type); // add field to graph data list graphData.push({ field: feature.data.water_type, counter: 1, }); } else { // add new record to a field in graph data list graphData[fields.indexOf(feature.data.water_type)].counter = graphData[fields.indexOf(feature.data.water_type)].counter + 1; } }); histogram(fields, graphData); }); ``` Now, the graph data is ready and we can create a histogram graph. Change graph margins and set the one that will suit you best. For the “y” axis we are using 2000 as a top number. You can change that to a pipeline type maximum or any other number. At the end of the code, you will find a simple animation. ``` const histogram = (fields, graphData) => { // set the dimensions and margins of the graph const margin = { top: 10, right: 20, bottom: 90, left: 60, }, width = 550 - margin.left - margin.right, height = 400 - margin.top - margin.bottom; // append the svg object to the body of the page const svg = d3 .select("#gc-histogram") .append("svg") .attr("width", width + margin.left + margin.right) .attr("height", height + margin.top + margin.bottom) .append("g") .attr("transform", "translate(" + margin.left + "," + margin.top + ")"); // X axis: scale and draw: const x = d3 .scaleBand() .range([0, width]) .domain(fields) .padding(0.05); svg.append("g") .attr("transform", "translate(0," + height + ")") .call(d3.axisBottom(x)) .selectAll("text") .attr("transform", "translate(-10,0)rotate(-45)") .style("text-anchor", "end"); // Y axis: scale and draw: const y = d3 .scaleLinear() .range([height, 0]) .domain([0, 2000]); svg.append("g").call(d3.axisLeft(y)); // append the bar rectangles to the svg element svg.selectAll("mybar") .data(graphData) .enter() .append("rect") .attr("x", d => x(d.field)) .attr("y", d => y(0)) .attr("width", x.bandwidth()) .attr("height", d => height - y(0)) .style("fill", "rgb(0, 151, 198)"); // text label for the x axis svg.append("text") .attr( "transform", "translate(" + width / 2 + " ," + (height + margin.top + 70) + ")", ) .style("text-anchor", "middle") .text("Pipeline type"); // text label for the y axis svg.append("text") .attr("transform", "rotate(-90)") .attr("y", 0 - margin.left) .attr("x", 0 - height / 2) .attr("dy", "1em") .style("text-anchor", "middle") .text("Number of pipelines"); // Animation svg.selectAll("rect") .transition() .duration(800) .attr("y", d => y(d.counter)) .attr("height", d => height - y(d.counter)) .delay((d, i) => i * 100); }; ``` ### **GIS Cloud and D3.js Integration** Now that we have created a graph with an animation, it’s time to do a simple integration with GIS Cloud. Our map can catch a lot of events, you can find the extensive [event list here](https://docs.giscloud.com/docs/js). In our example, we want to achieve that after a user clicks on a random feature on a map, a **graph column becomes selected** based on the pipeline type. For that action, use the ***featureClick*** event. Compare feature type and graph columns to decide what type of pipeline is active. Put your new code in the ***histogram*** function. ``` const viewer = giscloud.ui.map; viewer.bind("featureClick", onFeatureClick); const onFeatureClick = evt => { giscloud.features.byId(evt.layerId, evt.featureId).done(feature => { svg.selectAll("rect").each((d, i, elements) => { if (d.field === feature.data.water_type) { elements[i].style.fill = "rgba(0, 151, 198, 0.4)"; } else { elements[i].style.fill = "rgb(0, 151, 198)"; } }); }); }; ``` At this point, we want to do a similar thing in the other direction. When a user clicks on a graph column, the map will **zoom into the feature bounds view, based on the pipeline type**. Let’s add a d3.js events to the ***svg*** variable. ``` svg.selectAll("mybar") .on("click", onClick) .on("mouseover", onMouseOver) .on("mouseleave", onMouseLeave); ``` ***MouseOver*** and ***MouseLeave*** events will change the graph column color and cursor type. ``` const onMouseOver = (d, i, elements) => { elements[i].style.fill = "rgba(0, 151, 198, 0.4)"; elements[i].style.cursor = "pointer"; }; const onMouseLeave = (d, i, elements) => { elements[i].style.fill = "rgb(0, 151, 198)"; }; ``` The ***onClick*** event used for a graph column will zoom the map into the feature bounds. ``` const onClick = (d, i, elements) => { zoomToFeatures(d.field); }; const zoomToFeatures = value => { const viewer = giscloud.ui.map; // get bounds for filtered features giscloud.geoutils .featureBounds(3432375, { where: "water_type" + "='" + value + "'", srid: viewer.instance.epsg, }) .done(response => { if (response.bounds.left == 0 || response.bounds.right == 0) { return; } // apply bounds viewer.bounds( new giscloud.Bounds( response.bounds.left, response.bounds.bottom, response.bounds.right, response.bounds.top, ), ); }); }; ``` ### **Donut Graph** We will display the donut graph in the GIS Cloud modal window, just as we did for the histogram graph. But now, we will do something different. This type of graph can display “cleaner” data, if we include a new pipeline type – *OTHER*. If there are less than 100 pipelines for a certain pipeline type, we need to put that pipeline type in the *OTHER* category. Then we have to print the number of pipelines on the ***MouseOver*** event and our donut graph is ready. ``` graphData = graphData.reduce((obj, item) => { if (item.counter ``` ``` d3.selectAll("path").on("mousemove", d => { div.style("left", d3.event.pageX + 10 + "px"); div.style("top", d3.event.pageY - 25 + "px"); div.style("display", "inline-block"); div.html("Number of pipelines" + "" + d.data.value); }); d3.selectAll("path").on("mouseout", d => { div.style("display", "none"); }); ``` ### **Conclusion** In this project, we wanted to show you how easily you can integrate GIS Cloud API and apps with other frameworks. Using D3.js, you can build interactive graphs and connect them with GIS Cloud maps and spatial data. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/map-Portal-with-graphs.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/map-Portal-with-graphs.png) [Click here to open the Map Portal we created in this project and try out the graph animations!](https://graphs.giscloud.com/.) If you want to build your own Map Portal app and learn more about possible integrations, [Sign Up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and explore GIS Cloud apps and API! Also, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) if you have any questions, comments or maybe ideas for a new development example. Happy coding! Related content: GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial) A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Key Benefits of Using GIS Cloud’s Map Portal **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advice for developers, cloud, d3, data driven, data managenent, data visualisation, Demo, developers, Frontend Developer, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Cloud Manager, JS library, Map Portal, maps, rest api --- ### [Using GIS in Disaster Management in Jakarta](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-day-contest-reports-using-gis-cloud-for-disaster-management-in-jakarta/) **Published:** November 8, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![gis in disaster managment](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/gis-in-disaster-managment.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/gis-in-disaster-managment.png) As we are approaching this year’s Geo Awareness week, we wanted to look back at an amazing project from one of the GIS Day 2015 project winners. We already covered a story about [Malaria Risk Map](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-disease-using-gis-for-improving-malaria-interventions-in-nigeria/) project as well as [Mapping Tribal Burial Grounds in New Zealand](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-tribal-burial-grounds-in-new-zealand/) (Te Orewai Wahi Tapu), and now it is time to present the Jakarta Flood Support for Better Preparedness. Adityo Dwijananto, Elida Nurrohmah, and Ranie Dwi Anugrah wanted to help the local community by using gis in disaster management and creating flood maps. 13 rivers that flow through Jakarta, making the capital of Indonesia prone to severe flooding. The primary challenge for the local and regional disaster management agencies was in setting up an effective and efficient reporting system. ## **The Disaster Management Workflow** The disaster reporting system works on a volunteer basis. People who participate in the project first need to download GDC in order to collect the current status of the disaster in the location for which they are responsible, on the sub-district level. For now, the system allows them to report events such as flood, fire, fallen trees and social conflict. In addition to the location and type of disaster, volunteers also have to provide info about their identities, causes of the disaster, and the responses given by other institutions. Other options for the volunteers are to report the location and current status of a shelter/IDP camp together with the info about victims and help/aid needed in a specific shelter/IDP camp. The report submitted by volunteers is stored in ona.io server. With this system, data is available only for specific people who have the permission to log in to the system. So, their main challenge was to find a way to open this data for the public use. This is where GIS Cloud steps in to solve this gap. The team decided to use GIS Cloud platform to publish the map online. Here a quick overview of their workflow: 1. 1. Download the data stored in ona.io as CSV format 2. 2. Convert CSV into SHP format with [QGIS](https://qgis.org/en/site/) 3. 3. Upload the SHP into GIS Cloud using [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). 4. 4. Publish map on [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) 5. 5. Embed to website The map was opened to the public using GIS Cloud Map Portal solution and embedded in KPBK Jakarta Barat website. The map is accessible by anyone interested in having real time information in cases of disaster, from any device, complete with the attribute data. For a more detailed description of the workflow click on the picture below. [![Disaster Management Mapping ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Jakarta-2-719x1024.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Jakarta-2.png) ## **Results** Adityo, Elida and Rainie reported that, by integrating GDC and [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/), disaster reporting in Jakarta became faster and more precise than before. Efficient, fast and precise disaster response translates to better decision making and prioritizing, which means that more people are being saved during natural disasters such as floods. It also means that the awareness of the local community can be significantly improved by providing access to important facts in real time such as when, where and what disaster events occur in their area. *Stay tuned up for more GIS Cloud news for the incoming Geo Awareness Week!* Related content: Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case Watershed Management with Cloud GIS Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** disaster management, disaster report, flood map, floods, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Day Contest, Jakarta, Open Street Map --- ### [Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landfill-maintenance-and-management-a-remediation-project-case-study/) **Published:** December 21, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![landfill-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/landfill-s.jpg) Maintenance and management of solid waste disposal sites includes various tasks such as landfill inspection, reporting, planning and monitoring. Recent advancements in contemporary mapping technology enabled easier management of these activities, as we can see in various landfill management projects. One example is drone mapping which is used for capturing high-quality and up-to-date spatial data and tracking the status of a waste disposal site. Technology advancements and the emergence of big data mapping systems with great accuracy began to rise multiple questions which are becoming more and more relevant: how should we use collected data, how to filter it, how to share it, how to collaborate? One of the common problems with using big data in different drone mapping projects is connecting all the stakeholders in a particular project, in a real time, with different privileges assigned to different users. How to use and share big raster data sets generated with drones? In this article, you can read a bit more about using GIS Cloud as collaboration solution in a landfill remediation project, where a survey firm used drone generated images as a basemap for a project plan and monitoring, in coordination with local government agency. **PROJECT INFO** Our clients were contracted by the Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of mapping, monitoring and tracking the status of local sanitation landfill in order to: 1\. track and record local sanitary landfill status 2\. create a landfill remediation plan 3\. conduct monitoring through a 2-year remediation period (2015-2017) 4\. produce reports on annual and semi-annual basis, which includes creating digital terrain models and issuing waste volumetric reports. This project was launched as a legal requirement under the local government jurisdiction and funded through the Environmental Protection Agency. Our clients were required to submit reports to the Agency and local government officials who used this data for submitting to the Office of the Federal Register. ![MDC_geological_borehole_attachments(photo, report)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Landfill.png) **The challenge of collaboration** First task on the agenda for creating a landfill remediation plan was to find a way to include survey firm staff, external associates and landfill management into an effective workflow. Previously, this task took a significant amount of time because they used desktop GIS solutions which required them to manually copy large datasets on DVDs and use printed versions of maps. They wanted to improve the procedure and try to save time and money needed for the project execution. This required a tool for a real-time collaboration between the stakeholders, which was also essential for later phases of a project (monitoring of the remediation process). ![bla](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/bla-1024x657.png) **Workflow** The surveying firm used drones to map about 20 acres of sanitary landfill area, so that they could produce high-quality orthomosaic data and create digital terrain models and issue initial waste volumetric report. After processing a large amount of quality data, these imagery was used as a basemap for further collaboration on a project. After processing drone generated images, our clients used GIS Cloud’s [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for attaching different types of information (photos from the field, waste volumetric information, pdf documents and reports) to a landfill map. ![landfill](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sme%C4%87e-1024x614.png) In this phase, data was shared through the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) to various stakeholders such as Environmental Office staff, Landfill Manager, Project Manager, and expert geologists. It was important to assess the sanitary landfill status so that a landfill remediation plan could be created and executed. It was obvious that a cloud-based solution was the answer to the challenge of a real-time collaboration between people involved in the remediation project – they no longer needed to deal with extensive paperwork and rely on their desktop software. In just a few clicks, they were able to load large raster datasets and monitor the landfill status in real time. **Creating a better workflow with Maplim** Survey firm realized that their collaboration process can be further improved by using Maplim, which enabled them to use landfill basemap created with drones as a kind of a workboard for collaboration, both in remediation planning and project execution phases. You can see an example of their workflow in Maplim in this screenshot: ![Maplim colaboration 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Maplim-colaboration-2-1024x530.jpg) Moreover, as the project progressed, they needed to add extra information from the field and populate the map with field photos, new waste volumetric reports and gas emission and borehole measurements. Field crew was coordinated through landfill manager who communicated with geologists using Maplim. Field crew and geologists used [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to capture terrain-level photos and update the basemap with up-to-date measurements while collecting samples. Geologists used MDC for pinning locations where they collected samples. **What did we learn?** Mapping with drones enables a large scope of users to map remote or inaccessible areas, and also to update basemaps with real-time high quality data. But, all that data isn’t just a purpose in itself – they serve as a base for making geospatial decisions, which is best achieved through means of collaboration. We tried to show how to “add extra value” to your maps with the help of GIS Cloud’s platform and therefore answer the question about purpose of our geospatial big data – who is using it, why and how can it be utilized in your day-to-day workflows. GIS Cloud applications used in this project: [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/),[ Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), Maplim Do you want to know more about using drone data for collaboration or have a similar project that could advance with this workflow? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Case Study, geology, GIS, GIS Cloud, Landfill, Map Editor, Map Viewer, Maplim, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, Remediation, Sanitary Landfill --- ### [Video: Collect, Inspect and Visualize Data with Minimal Effort](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/video-collect-inspect-and-visualize-data-with-minimal-effort/) **Published:** May 5, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** On April 28th we held a webinar focused on exploring the benefits of Mobile Data Collection for organizations and businesses of different profiles, including the **live demo**. Watch it here: Find out about different types of fieldwork and data collection environments, how to transform your daily workflow and what are the real-life examples of using Mobile Data Collection for making your job more efficient. The recording includes **a live demo** showing how to set up a Mobile Data Collection project and what is new in the app. The main presentation was followed by a discussion dedicated to answering lots of questions posted by webinar attendees during the presentation. For more GIS Cloud news and updates, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/giscloud). ### Related content: - [“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-drone-data-next-step-collaboration-video-is-now-available-online/ "“Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online") - [How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-polygon-features-with-mobile-data-collection-app/ "How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app") - [QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/qgis-north-america-conference-consume-field-collected-data-directly-in-qgis-using-a-plugin-for-map-publishing/ "QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online") - [How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-collect-lines-in-the-field-using-mobile-data-collection-app/ "How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app") - [Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/why-offline-maps/ "Collect Data Without Internet Connection – Offline Maps") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, live demo, Mobile Data Collection, video, webinar recording --- ### [Showcasing the GIS Cloud solution for precision agriculture at AgTechDay-Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/showcasing-the-gis-cloud-solution-for-precision-agriculture-at-agtechday-brazil/) **Published:** November 12, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![AgTech day precision agriculture in Brazil ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AgTech-day-precision-agriculture-in-Brazil-COVER-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/AgTech-day-precision-agriculture-in-Brazil-COVER.png) Last year our partners from Brazil, [99GEO](https://www.99geo.com.br/), launched the cooperation with [Coplacana](https://www.coplacana.com.br/), one of the largest cooperatives of sugarcane and ethanol producers in the world. The project resulted in a Copla-GIS mapping solution for maintenance of sugar cane plantations. 99GEO will **showcase the solution** during November 29th and 30th at AgTechDay. In addition, on November 28 they will hold a **workshop**, where you can get an in-depth and hands-on demonstration of the Copla-GIS solution for precision agriculture. ## **About AgTechDay** AgTechDay aims to promote and enable digital agriculture and solve the challenges of connecting the different players of the innovation ecosystem in Brazilian agribusiness. The event is organized by [Avance hub](https://www.avancehub.com.br/), a platform that sprung out of Coplacanas vision to create an accelerator for business and entrepreneurs. It brings together companies not only from Agribusiness but also from sectors such as Health, Telecommunications, Mining, Financial, Animal Husbandry and Security. The Avance hub aims at linking leading-edge technology companies, startups and consolidated ventures with more than 10,000 members of the Coplacana (Cooperativa dos Planadores de Cana de São Paulo). On this year’s AgTechDay our partners will showcase **GIS Cloud applications and solutions.** Gabriel Camarinha from 99GEO will present the GIS Cloud platform on the second day of the event, **29th November at 16h**. Find more info and news about the AgTechDay on the Facebook page of [Avance hub](https://www.facebook.com/somosavancehub/). ## **99GEO Workshop** On November 28th, a day before the AgTechDay, our partners from Brazil 99GEO, have organized a **hands-on workshop** to demonstrate the Copla-GIS solution and other GIS Cloud applications. Learn everything about creating projects and [collecting data using your smartphones and tablets](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). Also, learn how to deploy various data collection projects for effective uses in agriculture through existing case studies and live hands-on demos. You will also get an insight into all the possibilities of a powerful [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) after data is collected. ## **Copla-GIS workflow for precision farming** Precision agriculture is often associated with technologies such as GPS, GIS, drones, mobile data collection applications, remote sensing, and other technological advances intended to provide farmers with a better decision making process. Digital, interactive maps display spatial correlations and patterns are important for **sugarcane production management**, pest control, soil quality, moisture content and much more. [The Copla-GIS workflow](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/maintenance-of-sugarcane-plantations-in-agriculture-with-copla-gis-mapping-solution-events-in-brazil/) is excellent for the development of the agricultural sector, which in this case also responds to the renewable energy sector in the production of fuel ethanol. For instance, in Brazil, nearly all vehicles work with both gasoline and ethanol, and the use of ethanol reaches almost 100% in some regions of the country. ### Workflow scope divided by areas – COPLA-GIS (99GEO): [![Copla-GIS workflow scope](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Escopo-Coplacana-eng3-1024x671.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Escopo-Coplacana-eng3.png) ### Key benefits in precision agriculture for sugarcane industry: MAPPING FIELD DATA WITH HIGH GPS ACCURACY The first step to improve the understanding of a **farm’s productivity** is to map and collect necessary information about soil nutrient levels and crop characteristics, accompanied by exact GPS locations to provide a base layer of information. REAL-TIME SHARING AND SUPPORTING DRONE IMAGERY DATA Large raster data obtained by drone mapping, satellite imagery or aerial photography can derive important spatial data such as orthomosaic maps, elevation models, or contours. Sharing and supporting large raster data in real-time, with different stakeholders and **different privileges**, is the most important factor when it comes to time efficiency in the farming industry. If you are interested in this topic, check out [post](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-large-raster-maps-and-drone-imagery-with-gis-cloud/) about supporting large raster data in GIS Cloud. FIELD REPORTS AND COLLABORATION Adopting a cloud-based GIS solution as a farm management tool can help farmers and land managers to **keep track of day-to-day activities** such as the application of chemicals, fertilizers, and water. They can also track the costs of harvesting, hauling, fertilizing and labor, and predict current and future fluctuations in precipitation, temperature, crop output, etc. Want to try GIS Cloud apps and see what they can do for you? [Request a demo](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil) Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study GIS Cloud Expanding to Brazil Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geoaid-mapping-humanitarian-solidarity-network-in-athens-greece/) **Published:** February 1, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** For the last 8 years, Greece has been experiencing a deep recession that has brought immeasurable consequences to the country’s economy. Searching for ways to cope with the pressures local communities were facing, experts from the [National Technical University of Athenns](https://www.ntua.gr/en/), Dr. Labropoulos and Ms. Andrianesi, worked on the **GeoAid project,** one of the winning projects of the GIS Day Contest 2016. The aim of this project was **to map and manage the solidarity network that has been developed** during the financial as well as the European migrant crisis. ![Mapping Solidarity Network in Greece](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GeoAid-cover-1024x681.jpg) The crisis in the country has had a **severe impact on per capita income and has contributed to a high unemployment rate and a lower quality of life.** Since the beginning of the crisis, more than 250 000 small and medium enterprises have closed, more than 25% of the population is unemployed and more than 20% of people live under the poverty line. In addition to financial problems, as a result of the civil war in Syria, more than 800 000 refugees and migrants have come to Greece. All of these devastating facts decreased the standard of living in Greece and created an unsustainable ex-middle-class group of people that can’t support themselves and their families anymore. The situation caused a general blackout of the State’s operations and of the welfare provisions. **The state had their hands tied** and couldn’t provide help, so all of the humanitarian operations were taken over by local communities, religious groups, NGOs or even groups of individuals. They have **developed an extended a solidarity network** acting as a safety net for people in need, providing them with help, services, and supplies. ## The GeoAid Project: mapping and managing service facilities For people and families that are living on the financial and material edge, it’s essential to know the locations, particularities and the capacity of service facilities in their area. By mapping and categorizing main service locations, the GeoAid team found a way to provide a **better management system of services** and save precious time and effort for people that need help momentarily. Athens Municipality was selected for the project since it’s home to 664 000 people and is hosting the majority of businesses in Greece, therefore having the greatest need for a good overview of the solidarity network. The aim of the project was to expand the solidarity network in terms of **mapping the locations** of shelters and showers, ‘soup kitchens’, institutions of social grocery stores, pharmacies & clinics, education centers, social markets, collection points of donations in clothing, food & medicine etc. The project’s main objective is to **facilitate the provision of services to people in need and to locate and navigate to the nearest facilities**, based on their location and their special needs. The second main objective is to inform and encourage the **general public** of the importance and existence of such a network in order to engage them to contribute with the supplies, personal time and help. ## Challenges in creating a real-time database of facilities All solidarity network activities and operations run on a volunteer basis. The interested parties were getting informed by ‘word of mouth’, newspaper and magazine articles, and by individual organizations announcements. The solidarity network was missing basic technical infrastructure such as an **official data repository and contact directory with all location information**. They needed a solution that could enable the volunteers to **build the database fast** and to be able to **add and update information** about the facilities. In addition to that, the challenge was to enable citizens in need to quickly **locate the closest facility or service** as well as to enable volunteers to find the locations with scarce resources in order to supply them with goods and equipment. They needed a solution that would secure access to the facilities database and a **filter option** to find information as quickly as possible. The final challenge was to find a way to **inform the general public** of the importance of the solidarity network in order to urge them to contribute to the existing locations or expand to more locations in town. They needed a good platform to **share and publish an interactive map** that could be accessible to the public. ## Geocoding data, using buffer & heatmap analysis to make informed decisions In the first phase of the project, it was necessary to **build an official database** with all of the relevant information and contact details from the existing solidarity network. The GeoAid team found that the [Geocoder app](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-geocoder/) was an ideal solution to achieve this goal. It is a fast and simple tool that enables you to easily **translate the addresses into coordinates** and represent them on a map. After the data was collected and formatted in an Excel spreadsheet according to Geocoder specifications, it took **minutes to create** an official solidarity network database that will serve as a basis for the following phases of the project. [![GeoAid: Mapping humanitarian network](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GeoAid-photo2-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GeoAid-photo2.jpg) The data had to be analyzed and visualized on the map so all the relevant and helpful information could be accessed in a matter of seconds. Part of the solution was to **build spatial queries** that help people navigate to the closest facility they need. The team used [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to conduct spatial analyses such as [Heatmap ](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/heatmap-analysis/)and [Buffer](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/buffer/) **analysis** to calculate the **coverage zone of every individual entity** in the solidarity network. **Buffer** analysis was conducted in order to get the spatial representation of 400-meters and 800-meters radius, corresponding to a 5 minute and 10 minute walk distance, considering the average walking speed is 5 km/h. Using buffer zones as spatial queries to target the closest facility enables citizens in need to easily **identify the areas with low or no coverage of facilities** and to locate the **closest establishments** or service from their location. **Heatmap** analysis was used to **identify the spatial density** of every individual group of facilities in the solidarity network. The visual representation shows the zones with low density or absence of facilities and zones with the highest density. This was useful for the volunteers so they can find the zones where it’s necessary to **expand the solidarity network**. ## A Public Map Portal as a final result Finally, in the last phase of the project, the goal was to **inform the general public** of the importance and existence of such a solidarity network and to enable the citizens in need the access to such information. **Explore the details of the GeoAid solidarity network via[GeoAid Map Portal](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/818118/geoaid-project).** The GeoAid team found the easiest way to share the information with the public through [Mobile Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) applications. With the **Mobile Map Viewer**, you can view and access shared or public maps on any device in real-time. The app is optimized for non-professionals and users can easily navigate to their real-time location to target the closest entity in their zone. To reduce the noise of irrelevant data, the user can **filter the data** and select only the entity categories of interest. The project operates on a **web-GIS platform** such as **Map Portal**. You can build a custom interface and have a public overview of the data. You can access the map portal through smartphones, tablets, PCs & laptops and even stations with touch-screens in central locations. This should help **increase the visibility** of the project and possibly inspire people to expand the solidarity network. ## Importance of GIS solutions in humanitarian actions and operations Over the past years, the importance of GIS solutions within the community has been recognized as a key component in humanitarian actions and operations. The primary mission of those actions is to target and help the right people at the right time. Using GIS solutions can help **NGOs and other stakeholders** in planning and directing operations and respective logistics. The use of GIS technologies increases the effectiveness and efficiency of volunteers in the field. The GeoAid project is the perfect example to show how GIS Cloud mapping technologies can be used as a powerful tool for humanitarian aid operations. Interested in trying GIS Cloud solutions in humanitarian aid projects? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [Sign up here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) GIS in Archaeology: Mapping Roman and Byzantine Ruins (Case Study) Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Day Contest, local governments, mapping, use case --- ### [Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/meet-the-people-of-gis-cloud-an-interview-with-antonija-netolicki-sales-manager-at-gis-cloud/) **Published:** April 13, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![ANT](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ANT.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ANT.jpg) GIS Cloud Sales team takes care of our user accounts and does an irreplaceable job of consulting and advising organizations and individuals in making the most of our solutions. Therefore we decided to talk with **Antonija Netolicki**, a Senior Sales Manager. **Tell us a few words about yourself: why did you choose geography as your field of study in the first place and how did you end up as a Sales Manager at GIS Cloud?** As long as I can remember, I’ve been a Scout. You can say they helped to make me the person I am today. Nature, orientation and reading maps were always present in my early days. I learned to read maps even before I knew how to write. Maps have always fascinated me as well as traveling, learning about other cultures and really understanding historical and geographical background of the place I am visiting. So, geography as a field of study really came natural to me, and I knew from the start that GIS would be my major. I fell in love with GIS because it gives that additional, missing data component to mapping and I wanted to learn about it as much as I could, since this is a field that is constantly growing and developing. The great thing about GIS Cloud was that this environment enabled the team to grow and gave us a chance to decide for ourselves what we wanted to do. So I took a try at everything, but I really found myself in sales. I still remember my first call with a user, I was terrified that I’ll say something wrong but at the same time it was really exciting. I’m a real people’s person and I love to chat with our users. To hear about their stories, use cases, how they are using our solutions, it’s really exciting to me. I don’t think of myself as a sales person. A more fitting word would be consultant, because I listen to all those stories from different industries and sometimes it can be quite demanding to find the best fit for their needs. But this is what makes it so interesting and fun. **How do you feel being a part of GIS Cloud’s team?** From the moment I saw the job opening at GIS Cloud, I knew that this was something different from everything else out there. At the time GIS Cloud was just a small team, but the ad really caught my eye, especially the part about cooking in the office and how the team enjoys to prepare meals every day. I liked the idea of a casual lunch with fellow coworkers, an opportunity to catch up and hang out. They were like a small family. The only logical thing for me to do was to bake a cake for my interview. Obviously they loved it 🙂 So what can I say, even though the team has tripled in numbers from then, the spirit from the beginning is still present and that is what makes working at GIS Cloud different than working anywhere else. **How does a regular working day in life of a Sales Manager look like?** A regular day in Sales starts with making coffee and chilling out on the balcony. Then I evaluate emails that have arrived and prioritize. We always try to respond to a query as fast as we can. There are also many requests for live demos, so I’m booked with calls as well. I love having calls with our users when I get to show them how to implement our solutions in their work. Every day is special and different from the day before. And I love it. **Name the biggest challenges you are confronted with in a day-to-day work?** The biggest challenge is a time difference. Sometimes, due to different time zones our users come from, arranging phone calls in a middle of the night can be challenging. Like I said, we try to accommodate our users as much as we can. It is a great opportunity to chat with somebody from the other part of the world. This is what makes it worthwhile. **What do you consider the best part of your job?** The best part is a chance to hear about all those great use cases from our users. The things they do with our solutions are amazing and just to be a part of that is really rewarding. To listen to them, provide them with the best solution and to see the results is just awesome. In that way, I consider myself to play a small part in their projects as well. **Do you have any favorite projects you were doing as a part of GIS Cloud’s team?** Each story is special in its own way so it’s really hard to single out just one of them. I can say that I really love and appreciate NGOs and environmental stories. I love nature and before GIS Cloud, I was working in the Nature Park so this is something I can really relate to. **How do you like to spend your free time?** I love to spend my free time in the nature. For example, I enjoy riding a bike, hiking, taking care of my garden, relaxing on the lake, reading books, listening to music… But it must be in the nature. I’m still a member of my scout unit and we have gatherings each month so I try to join them as often as possible. This really charges my batteries. **What are your main professional interests in geography/GIS?** My main interest is environmental protection. Couple of years ago I had a publication on the topic of fire risk management in Croatia and now I have all sorts of great ideas regarding implementation of GIS Cloud in the protection of natural treasures. Related content: GIS Cloud Manager Meet Ana, a New Member of GIS Cloud Frontend Team Geomobiliti Inc. Interview – Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, interview, job at GIS Cloud, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud --- ### [Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/meet-us-at-foss4g-2016-in-bonn/) **Published:** July 27, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** As we announced in [February,](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-foss4g-in-bonn/) we will be sponsoring this year’s [FOSS4G ](http://2016.foss4g.org/)Conference in Bonn, Germany (**August 24-26th)**. We will have a booth at the exhibition space where you can meet our core team in person and check out first glimpses of our new platform that we are preparing to launch later this year. Also, Dino, our CEO will have a presentation on how to get maps offline on mobile devices. [![New Platform Demonstration and Meeting at FOSS4G 2016](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/foss4gn2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/foss4gn2.png) If you are visiting FOSS4G 2016, be sure to stop by GIS Cloud booth **No. 3** and meet with our team. Where to find us? - You can meet us at [B2B meeting](http://2016.foss4g.org/programme.html#b2b-meeting) on **23rd of August**, or [contact us ](mailto:hello@giscloud.com)to arrange a meeting beforehand. - On Thursday, **25th of August** at 11:00 am in Room Berlin, our Co-founder and CEO, **Dino Ravnić** will hold a presentation “[Using SQLite to take maps offline on mobile devices](http://2016.foss4g.org/talks.html#375)”. - Last but not the least, you can attend GIS Cloud New Platform Demonstration on Friday, **26th of August** in the Plenary Office (**14:30-15:00**). We will introduce some major changes to our platform, and this will be a first sneak preview before the release. Interested in arranging a meeting with GIS Cloud team at FOSS4G 2016? Contact us at Related content: GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn FOSS4G 2016: Three days of great talks and cool hangouts GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Arrange a meeting, Booth No.3, Demonstration, FOSS4G 2015, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Cloud presentation, Meeting, Presentation --- ### [Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/reinvent-your-workflow-gis-cloud-as-an-alternative-to-google-maps-engine/) **Published:** November 3, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![shutterstock_221611603](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/shutterstock_221611603-1024x731.jpg) It’s old news that Google Maps Engine will shut down its services on January 29, 2016. Soon after the announcement, a question about the alternatives was set in motion within and beyond the GIS community. Google Maps Engine was mainly a platform which provided businesses cloud based services for editing and storing their geographic data built on Google base map. Google base map remained a standard for most users who wanted to visualize and process any kind of information associated to a location, but it wasn’t the same with Google Maps Engine as a cloud service. Many users who decided to work in cloud environment choose other services for manipulating the data often built on Google Maps base layer. By all means, GIS Cloud is considered as one of the possible Google Maps Engine alternatives. Operating on the fastest map engine in the world, GIS Cloud’s platform offers a range of applications suitable for different working environments and users with different levels of experience. Most of the features are easy to master without any special training, which makes GIS Cloud a great option for improving the performance in all segments of an organization. What are the key benefits of using GIS Cloud? - **100% collaboration environment** – accessible anywhere, with any device, with no need of in-house servers or IT maintenance staff - GIS Cloud uses **the fastest map engine** available today, which allows you to create maps with millions of features, at the same time allowing hundreds of users to use application simultaneously while working on a project - **All you need in one place:** a platform offering everything from data collection to data publishing - Reinvent your workflows and **reduce time, money and effort** with real-time collaboration on maps - **Easy to use** even for non-GIS experts – no need for expensive trainings or hiring extra staff ![Google Maps Engine Replacement](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TwitterCover_.png) #### GIS Cloud Replacing Google Maps Engine from A – Z - **Quick integration with Google Maps** API – Users can build layers on top of Google basemaps in Map Editor and other GIS Cloud’s apps. Google Street View is supported and integrated in GIS Cloud platform, as well as Google Address Search. Want to integrate with other Google products? [Let us know!](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) - **Customize your apps** creating custom forms, fields and symbology. You can [white label](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-white-label-gis/) any GIS Cloud application with custom logo, style, layout and modules effortlessly – you don’t have to write a single line of code to do it. - **Data Collection & Collaboration for reinventing your workflows** – Use [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) for real-time field data collection. With only a few taps of your finger you can populate data into a map layer in real time. It’s an extra benefit of using GIS Cloud platform in comparison to Google Maps Engine platform. Use Maplim as a tool specially designed for real-time collaboration between different users, transforming your maps to online drawing boards. - **Share your data in a blink of an eye** – use [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) for sharing private maps on computers, tablets and smartphones, or use [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) to share your data with a whole world on a customized white-labeled web portal. GIS Cloud offers unmatched map engine performance, loading a great amount of data faster than any available map engine existing on the market. And last but not the least: - GIS Cloud offers you very **cost-efficient** solutions with a pricing model which fits your particular needs. There are no hidden costs, and most importantly, the pricing model allows you to pay only for what you need. For example, if you only need to share your mapping data with clients, there is no need to pay for the “full package” of map building apps because [Map Viewer ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)license is enough. *Have more questions about GIS Cloud’s platform as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine?* Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and request a demo. Related content: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Fusion Tables Map Engine: Super-fast High Definition Maps! Why Go GIS Cloud? Alternative for GME or Simply a Better Solution? Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Alternatives, cloud, GIS, GIS Cloud, Google Maps Engine, map, map engine, White Label --- ### [Webinar Recording: Why Become GIS Cloud Partner?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-why-become-gis-cloud-partner/) **Published:** February 2, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last week, we held “**Why Become GIS Cloud Partner?**” webinar, with a goal to offer insights into the [benefits of the GIS Cloud Partners program](/partners/). [![GIS Cloud Partners program](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Recordingpartners1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Recordingpartners1.png) The webinar recording is now available online, accessible via the form below. So, if you are interested in learning more about [GIS Cloud Partners](/partners/) program, this is a perfect opportunity to **find everything you need to know in one place**. The recording includes an introduction into GIS Cloud platform and Partners program, types of partnership, value propositions, references, information on how to apply and first-hand experiences. Interested in more news from GIS Cloud? Follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/giscloud). Related content: Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS Cloud, Partners Program, webinar recording --- ### [Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-crowdsourcing-for-utilities/) **Published:** December 20, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Electric Utility Crowdsourcing Solution GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Electric-Utilities-Crowd-Webinar-Rec.png) *Which problems can be solved by crowdsourcing spatial data from your clients and co-workers?* If you missed our latest webinar from **December 12th**, now you have a chance to find the answer to this and many other questions that will allow you to take advantage of the [Crowdsourcing solution](/apps/crowdsourcing/) in the utilities industry. The webinar recording consists of an introduction where you can learn more about common challenges in the industry for which Crowdsourcing can be a perfect solution. To give you the best picture of how Crowdsourcing is used, a large part of the webinar consists of **a live demo**. It is followed by a Q&A session where questions from the audience were answered by GIS Cloud consultants. Related content: Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar Recording Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** crowdsourcing, Demo, Utilities, webinar recording --- ### [Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/watch-the-tree-maintenance-made-easy-webinar-recording/) **Published:** May 4, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** On Monday, 24th of April, we held a webinar “Tree Maintenance Made Easy” focused on presenting GIS Cloud solutions for Tree Management. Thanks to all of you who attended the webinar. [![Tree Inventory webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tree-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tree-cover.png) The central part of the webinar included the live demo showcasing various GIS tools for Tree Maintenance followed by a Q&A session, where we answered various questions about GIS Cloud solutions. For more news from GIS Cloud, follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/giscloud). Related content: Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS solutions, recording, Tree Maintenance, webinar --- ### [Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-for-tree-inventory-and-inspection/) **Published:** March 29, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are pleased to share the recording of the “GIS Cloud for Tree Inventory and Inspection” webinar. In case you missed the webinar, or you want to rewatch it and share with your team, fill in the form at the end of this post and access the recording. [![webinar-tree-inventory-recording](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Webinar-Tree-Inventory-recording.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Webinar-Tree-Inventory-recording.png) The main topics that were presented included user success stories and best practices as well as the main questions you need to ask yourself do you want to **make your existing tree maintenance workflow more efficient**. The recording also includes the main benefits of GIS Cloud, overview of the key phases of your daily activities and a **live demo**. After the webinar, we answered to many questions posed by attendees. Some of the questions to which you can find the answer in the recording: - Data Collection: Can you collect spatial features in the field, GPS accuracy, autocomplete feature, offline data collection… - Importing different spatial formats (shapefiles, KMLs…) - Exporting data and creating reports - Comparison to competing solutions in the market - Uses of GIS Cloud in other fields and industries - Assigning and tracking work orders **For additional questions**, [contact us](/contact/). Related content: Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Tree Inventory and Inspection, webinar recording --- ### [Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/solutions-for-road-infrastructure-and-maintenance/) **Published:** June 30, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** On June 20th, we held a webinar “[Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-solutions-for-road-infrastructure-and-maintenance/).” Thanks to all of our attendees who have shown a great interest and participated in a discussion. [ ![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roadworks3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Roadworks3.png) For those who weren’t able to attend last week’s webinar, we have prepared a recording, accessible upon request through the form below. In the video, you can find out more about common challenges for road infrastructure, public works and highway departments, their daily workflows and ways to make them more efficient. The recording also includes a live demo and a lengthy discussion. For any additional questions, contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Webinar: Solutions for Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Road Infrastructure and Maintenance Solution: Odsherred Kommune Case Study Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, infrastructure, Maintenance, public works, recording, webinar --- ### [Mapping Your Workflow - GIS for Roadworks Live Demo](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-your-workflow-gis-for-roadworks-live-demo/) **Published:** July 22, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** On July 14th, we held a GIS Cloud live demo “GIS For Roadworks – See How it Works.” Thanks to all who attended and participated in a discussion. Your feedback means a lot to us. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/roadworks-recording.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/roadworks-recording.png) This demo recording will be useful to all our users and those who are interested in GIS Cloud apps and solutions. Although the demonstration was focused on a case study describing a workflow in **Roadworks, Public Works or Highway Departments** and **transportation industry** in general, it applies to other industries with similar use cases. It is a great example of creating an efficient workflow that consists of **project creation**, **asset data collection**, **map visualisation**, **data sharing, collaboration and analysis**. This recording also includes all of the questions asked by webinar attendees during the presentation. Related content: Roadworks Solution: Damage and Maintenance Reports for the City of Amsterdam Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) Reinvent your workflow: GIS Cloud as an Alternative to Google Maps Engine Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data sharing and analyisis, Demo, field asset data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS For Roadworks, Highway Departments, live demo, map visualisaiton, mapping, recording, Transportation, webinar --- ### [GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/) **Published:** March 1, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This webinar recording is dedicated to GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management. [![GIS Cloud in Water Resource and Watershed Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Webinar-recording-watersheds.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Webinar-recording-watersheds.png) The recording contains a presentation as well as a discussion that includes some of the questions asked by attendees during the webinar. Webinar contents: - What is Watershed Management? - Main Questions for Water Resource Management - Roles and Basic Workflows - Use Cases: Orange County, Croatian Waters, Liburnian Waters - GIS Cloud Solutions and Benefits - Live Demo - QA Related content: Watershed Management with Cloud GIS Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Orange County, webinar recording --- ### [Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-extend-crowdsourcing-solution-with-a-custom-workflow/) **Published:** July 25, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last week, we held a webinar showing how to make the best of your crowdsourced data using GIS Cloud. You can access the webinar recording by filling in the form below. [![Utilize Crowdsourcing app video](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Extend-Rec.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Crowdsourcing-Solution-Extend-Rec.png) In the webinar, you will hear a short overview of the GIS Cloud [Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) shown in the previous webinar, a demo of GIS Cloud apps where you will be able to see what to do after the data is crowdsourced, as well as Q&A session. Related content: Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar Recording Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Crowdsourcing solution, webinar --- ### [Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/watch-the-sharing-large-raster-data-with-gis-cloud-webinar-recording/) **Published:** June 9, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** On Thursday, **1st of June**, we held a webinar showcasing the benefits and a demo on the topic of sharing large raster data with clients, stakeholders and organizations using GIS Cloud. [![drone mapping collaborative platform for data sharing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sharing-Large-Rasters-Webinar-Rec.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Sharing-Large-Rasters-Webinar-Rec.jpg) Topics covered in the webinar were: - The cloud benefits for remote sensing and sharing drone data with clients - Success stories from GIS Cloud users - Live demo – how to consume your raster data in GIS Cloud - Q&A session Related content: Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Supporting raster data in .ECW, .IMG, .SID, .JP2 formats Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Demo, raster data, webinar recording --- ### [Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar Recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/crowdsourcing-for-ngos-and-nonprofits-webinar-recording/) **Published:** March 15, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Watch our webinar and learn how to use map-based Crowdsourcing solution and Map Portal to attract sponsors, support microvolunteering practices and engage communities in various projects. ![crowdsourcing-for-ngos-webinar-rec](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Crowdsourcing-for-NGOs-Webinar-Rec.png) If you work for a non-profit or NGO organization, gaining visibility for your project, attracting sponsors, engaging volunteers and communities as well as delivering results are probably common challenges you face. GIS Cloud [Crowdsourcing solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) might just be a perfect solution to these challenges. *But, how does it all work in real life?* Learn this by watching a recording of our [webinar held on February 21,](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-crowdsourcing-solution-for-ngo-and-non-profits/) which includes a live demo, success stories from NGOs and nonprofits around the world, and much more. Related content: Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** crowdsourcing, GIS, GISCloud, Map Portal, ngos, nonprofit, webinar --- ### [Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-in-the-railroad-industry/) **Published:** December 19, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** What are the uses of GIS in the Railroad Industry? The answer to this and many more questions can be found in a recording of last week’s webinar, held by **Tomy Brown**, the owner of [Geomobiliti Inc](http://geomobiliti.com/). [![GIS for Railroad Industry](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Railroads-recording-twitter.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Railroads-recording-twitter.png) Tomy Brown, who has worked with numerous clients from the Railroad and Real Estate Industry, presented a several topics relevant for discussing the role of GIS in the sector, with a focus on **railroad property rights and real estate** (right of way, county parcel data, different types of land encroachments, monetization possibilities, reducing risks…). The recording also includes **a live demo** showing real data displayed on a map, showcasing how to use GIS Cloud effectively for the purpose of increasing workflow efficiency and getting more accurate railroad data in real time. After the presentation and a live demo, there was a **discussion**, answering different questions about: - The purpose and verification of the audit - Monetization of land encroachments - Integrating video and media into existing datasets Related content: Geomobiliti Inc. Interview – Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities ‘Beyond Fieldwork’ Webinar Recording Available Online **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Geomobiliti, GIS, GIS Cloud, Railroad Industry, Railroads, Tomy Brown, webinar recording --- ### [Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/) **Published:** September 28, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** On September 20th, we held a webinar on how to build an entire geo application in a form of an interactive map portal, without writing a single line of code. To access the webinar recording, please fill in the form below. [![GIS Cloud branded map portal builder](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/App-Builder-Webinar-REC.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/App-Builder-Webinar-REC.jpg) [“Don’t Code, Configure: Turn Your Maps into Apps”](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-turn-your-mapps-into-apps-with-app-builder/) webinar recording includes an introduction into the GIS Cloud app builder, a live demo, and Q&A session. Find out why the simple apps win, why 1000 apps with one button are better than one app with 1000 buttons. You will learn what kind of heavy-lifting modern geospatial platforms are doing for their users and how is it possible to build and deploy a production-ready geospatial app in just one afternoon. Related content: Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Mobile Data Collection & New Form Builder Overview Webinar Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** App Builder, Map Portal, webinar recording --- ### [Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person - NGO User Story](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-mapping-entire-liberia-to-bring-clean-water-to-every-single-person-ngo-user-story/) **Published:** April 25, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** If you are leading large **data collection** and **inspection projects**, and **organizing teams in the field**, this webinar recording is a must see! **Darrel Larson**, International Director of Sawyer Products water filter company and co-organizer of [this fantastic data collection project](http://geoawesomeness.com/ngo-maps-entire-liberia-brings-clean-water-every-single-resident/), explains all the steps in the process of delivering water filters and tracking results throughout the country. Access the recording by filling in the form below. ![NGO User Story - Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NGO-brings-Clean-Water-to-Liberia-cover-1024x576.jpg) In remote areas with **no network coverage**, location and demographic data are often incomplete or invalid. Liberia (Africa) is one of the poorest countries in the world, where most households didn’t have access to clean water. Up until a few years ago, there was no **easy and cost-efficient** way for nonprofits to map out an entire country. With [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/) mapping solutions, a **non-GIS crew** can easily **map water sources, manage the delivery** of water filters and use collected data to eradicate water-borne sickness and create **sustainable water supply systems**. Watch this webinar recording (fill in the form below) and learn how The Last Well organization joined forces with other NGOs **to reach a unique goal: bring water to every single resident of Liberia by December of 2020!** **Darrel** shares his experience from the initial idea of the project and challenges nonprofits faced, to a discovery of mapping solutions which helped them to achieve their goals and show results. He explains in many details how **teams collected data** with mobile devices using custom surveys and shows a **map overview** of collected data used to track project progress. **User story includes:** - Project origin, initial challenges, the current status of the project and goals - Mapping project lifecycle (initial assessment, follow-ups, data analysis and decision making) - [Mobile data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/) and map editing tools used for the project - Data collection and management demo - Project results which assured finding donors and further funds - Q&A session Interested in trying GIS Cloud apps and see what they can do for you? [Request a demo](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Case Study, data managenent, GIS, GIS Cloud, Give Clean Water, Liberia, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, urban planning, user case, water infrastructure, webinar --- ### [Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-data-visualization-and-classification-hands-on-tutorial/) **Published:** May 23, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last week you had a chance to join our **step-by-step guided** **hands-on webinar,** an excellent occasion for **GIS novices** as well as for **experienced users** to get some handy tips for data visualization. In this session, we showed you how to create maps by uploading data, **change symbology, classify data by attributes** to make **quick analysis**, and other useful tips. In case you missed the time slot, we prepared a recording for you! Fill in the form below. ![Learn how to visualize and classify data in GIS Cloud (Tutorial)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Data-Visualization-Webinar-Rec-1024x576.jpg) Real-time mapping tools allow you to **collect data** with mobile devices in the field (even offline), or to **upload** them directly into GIS web application. After this initial step, our users need to make sense out of large amounts of data. To achieve this, you can use tools in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to **efficiently and quickly visualize and classify your data**. To help you master GIS Cloud apps for data visualization and classification, we prepared a **dataset** for you **to use** (including addresses, streets, and buildings) while following our actions in Map Editor. [You can download the dataset here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZgrpEp1FbmXAYcZ8Noqa-gZ_ifBRwyeb/view?usp=sharing). In this webinar session you will learn how to: - Upload data using drag & drop to create a map - Change symbology to have a clear overview of the data - Classify your data by attributes to make analysis - Set-up zoom levels for different layers to optimize a map with a lot of data - Use pop-up info windows - Set-up labels - Other neat visualization tricks - Share your map and collaborate with others To follow our instructions and try classification for yourself, you need to [set up a free GIS Cloud account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). When you finish watching the webinar, don’t forget to make your maps public (as we suggested during the webinar), so we can see how you styled your maps! Related content: Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** change symbology, data classification, data visualisation, data visualization, GIS Cloud, GIS symbology, GIS Tutorial, GIS visualization, GIS webinar, online GIS, share data, zoom levels --- ### [Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions - Webinar Recording!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/power-your-workflow-with-online-gis-apps-from-data-collection-to-collaboration-and-sharing-integrated-with-desktop-solutions-webinar-recording/) **Published:** September 30, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Geospatialawareness-Webinar-Recording.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Geospatialawareness-Webinar-Recording.png) On September 18th 2020 we held a live webinar in collaboration with [Geospatial Awareness Hub](https://geospatialawarenesshub.com/) on the topic of **Powering Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps**. Igor Farkaš, our business Development and Partners Manager touched upon **significant Desktop GIS challenges** and how **harnessing the powerful GIS Cloud platform and apps** will help **empower your entire workflow** **online and on-premises** with one of the **fastest map engines available!** Igor also talked about our most **distinct case studies** and explained how these companies and NGOs **overcame their business challenges with the help of online GIS.** In this recording, you will also observe a **live demo** and a walkthrough of our unique applications to help you understand better how to **create a project, collect data and share it with your colleagues and users with our customized** [**Map Portal**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). It is a branded GIS app for sharing maps with the public. It reduces time, effort, paperwork and support costs. Publish interactive maps and allow the public to search, visualize and explore media enriched data with just one click including an option of switching between multiple maps! Also, you will find out how to easily transfer a couple of layers or entire maps from QGIS to GIS Cloud with just a couple of clicks with our [GIS Cloud publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/), and with our WFS service, you can **collect data directly into the desktop solution.** If you are interested in using GIS Cloud apps and services, [Sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) for the **free 14-day trial.** If you want to know more about GIS Cloud platform, please [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)! Related content: “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, data collection, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, recording, webinar, webinar recording --- ### [GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-and-jal-technology-at-the-oman-geospatial-forum-april-10-11/) **Published:** April 5, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud Partners for Oman, Jal Technology, will be showcasing GIS Cloud at the Booth No. 18. at the [Oman Geospatial Forum](http://omangeospatialforum.org/). The event will be held in the Oman Convention Centre in Muscat from 10 to 11th of April 2017. [![Jal Technology showcasing GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Oman-conference.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Oman-conference.png) The fourth edition of the Oman Geospatial Forum is organized by Geospatial Media and Communications in collaboration with the National Survey Authority. The main theme for the conference is GeoSmart Empowering Economic Development, with a further emphasis on trends in Spatial Analytics, Business Intelligence, Digital Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning. > The conference will have both national and international experts throwing light on geospatial technology trends and systems that integrate and embed geospatial information into business processes and workflows of industries such as Oil and Gas, Defence and National Security, Disaster Management, Infrastructure and Construction, Housing and Land Administration, Water/Telecom and other utilities, Local Governance and other functions that drive economic development. GIS Cloud will be presented at the **Booth Number 18**, where the attendees will get a chance to see a live demo showcasing the use of GIS Cloud for Education and visualizing data about school infrastructure in Oman. Also, this is a unique opportunity to see **an exclusive preview of the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution.** Also, [**Eng. Fuad AlShannaq**](http://omangeospatialforum.org/bios.html#fu) will speak about GIS Cloud as an emerging technology, highlighting the benefits of real-time collaboration and data collection for different industries. The presentation will be held at the Emerging Technologies and Future Trends Plenary Session, starting at on **Monday, April 10th at 14.30 in the Exhibition Hall 3** (Conference Area). For more updates on GIS Cloud news and events, follow us on [Twitter.](https://twitter.com/giscloud) Related content: Geospatial Technology for Building Smarter Cities INTERGEO 2017: Cutting Edge Technologies Fueling the Growth of Geospatial Industry GIS Cloud Summer Bootcamp: Unleash Your Geospatial Potential! Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration GIS Cloud Offers Technology and Support for Free to Projects Fighting to Contain Coronavirus **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Crowdsourcing solution, Eng. Fuad AlShannaq, GIS, GIS Cloud, Jal Technology, Oman Geospatial Forum 2017, Partners --- ### [Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/arborist-use-case-tree-inventory-and-inspection/) **Published:** March 15, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Taking care of several trees differs from more extensive projects, which include carrying out a tree inventory, tree inspection and subsequent tree care plans. Managing the care of individual plants and trees on a larger scale demands a lot of administration and field paperwork. This case study outlines tools and workflows, as well as arborist mobile apps that **help improve productivity** in the field and cut down on paper-based inspections. [](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-inspection-Arborist-Cover.jpg) [![Tree Inventory and Inspection with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-inspection-Arborist-Cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-inspection-Arborist-Cover.jpg) ## **Online Maps as Administrative Tools for Arborists** All of those who do a lot of fieldwork know that it is not easy to have a clear and updated oversight of the projects without the use of proper administrative tools like arborist software. Managing a tree inventory and carrying out tree inspections on a large scale demands just that. Let’s see how the Vivaldi Arborists from Sweden improved their projects and increased productivity with the help of [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, following the feedback from arborist and group leader in Stockholm, **Sean Grant**. *“GIS Cloud has allowed me to streamline the administrative side of workflow which allows me to work more effectively and provide tree care of a higher quality.” – Sean Grant* ## **The need to Improve Tree inspection and Tree Inventory Practices** Fieldwork in arboriculture usually consists of short-term as well as of long-term projects. Taking care of one individual tree differs from the larger projects, which include carrying out tree inventories and subsequent tree care plans. On this scale, it is necessary to collect the information on tree health evaluation, species, vitality and risk class on a daily basis. Dealing with administrative tasks in these conditions can be very time-consuming and it may shift the focus from a primary goal (tree care) to secondary activities such as unnecessary paperwork. Real-time mapping applications often offer the best solutions for some of these daily burdens, being able to instantly gather, sort and analyze the data from the field. Having these problems, the Vivaldi Arborists were looking for an application which would enable them to **gather the data quickly and accurately**. It was necessary to have a photo database of injuries to the trees to be followed up, together with the other visual information which may prove valuable. [![arborist-karta-s](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Arborist-karta-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Arborist-karta-s.jpg) ## **The Problem of Weak GPS Signal During Tree Inspections** At the moment, mobile devices are the most practical tool for data collection but dependence on the GPS function alone can cause problems. In some situations, the accuracy of the data may be unsatisfactory because of **satellite unavailability**. Vivaldi Arborists wanted to overcome these challenges and find a solution that can improve location precision in case of poor GPS reception. According to all the problems noted before, The Vivaldi Arborist needed a **reliable mapping application** for quick and accurate data collection, which is not dependent on the GPS function alone. ## **Complete Online Solution for Tree Inspections** GIS Cloud offered [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, which Vivaldi Arborists use on a daily basis to collect tree information and photos. *My workflow is much more efficient when using the GIS Cloud as a basis for my quotes and work orders and collection of all field data. I can easily find the geographic data I need regardless of when it was collected and allows me to focus more on care for the trees themselves and less on keeping track of all of the data. – Sean Grant* The MDC applications photo function also solved the problem with accessing and sorting a great number of photos about a specific tree. **Tracking of photos ceased to be a time-consuming** task because attaching them to a location means you can find the spread of pictures through time in a matter of seconds. *When leaving quotes to customers, I find that a picture or map, in this case, speaks louder than words and with GIS Cloud I can produce maps quickly to be attached to a written quote, so there is no question about what is to be carried out. This map is also used as a base to work orders so the correct work is carried out on the correct trees (important when felling trees for obvious reasons.) – Sean Grant* The Pinpoint Tool in Mobile Data Collection guaranteed the **precision of location data**, hence solving the problem of dependency on GPS whose precision is determined by the current mobile device and satellite availability. Pinpoint tool increases the precision of your data because you can position the pointer on the exact location and mark it down with the highest accuracy. After we have seen how the MDC application solved the problems with using mobile devices for tree inspection, we can conclude with a final, sound recommendation from Sean Grant: *I can recommend GIS Cloud for those who don’t have an advanced understanding of GIS (such as those out collecting data) as it is a user-friendly platform and can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection or any mobile device with the downloaded app. I can recommend GIS Cloud where photos attached to geographic location can be helpful in keeping track of asset data. I can recommend GIS Cloud to clearly convey information to customers or employees to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.* Interested in the GIS Cloud mobile app for arborists? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Improving Crop Inventory And Crop Scouting With GIS Cloud Apps (Use Case) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** data collection, forestry, Tree Inventory and Inspection, Tree Management, use case, Vivaldi Arborists --- ### [Visit GIS Cloud Booth and Attend Collaborative Mapping Workshop at GEO Business Show 2017 in London](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/visit-gis-cloud-booth-and-attend-collaborative-mapping-workshop-at-geo-business-show-2017-in-london/) **Published:** April 20, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** In May, GIS Cloud team will exhibit and hold a workshop at the GEO Business Show in London. [![Geo Business Stand number K5 and Cloud Workshop](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/geobus.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/geobus.png) GEO Business Show is the annual geospatial business show with over 3000 visitors from more than 50 countries that will take place at the Business Design Centre in London, from **23rd to 24th of May**. This year, GIS Cloud will exhibit at the show as well as hold a workshop demonstrating GIS Cloud solutions. If you are attending the show, visit us at the **Booth No. K5**. Also, feel free to attend GIS Cloud workshop on Wednesday, **24th of May on 9.30h, Facility No. 5** where you will get **an exclusive preview of the new GIS Cloud collaborative mapping platform.** Workshop attendance is free. You don’t have to sign up to attend the workshop, just turn up on the day. Want to meet with us at the GEO Business Show 2017? Schedule a meeting by sending an e-mail at Related content: Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at GEO Business Show on May 24th Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** collaborative mapping workshop, Geo Business Show 2017, GIS, GIS Cloud, London --- ### [Meet Ana, a New Member of GIS Cloud Frontend Team](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/meet-ana-a-new-member-of-gis-cloud-frontend-team/) **Published:** December 19, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Ana new member gis cloud team career](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Ana-welcome-1024x682.jpg) The end of the year has brought many outstanding people to the GIS Cloud Team, the most recent being [Mario](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-member-joins-gis-cloud-team-welcome-mario/) who joined our Backend Development. Meanwhile, our Frontend Development team also got a new member whom we are thrilled to introduce – **Ana Babić**. Ana doesn’t recall the exact point in time when she decided to take on programming, but there were certainly predispositions for this career before she decided to study at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, where she finished a Master’s degree in Split, Croatia. Eagerness to learn and affinity for the newest technologies played a role in her career choice, which was further strengthened by her completion of a programming internship during her time at the faculty as a student. Later she moved to Zagreb, where she got a chance to develop her professional skills as well as work on personal growth and interests. Ana’s first job was in an IT company where she found her calling as a part of the ReactJS frontend team. This provided her a very good background to continue working in the frontend realm, with skills that will be an excellent addition to GIS Cloud’s frontend development, combining technologies she knows well with new challenges. Ana’s outgoing nature and friendliness make her a great addition to the GIS Cloud team both during and after work hours. Her determination and resourcefulness in dealing with professional challenges are a great fit for the team as independence and flexibility are some of the key values emphasized in the GIS Cloud company culture. During off-hours, Ana enjoys watching movies, playing guitar, listening to a wide range of music, or simply having a beer and watching a game, especially when her favorite club, Hajduk is playing. Welcome, Ana! For more information on the GIS Cloud team, check out our [Careers](https://www.giscloud.com/careers/) and [Team](https://www.giscloud.com/team/) Pages. Related content: New Member Joins GIS Cloud Team: Welcome Mario Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud Meet Us At FOSS4G 2016 In Bonn! The added dimension of location – this is where it gets interesting: An Interview with our Mobile Apps Architect GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Career, developer, Frontend --- ### [GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-educational-workshop-with-indigenous-mapping/) **Published:** February 16, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** ### Introduction to Field Data Collection Empowering the Everday Workflow With Online GIS ### [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Indigineus-Mapping-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Indigineus-Mapping-cover-s.png) We are thrilled to announce that we have partnered with the [Firelight Group](https://firelight.ca/) for an **educational workshop session** on their [Indigenous Mapping Workshop](https://www.indigenousmaps.com/) platform, the largest international geospatial conference for Indigenous Nations and organisations on Indigenous-led geospatial research. Firelight Group and its partners are committed to developing and advancing geospatial opportunities for Indigenous Nations and organisations. GIS Cloud had numerous educational workshops with NGO’s, nonprofits and associates from around the globe in the past, and we are pleased to have the chance to support the Indigenous Mapping Workshop as well. The workshops’ general intention is to introduce the diversity of GIS Cloud apps and how easy it is to empower people worldwide with GIS knowledge. The educational workshop session – **Introduction to Field Data Collection** is coming up on: **February 25th, 2021. – 1:00 PM EST (6:00 PM UTC)** If you wish to participate in the session you can [Join the Indigenous Collective](https://network.indigenousmaps.com) and register for the workshop! Learn how to create unique projects and **custom forms** to perform field surveys and share them with your team in real time! We will also teach you ho to **review and export** the collected field data. With our [**Mobile Data Collection** ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/)app, you can work in the field **online and offline** to expedite your everyday workflow. You don’t need to be a GIS expert, our apps are user friendly, and the courses will help you discover the great potential of using an online GIS platform in your everyday workflow. In this course, you will learn all about the **fundamentals of GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection (MDC)** app and **field collection** to **transform** the workflow of your project from paper to digital and get insight into a **complete solution** for field data collection, team management and map visualization. This educational workshop session’s primary goal is to promote the initiative of creating meaningful mapping projects that contribute to the Indigenous Collective worldwide. We would like to encourage and motivate you to engage in your communities’ positive development using modern-day online GIS technologies. We will also **sponsor the best** Indigenous Collective participant projects with GIS Cloud **subscriptions and services** based on the following criteria: - Community impact - Realisation potential - Applicability of geo-technology (GIS) in the project Once again, we invite you to **join the Collective**, connect with Indigenous cartographers and mapping experts from around the world and participate in this educational workshop session. For more information, please contact the [Indigenous Mapping Platform](mailto:info@indigenousmaps.com) or [GIS Cloud](mailto:info@giscloud.com). Related content: Visit GIS Cloud Booth and Attend Collaborative Mapping Workshop at GEO Business Show 2017 in London Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, courses, data, data collection, data visualisation, Education, field data, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, indigenous, Indigenous nations, local government, local governments, Map Editor, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, Smart Cities, workshop --- ### [Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-illegal-landfills-in-the-city-of-zagreb/) **Published:** February 28, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** *This use case describes the project done by a GIS student Morana Labović, who collected data on the illegal landfills in Zagreb to create an interactive map for raising citizen environmental awareness.* [![GIS Cloud Waste Management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Waste-Management-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Waste-Management-1.jpg) Due to the increasing quantity and its harmful effects on the environment, waste is one of the most significant environmental problems of the modern world. Waste management is one of the vital factors contributing to the development cleaner, safer and smarter cities. Many processes are involved in effectively managing waste. GIS Cloud can assist in collecting spatial data and the direct use of these data for further analysis and cartographic representation. ## **Illegal waste dumping in Zagreb** The location chosen for this project is the City of Zagreb, the capital of the Croatia. [With the demographic growth of Zagreb](http://www1.zagreb.hr/zgstat/documents/POPIS%202011/GZ_stanovnistvo_kucanstva_stanovi/Popis2011_GZ_StanovniciKucanstvaStanovi.pdf), the amount of waste is also increasing. There is also an insufficient number of landfills along with problems in finding an adequate location for new landfill sites which should be spacious enough, but also in accordance with environmental protection criteria. The waste is illegally disposed at several locations in the city. Such unregulated disposal locations that are not intended for disposal are called dumps. Dumps indicate that there is still insufficiently developed citizen environmental awareness, and there is also a great danger of pollution of soil, surface, and groundwater and represent potential sources of fire. Directly and indirectly, they affect human health and other living organisms. Therefore, people should be educated about the harmful effects of illegal dumping because raising environmental awareness is the best way of preventive action to avert the occurrence of illegal dumping. The questions behind field research that resulted in an interactive map were: How much illegal dumping locations, in fact, we have in the city? What are the most vulnerable locations? How to prevent illegal dumping in nature? ## **In search for a landfill management solution** In the city area, new dumps are appearing every day, and a large amount of them are being reported and being taken care of. According to the Zagreb Holding report, in 2014 and 2015 in the Zagreb area there were over 1200 dumps. To report illegal dump sites, citizens needed to make a call to Zagreb Holding City Cleaning branch and provide information such as time, date, location (approximate address) and type of waste. Using these old data collection methods, doing paperwork and adding data manually to a map for more than 1200 locations across the city, was an impractical and imprecise solution. There are some potential solutions that will do the job, but the idea behind this project was to find an alternative and a **more efficient way to collect and organize data** that can be handled by anyone, even non-GIS expert, and that will work even in offline conditions. All of that data needs to be visualized because it is easier to understand a large amount of visual data in the form of the map than to try to make sense of spreadsheets or paper reports. Environmentalists, associations for the protection of nature and other stakeholders may benefit from **a interactive map** by finding and analyzing spatial patterns, distributions and spatial relations in the field. Another challenge was how to **share a large amount of data to the public** so that we could raise environmental awareness. Updating and changing data attributes is slow when using GIS desktop solutions and sending data between stakeholders via emails, CDs or flash drives is inefficient and doesn’t offer real-time insights that allow prioritization of tasks. ## **Creating an interactive map of illegal landfills** The idea was to show the locations of illegal dump sites and to provide info on the addresses of recycling yards, working hours and contact number. GIS Cloud enabled data collection, visualization and publishing. It was also important to allow quick and easy update of the situation in the field in real-time. Cloud-based GIS platform enables the citizens and researchers to collect data in real-time with Mobile Data Collection. This data is instantly visible and visualized on a GIS Cloud Map Editor in a web browser, so there is no longer need to rely on GIS desktop software and paper reports. The web map data can be accessed using any device (mobile phones, tablets, laptops). With the help of their smartphones, citizens would also be able to log the location of the new illegal landfills with the corresponding address, GPS coordinates, type of waste and attach images if possible. In that way, data visualization helps municipal security guards to get more information about dumps and most importantly – about its locations which would certainly enable faster removal of such landfills. There is also the Offline Maps option for collecting data that was extremely helpful in some areas without access to the Internet. The interactive map was made using [GIS Cloud Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) while data was collected during field research using [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) with customized forms. Using field research and interviewing, **42 illegal landfills** have been located. Surely there are much more, but due to the inaccessible terrain, it is hard to locate all illegal landfill locations. Also, this was only a preliminary phase of the project, where the main goal was to assess the possibilities of field data collection and GIS Cloud for mapping landfill data. The interactive map displayed in the Map Editor, shows the content organized into three groups: 1. **a) Recycling yards** are marked with dark green signs. They are located in easily accessible sites which can be reached in a short amount of time and cover the area with a radius of 2-4 km. (Type of waste) 2. **b) Mobile recycling yards** are marked with light green signs. They are portable units accepting storage of up to 30 different types of pre-sorted waste including some types of hazardous waste. 3. **c) Illegal landfills** are shown with orange symbols. Most are present at locations outside the immediate city center. Knowing that in the City of Zagreb new dumps appear almost on a daily basis, having the interactive map enables quick and easy update of the situation on the field in real time, including new and updated information about recycling yards. Raising awareness on illegal landfills and their damaging effects on the environment is very important for termination of uncontrolled waste disposal. Furthermore, if the problem with the illegal landfills returns, it would be useful to extend the data collection with the crowdsourcing possibilities, so the citizens can easily report such sites in the future.[![Landfill](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/landfill2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/landfill2.png) Interested in using [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) or the Crowdsourcing app for your environmental project? Contact us [here](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Accessibility Map of Zagreb for Persons in Wheelchairs (Collecting Lines Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases, Utilities - Other **Tags:** collecting spatial data, crowdsourcing, data collection, environment, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, GPS, Illegal Landfills, interactive map, landfill management, Landfills, Map Editor, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, non-GIS, offline maps, raising environmental awareness, share data, Smart Cities, Waste disposal, Waste Management --- ### [Mapping The Most Popular Exhibits In Museums Across Europe (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-most-popular-exhibits-in-museums-across-europe/) **Published:** April 12, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Museums are central institutions for culture, education, and tourism, preserving history and art for generations to come. Interactive online maps can help people discover and navigate to the closest cultural attraction in the area. Scroll down and try an **interactive map of 140 most visited museums across Europe**, including their **famous exhibits**. ![Interactive map of museums in Europe](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Museums-in-Europe-cover-1024x597.jpg) According to the [Network of European Museum Organization](https://www.ne-mo.org/), a huge influx of tourists that museums attract highly contributes to local economies, allowing for ‘cultural tourism’ to grow as an industry. When traveling, people like to learn about the cultural heritage of the place they are visiting. Good maps act as ‘advisors’ on what to visit and help explorers find a nearby attraction of their interest. Unlike touristic books or catalogs, interactive online maps can provide a **real-time overview** and **quick access** **to the data,** which is why travelers often prefer them to paper manuals. Digital maps offer many nice features, like **adding extra components** to each location; a picture, opening time and other information which can be instantly updated. Having all this in mind, geography student Ivan Žokvić came to an idea to create a **map of the most visited museums in each country in Europe** and their **most famous exhibits.** **How to find data to create a map from home?** There are a lot of public data sources you can find online. For his mapping project, Ivan obtained official records on the most visited museums from [EGMUS](https://www.egmus.eu/en/) (The European Group on Museum Statistics) and combined them with the ratings available on [TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/). To add value to the map, Ivan created a large **spreadsheet database** with **different media files**, containing a photo of each museum, its most famous artwork, and a unique museum fact. He also added a link to the museum’s website. Some museums often need to change information on working hours, entrance fees, special exhibits or artwork relocation. That is why it was essential to have the right tools to **quickly and easily update map information**. **What tools were used to upload and update the data?** For this project, Ivan needed a tool to simply create a map, link **additional information** and **media** to spatial data, and **share it** **with the public**. GIS Cloud [Map Editor ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)proved to be the perfect solution to upload and visualize location data, classify museums by a chosen category and add attribute information (websites, images, etc.). [Open the map and explore unique exhibit facts here. ](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/850213/map/850213/museums-of-europe) It was very easy to organize collected data, and the map was finished in less than a week. To display a database of **140 museums in Europe** on a map, Ivan used GIS Cloud[ geocoding](https://geocoding.giscloud.com/) tool. With **Map Editor**, you can sort collected data by specific attributes. Museums have been categorized according to their type; a historical museum, an art museum, an ethnographic museum, etc., each represented with a point symbol of different color and size. Exploring the map, you will also notice 10km and 50km **buffers** around museums, aimed to help make quick traveling decisions to visitors on the road. If you want to share a map with the public through a fully customized interface with specific colors, logo, and title, you can use [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) brand your app. In this case, standard GIS Cloud branding was applied. The map of museums can be a valuable resource for the general public, museum professionals interested in presenting their work online, and educators who want to provide information to school groups. Using GIS Cloud apps, you can create your own map easily, even if you had no previous experience with mapping technology. Want to try it for yourself? Sign up [here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Mapping Advertising Assets on Trash Cans (Use Case) GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** art, data classification, geography students, history, interactive map, Map Editor, Map Portal, mapping, maps, museum, use case --- ### [Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/live-user-story-ngo-maps-out-entire-liberia-and-brings-clean-water-to-every-single-person-webinar/) **Published:** March 27, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Join our next webinar, a live user story about an amazing [data collection and management project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-is-radically-transforming-non-profit-interventions-around-the-world/) realized in **Liberia, Africa**, with the initiative and organization of our webinar host [Darrel Larson](https://givecleanwater.org/meet-the-team/), International director for Sawyer products and founder of the Give Clean Water non-profit organization. [Register](https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9096157831683141378) below for April 12th. ![Mobile data collection and data management process demo](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MDC-Darrel-Webinar.jpg) **Learn how nonprofits joined forces to map out entire Liberia to reach a unique goal: bring water to every single resident by December of 2020!** Water pollution is the number one cause of water shortage and one of the biggest problems of the modern world. For instance, almost 50% of Fijian population didn’t have access to clean water before this initiative several years ago. Some of us living in the cities take drinking water for granted, while **others can’t even imagine having everyday access to drinkable water.** You will witness a first-hand experience from a nonprofit organization who worked with another nonprofit, [The Last Well](https://thelastwell.org/) and together they found a way to deliver clean water to those in need. ### **Data collection and data management demo** Darrel will share his Liberia project two years in making, from **project creation and funding to data collection, data reviewing, data management, and upscaling to more people and teams working with data.** - How did they come to the ambitious idea of bringing water to the entire nation, with limited funds? - How did they [collect data](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) about clean water shortage? How did they[ train and organize field teams](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/), people with no previous experience with GIS? - What kind of data did they collect and inspect? - What did they do after the first round of collecting data? How did they [track the delivery of water filters](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and what health benefits did data show after a short period of time? - How did this change people’s lives? **Webinar time and date:** **THURSDAY, APRIL 12th at** **8 am PT 11 am ET 5 pm CET (4 pm UTC)** [**REGISTER HERE**](https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9096157831683141378) You will get answers to these and many more questions in a live story presentation and a [demo of the project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-is-radically-transforming-non-profit-interventions-around-the-world/). We will show you **custom forms** used for the **collection and inspection**, and a **map with the overview of combined data** from different forms, which allows **analysis and further decision making**. Data also provided rock-solid grounds for further **project fundings**, which allowed to expand plans and project to help more people. You will be able to ask Darrel about the project and the solutions he used to achieve his goal. [Register](https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9096157831683141378) for a free webinar on **Thursday, April 12th** and learn how [NGOs, nonprofits, and other organizations can benefit ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/improving-non-governmental-and-non-profit-organizations-through-smart-mapping-solutions/)from intuitive data collection and data management solutions, get funds and help communities around the globe. Related content: Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) Mapping Water Taps to Ensure WASH Infrastructure and Safe Drinking Water for the Entire Population of Kumba (Cameroon) GIS for Water Utilities: Efficiently Mapping Water and Sanitary Infrastructure GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Case Study, data managenent, GIS, GIS Cloud, Give Clean Water, Liberia, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, user case, webinar --- ### [Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-handicap-parking-and-other-assets-to-improve-the-mobility-of-people-with-disabilities-case-study/) **Published:** October 25, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** A group of enthusiastic and engaged geography students wanted to recognize and enable people with disabilities in the City of Zagreb. To achieve this goal, they devised a project **‘Mobility for everyone’**, focused on **mapping the city infrastructure that helps people with disabilities**, resulting in a publicly accessible map portal. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mobility-map-cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mobility-map-cover.jpg) Students Lucija Dreven, Katarina Plancutić, Mateja Crneković, Martina Kušan, Morena Varga, and Mateo Grdjanić from Zagreb, Croatia applied for GIS Cloud contest last year and their project idea was recognized as a valuable endeavor, winning free licenses to execute their plan. They envisioned this project with a goal to **collect all relevant data** in the city which facilitates daily activities of people with disabilities. Read their report. ## Mapping Project: ‘Mobility for Everyone’ For people with disabilities performing everyday activities within the city requires significant effort due to traffic jams, lack of supporting infrastructure, lack of specialized building access, and so on. It is imperative to help them in overcoming these difficulties. This is especially important for the City of Zagreb due to lack of data regarding the existing infrastructure. Our idea was to gather data regarding the location of handicap parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities as well as locations of public institutions and to present it using an interactive digital map. We have applied our project proposal for the “GIS Day Contest 2017” and were awarded third place. We were therefore given free access to GIS applications for gathering, processing and visualizing spatial data on maps, intended for use by people with disabilities and those who are helping them in performing everyday activities. ## Planning and Organization of the Project The goal of our project is to help people with disabilities in their everyday activities within the city limits. To get acquainted with problems faced by people with disabilities, we’ve devised a specialized questionnaire which we sent to various associations as well as directly to people with disabilities. By analyzing the feedback, we’ve decided to limit the area, to be covered by the project, to 4 city districts: Donji Grad, Trnje, Trešnjevka Jug, and Trešnjevka Sjever. We’ve discovered that there is a lack of specific information regarding the **location of parking spaces** reserved for people with disabilities and have decided to address this problem through our project. ## Data Collection Process Using Mobile Phones The most time-consuming activity was mapping out the required data using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application on our smartphones. **A simplified interface and automatic GPS tracking** greatly added to the efficiency and precision of our data gathering activities with Mobile Data Collection. We’ve divided the spatial and other specific data into several categories: - handicap parking spaces - financial and health institutions - shops - associations - institutions. By splitting into 3 teams, each consisting of two people, we divided the 4 districts into smaller, more manageable blocks. After two and a half months of mapping and data gathering, we’ve **mapped out 800 points**, of which 500 were parking spaces. We significantly improved our organizational skills with efficient teamwork. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mobility-map-2-1024x511.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Mobility-map-2.jpg) Since the data gathered with Mobile Data Collection was immediately available for editing, we began our work editing data using the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) shortly after our field mapping activities. This flagship GIS Cloud app for data editing provides many data operations, as well as styling symbology and data analysis. There was a certain amount of redundant data which was easily corrected or removed. Since the most relevant data was that on parking spaces we highlighted them using a given symbol and mono-colored gradient while other objects were marked with circles of various colors. Briefly, work in Map Editor provides the most creativity for cartographers and GIS analysts. ## Sharing Maps With the Public to Aid People With Disabilities Our goal was to allow people with disabilities to easily access data on parking spaces and other information of interest to facilitate their mobility around the city. For end-user sharing, we have chosen to create a public [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) using our map as a basis, a simple app which enables featuring more maps in one place. Due to advanced but simple data settings, zooming into a map enables better visualization using data optimization. We also branded the portal with a color and a logo. [**Open the ‘Mobility for everyone’ Map Portal interface.**](https://handicapparking.giscloud.com/) The significant advantage of the Map Portal is that the data can be filtered, which simplifies the work with a map. However, since the data overview was already straightforward, we didn’t have the need to include a filter on a map. Working GIS Cloud applications we learned they are characterized by simplicity and ease of use, and without GIS Cloud, our project couldn’t be realized. Finally, the users of the mobility map can shorten the time and planning of their activities, and thus the map portal facilitates getting around the city. We are glad that the project has come to an end and that we have contributed to public well-being, and we hope it will make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, improving their mobility. If you want to try GIS Cloud mapping solutions and complete a project of your own, [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start mapping for free. Related content: Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Advertising Assets on Trash Cans (Use Case) GIS Cloud Track – New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh to Improve Healthcare Interventions GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases --- ### [GeoMeetup Zagreb - Shaping the GEO Community in 2018](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/geomeetup-zagreb-shaping-the-geo-community-in-2018/) **Published:** January 10, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** After a very successful GeoMeetup series in 2017, we’re entering the new year full of optimism and enthusiasm! ![geomeetup zagreb January networking gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/GeoMeetup-Sijecanj-1024x680.jpg) With your great support and interest, the GeoMeetup platform is growing in numbers and quality of the program. Our goal for 2018 is to position the platform as a central place for gathering experts, companies, and individuals in the GEO industry. For that matter, we are planning to introduce some novelties. In addition to classic lectures, we look forward to exploring the community’s interest in organizing workshops and forums on various topics. The GeoMeetup platform is constantly looking for **new lecturers**, so we encourage you to apply by filling out [the form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ7Xj05URhIDKio0laAr_QvgX1Mpdh-7G2DpfsR9FIBr6-Pg/viewform). In the last GeoMeetup, we had a chance to listen to **Alen Berta** who held a lecture on the ‘Sentinel2 multispectral satellite images and their application in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and ecology’. **Andrija Antolović** gave a talk on the ‘National Protection and Rescue Directorate GIS system – Fire and explosion hazards mapping in the Republic of Croatia’. The presentations are online and available for download at this [link](https://drive.google.com/file/d/17g5hOS8Mpf3OpaY3LzfhwLhjCaAwzYKQ/view?usp=sharing). **Agenda for the GeoMeetup in January 2018** Join us at the next GeoMeetup meeting organized by [GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com), sponsored by [GDi GIS Data](https://gdi.net/). At the **Faculty of Geodesy** on Wednesday, **January 17, 2018, at 18 PM.** Participation in the event is free, but a **registration is required** on the [link](https://www.meetup.com/GeoMeetup-Zagreb/events/246612159/). Opening lecturer in 2018 is **Tomislav Tesla** from GDi GIS Data, who will hold a lecture on **‘ArcGIS Platform in Action’**. In addition to the lecture, Tomislav has prepared a **challenge** where you have a chance to win a valuable prize. Read more information about the challenge [on the GeoMeetup event](https://www.meetup.com/GeoMeetup-Zagreb/events/246612159/). The second lecturer is **Mario Miller**, a professor at the Faculty of Geodesy (University of Zagreb), who is going to share with us the principles of management, preparation, analysis and pre-processing of spatial data. He is going to tell us more on how to validate the accuracy of the data and how to prepare a database for further analysis, in a lecture **‘Traffic Accident Database – Do’s and Don’ts’** **[Register for the GeoMeetup Zagreb event here.](https://www.meetup.com/GeoMeetup-Zagreb/events/246612159/)** Related content: Join Us For a GeoMeetup in Zagreb on October 4th COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Geo Community, GeoMeetup Zagreb, GIS, GIS Cloud, GISCloud --- ### [Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cutting-administrative-costs-with-online-maps-for-lewis-county-case-study/) **Published:** April 3, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![interactive map portal lewis county](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-map-portal-lewis-county-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-map-portal-lewis-county.jpg) Lewis County is a small community located in the State of New York. Its county officials wanted to create an **online mapping system** so that the public and businesses get easy access to public data (cadastre, tax maps, utilities, zoning, etc.). The idea was to implement an online solution that would be both affordable and of high quality at the same time. They found both of these values in GIS Cloud along with the WOW factor for the public who can now find all data online without the need to visit the county’s office. We did a short inquiry with Lewis County, asking them about how their workflow improved since using GIS Cloud apps. Following their remarks, we will tell you a story about this successful collaboration. ## **Using Public Maps to Deliver Data to Citizens** For the city management, it was essential to **lower the costs** of the administration process, as well as for Lewis County, which wanted to advance the existing mapping solution to improve administration. By enabling open access to information for the public, like cadastre and utilities, they had both reduced expenditure and improved the complete administrative process. [![interactive map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-map-portal-1024x503.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-map-portal.png)Explore the interactive map portal [here](https://lewiscountyny.giscloud.com/). The main objective was to enable data collecting for county employees. Primarily, they needed an easy-to-use data collection application. Secondly, the existing software solutions didn’t offer them the ability to cooperate on maps while in the field. And finally, they needed an interactive map portal to display multiple layers for various purposes, like zoning, wetlands, mobile railways and other utilities. You can view the Lewis County portal [here](https://lewiscountyny.giscloud.com/). In short, Lewis County wanted a software tool to help them with: - easing the administration process and lowering the costs - providing an easy-to-use data collection tool to improve the workflow - ability to collaborate on the map - having an online map open to the public with a minimum cost - ability to add a large amount of data to the map [![interactive gis portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-gis-portal-1024x513.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/interactive-gis-portal.png) The interactive map portal you can view [here](https://lewiscountyny.giscloud.com/) > “We have replaced an outdated mapping software with GIS Cloud. Not only does GIS Cloud have up to date aerial imagery and many formats to choose from but you can also bring your data and in large volume as well.” – Lewis County ## **The GIS Cloud Mapping Solution** GIS Cloud provided a software solution for Lewis County which included [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), [GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/), [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). Here are some insights about our software solution from Lewis Country: - **data collection** solution for a **better workflow**: *“Collected field data is automatically uploaded into the cloud. It makes it very easy to add data points on site and provides us with a continuous workflow in the field and office.”* - **integration** with other software and data formats: *“Using the GIS Cloud Publisher extension is an easy way to maintain the Lewis County NY cloud map when editing on other software platforms.”* - excellent **collaboration and sharing** tool: *“Another great thing is collaborating and sharing private maps in the Map Editor with others before they are published to a public map for everyone to view. It’s efficient because we don’t have to print out a dozen maps for each person.”* - data publishing solution for **public use and community engagement**: *“With GIS Cloud Map Portal, the public can customize their maps by a mouse click. County employees can utilize the private maps and data collecting to streamline their daily routines.*” *“No longer do taxpayers have to go to our office and gather data for their property or pay for a tax map that is not customized for their needs.”* Interested in GIS Cloud mapping solutions? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and schedule a live demo. Related content: Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases --- ### [GIS Cloud Expanding to Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-expanding-to-brazil/) **Published:** July 18, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This May, GIS Cloud team sponsored and participated at the[ MundoGEO#Connect Latin America](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-presentation-at-mundogeoconnect-latin-america/) conference in São Paulo, Brazil. We were extremely busy at our booth in the exhibition space, where a lot of attendees from different industries have shown interest in collaborative mapping. As a result of the MundoGEO#Connect conference, [99GEO](https://www.99geo.com.br/), a company specialized in mapping, aero-photogrammetry and topography has become **an official reseller** of GIS Cloud solutions in Brazil. [![MundoGEO Connect and 99Geo Brasil](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/99GEO-partner.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/99GEO-partner.jpg) In the words of Igor Farkaš, Business Development Manager at GIS Cloud: > The MundoGEO conference and the success we had there gave us confidence that Brazilian market is ready for GIS Cloud solutions. We are excited to expand our presence in Brazil with the help of our local partner and we’re certain that our existing and future clients will benefit from having a local support and GIS Cloud applications in the local language. 99GEO will work on promoting and distributing GIS Cloud solutions in Brazil, which also includes technical support and consulting. For our Brazilian, and other Portuguese-speaking users, this means **that technical support is now available in Portuguese in different time zones**. Because of great interest in the government sector, GIS Cloud also decided to **release pricing in local currency** which will help government organizations adopt GIS Cloud solutions without any restrictions. For more information, send us an e-mail at and visit GIS Cloud [web page in Portuguese](http://br.giscloud.com/). **Interested in becoming GIS Cloud Partner?** Visit our [Partners page](https://www.giscloud.com/partners/) where you can find the contact details. Related content: Showcasing the GIS Cloud solution for precision agriculture at AgTechDay-Brazil Maintenance of Sugarcane plantations in Agriculture with Copla-GIS mapping solution (Brazil) GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017 Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil GIS Cloud Presentation at MundoGEO#Connect Latin America **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** 99Geo, Brazil, GIS, GIS Cloud, MundoGEO#Connect, Partnership program --- ### [Webinar Recording: Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-fighting-electricity-theft-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** September 19, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** We bring you a **success story about fighting electricity theft**. Our guest is Uche Anyalewechi, Manager for GIS projects at Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. He explaines how he utilized GIS Cloud to fight electricity theft in Nigeria. [![Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with gis cloud (webinar recording)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Fighting-electricity-theft-in-nigeria-with-GIS-Cloud-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Fighting-electricity-theft-in-nigeria-with-GIS-Cloud.jpg) The webinar is based on a [user story from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/) based in Nigeria, who started a large project to prevent the electricity theft. They utilized GIS Cloud to **map the entire electrical network system**, index the customers and update the billing database. The webinar also brings the **QA with Uche Anyalewechi** where you can learn more about all the technicalities regarding the mapping workflow and GIS set-up. ## We Have Covered These Topics: **Electricity theft project overview** A short introduction about the ‘Assets Registration & Customer Enumeration’ project. **Mapping the entire electrical network** They used the Mobile Data Collection app to collect data on substations, transformers, and electric poles, as well for the customer indexing purposes. **The data collection workflow** Learn more about the complete field workflow – from data collection and visualization to sharing data with stakeholders. **GIS solutions utilized** EEDC subscribed for several GIS Cloud applications. Learn more about the specific features for every app. **Project cost optimization** Each application can be purchased separately, for any number of users, which was necessary for the optimal cost management because there were many sides included in the process. Related content: Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) GIS Cloud Solutions for Electric Utilities: Webinar Recording Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at GEO Business Show on May 24th](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-gis-cloud-workshop-at-geo-business-show-on-may-24th/) **Published:** May 23, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud team is currently at the GEO Business Show in London, the annual geospatial event that takes place at the Business Design Centre from May 23rd to May 24th. [![GIS Cloud workshop in London 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GeoBusinessShow-Workshop.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GeoBusinessShow-Workshop.jpg) Tomorrow, on **May 24th at 9,30 am**, our team will hold a workshop demonstrating GIS Cloud collaborative mapping solutions in the **Facility No. 5.** This is also a chance to get **an exclusive preview of some of our most recent developments**. Workshop attendance is free. You don’t have to sign up to attend the workshop, just turn up on the day. In the meantime, we are very busy at the **Booth K5**, where you can meet our team, try out our solutions and get a GIS Cloud T-Shirt. [![GIS Cloud team in London 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-GeoBusiness-1024x617.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/GIS-Cloud-at-GeoBusiness.jpg) **Want to meet with us at the GEO Business Show 2017?** Schedule a meeting by sending an email at geobusiness2017@giscloud.com Related content: Visit GIS Cloud Booth and Attend Collaborative Mapping Workshop at GEO Business Show 2017 in London Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 Attend Free GIS Cloud Workshops in Australia (Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Demonstration, exclusive preview, Geo Business Show, GIS Cloud workshop, London --- ### [Collect Data Without Internet Connection - Offline Maps](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/why-offline-maps/) **Published:** June 10, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Offline Maps for Android and iOS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Offline-maps6-750pix.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Offline-maps6-750pix.jpg) Numerous **field collection** and **maintenance** workflows **seek offline conditions**. Whether there is no internet connection or the GPS signal around the area is low, bringing all of the mapping data offline is a huge advantage in different environments. **Offline maps** feature helps you to deal with unexpected situations by providing you to access your maps in case there is no GPS or internet connection. Offline maps **downloaded** and stored on your tablets or mobile devices, ready and accessible whenever you need this option. This can also be a helpful feature in certain areas where it is expensive to use mobile data. Many users rely on their mapping data to be **accessible all the time** outside of the office. By making their projects accessible through mobile devices and tablets in all conditions. This ensures the most efficient workflow and enhances collaboration between teams. All of the GIS Cloud apps are in sync with each other providing you a **full real time servic**e and the ability to **collaborate even in offline mode**. Offline maps support all types of vector layers, but for now, rasters are not supported in the offline mode. Basemaps that are for now supported in the offline mode are: - Open Street Maps - Mapbox Streets - Mapbox Light - Mapbox Dark - Mapbox Satellite - Mapbox Satellite Streets All other basemaps will be converted to Open Street Maps. Once you collect the offline data with the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application, it can be found in the **queue** section. Once the device is connected to the Internet, the collected submissions will be **immediately sent** and **seen instantaneously** on a map in the [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) or [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application. **Mobile Data Collection** is our flagship app for various types of fieldwork and data collection. It is utilized by users from numerous industries, such as [roadwork](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/roadwork-maintenance-and-consulting-with-online-gis-and-power-bi-integration-case-study/), [healthcare](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/covid-19-surveillance-and-community-mapping-project-using-a-real-time-web-gis-platform-in-philippines/), [water](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/), and [electric](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-and-planning-of-electric-distribution-network/) utilities, etc. who work in offline conditions most of the time. With **Map Viewer** you can access all of the data and projects in real time to collaborate with your team and make decisions that can be instantly resolved on the spot! **Map Editor** allows you to edit and analyze the data, prepare the workflow and surveys that need to be performed by the teams in the field or in-office. Offline mode is really simple to use. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline1-606x1024.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline1-606x1024.png) Once your device is connected to the internet, you just need to tap on the Offline maps button and download your map. When the size of the map and last modified date appears, the map is ready for offline collection! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline2-607x1024.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/offline2-607x1024.png) If you are interested more in our **Offline Maps feature**, please [Contact our Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and they will help you set up the **perfect workflow** for your needs. Related content: Offline Maps for Mobile Data Collection and Map Viewer Released QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app Collect data in only 5 steps! New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Android, bad internet, Cloud GIS, data visualisation, GIS, GIS Cloud, GPS signal, internet connection, iOS, Map Editor, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, no connection, no GPS signal, no internet, offline maps, offline maps for mobile, online GIS, weak GPS, web GIS, work in offline conditions --- ### [GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-is-radically-transforming-non-profit-interventions-around-the-world/) **Published:** March 23, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** **An Interview with Darrel Larson (Give Clean Water Initiative)** Darrel Larson, as a chairman and founder of Give Clean Water Initiative, shared his experiences and daily challenges working with a non-profit initiative. Read about his insights on the game-changing role of GIS in his area of work and how technology is becoming more and more accessible to non-experts. He is currently leading GIS data collection process in Liberia which involves country-wide county surveys, tracking thousands of drilled wells, and tracking the distribution of over 100,000 clean drinking filter systems. [![Liberia Give Clean Water](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-2-67_tonemapped-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-2-67_tonemapped-s.png) What used to take hours, days, weeks or even months – to share data through handwritten forms, then transferring them to Excel worksheets, now can all be shared in real time using GIS technology. The power of this technology is radically transforming the efficiency by which non profits can deliver life changing interventions around the world. **Introduce yourself, the Give Clean Water Initiative and your mission. How did you come to the idea for the Initiative?** My name is Darrel Larson, and I’m the founder and chairman of the board for Give Clean Water. Since 2008, we’ve been providing a sustainable clean drinking water solution for the people of Fiji in partnership with the Fiji Ministry of Health. I’m also working as a consultant for Sawyer Products, the maker of the Point One water filter system that is used around the world. I’m teaching other non-profits how to use the Sawyer water filter in a sustainable way, while incorporating GIS training to track projects around the world. In 2008, I was looking for a place to do a clean drinking water project, since contaminated water consumption was one of the biggest problems in the world. I chose Fiji because I had a great relationship and network of people there. Our goal has been to give clean drinking water to everyone in Fiji. **What projects are you currently working on? What are the accomplishments that you are most proud of so far?** I’m currently working on the clean water project in Fiji, and also a big project in Liberia, Africa. In Fiji, we work directly with the Fiji Ministry of Health to determine the villages that are most vulnerable to contaminated water. Once identified, Give Clean Water uses GIS software to mark village households, collect water source data, and track water related health problems. We follow up with households at the 2 week, 8 week, and 1 year mark to document changes in health and sustainability of the project. In Liberia, I’m part of an effort to give clean drinking water border to border, in every household, by December of 2020. The opportunity to work on this project was a direct result of the successes we’ve had in Fiji. I’m leading the GIS data collection process in Liberia which involves country-wide county surveys, tracking thousands of drilled wells, and tracking the distribution of over 100,000 clean drinking filter systems. [![Liberia Water Filters](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-123.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-123.png) **How does your regular working day look like? Are there any interesting stories from the field you would like to share with us?** A typical day for me involves developing and fine tuning GIS data forms used to execute the projects in Fiji and Liberia. I also create the training materials for all the non-profit teams that are involved in water filter distribution. I work directly with a non-profit called The Last Well, who is organizing the Liberia effort. I help them to map out progress of that project, and to train and support the teams that are installing the water filter systems. I’m also actively involved in networking all the stakeholders together to ensure this collaborative effort can be achieved. I’m also helping to put together a big study with Johns Hopkins University on the effectiveness of eliminating diarrhea from children 0-5 years old. **What is the most challenging part of your work?** One of the biggest challenges of my work is working with different cultures and the behavior change associated with sustainability. Leading teams from different cultures presents many communication challenges. There are many teams involved in our projects who have limited cell phone coverage and limited internet availability. Language differences present challenges, as well as cultural norms and values. Another big challenge is working in partnership with some leading universities around the world on this project. We’re involved in a couple of scientific studies showing the efficacy of decreasing cases of diarrhea by using the Sawyer water filters. Working with a bunch of highly educated research doctors definitely keeps me on my toes. I’m always learning new things, which is good. **What is the role of new technologies in the Non-profit sector and initiatives? Do you think that much has changed in the way things are done because of recent technological advancements such as expansion of smartphones?** Technology is rapidly impacting the non-profit world in great ways. What used to take hours, days, and weeks, or months, to share data through handwritten forms, then transferring them to Excel worksheets, now can all be shared in real time using GIS technology. The power of this technology is radically transforming the efficiency by which non profits can deliver life changing interventions around the world. What is amazing is, even in the poorest countries in the world, everyone has cell phones. Smart phones and tablets are becoming more common and affordable. Because of that, things that would have once been impossible, are now very possible! The world is shrinking all around us. There was a day not that long ago that I could have never communicated with people in other countries. Now, they are my Facebook friends and I can use Messenger, Skype, and other technologies to communicate with people all around the world. It’s truly amazing. [![Liberia Water ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia2.png)“If I can set up the software, anyone can! That’s the beauty of it. I love the ease and power of this product! I sound like I’m doing a commercial for GIS Cloud, but I’m serious, this is one of the most intuitive products I’ve ever used.” **Using Mobile Data Collection is a part of of your fieldwork. How does this kind of software influence your daily decision-making and coordination with the team? Would you recommend similar approach to others who are working on similar field projects of non-profit initiatives?** Mobile Data Collection has changed my entire work process. What I love is the simple user interface. GIS Cloud has done all the heavy lifting of coding and made a very user friendly solution for me. I don’t write code, so after a lot of researching other GIS products, GIS Cloud Mobile Data Collection became the best solution for me. I believe there are huge opportunities for other non-profits to embrace this technology as part of their workflow. The ease of use, and the power of real time results, even off the cell or internet networks, is so powerful! The ROI a non-profit receives from this type of technology more than pays for itself. Once you use it, you would never want to go back. It would be like returning to the stone age without using GIS. Once non-profits recognize this value, it will become embraced world wide. **As somebody who doesn’t have background in geography and GIS, what is your opinion on the general benefits/importance of mapping technology in working on global initiatives in remote locations?** What I love most about GIS Cloud is that they do all the heavy lifting of the software coding. I am not a software engineer. I’m a project manager who happened to find out about the power of GIS technology. My challenge was, how can I harness the power of this technology without being an engineer. Then I found GIS Cloud. That was a game changer for me. Not only was the software solution perfect for a person like me, but it was affordable. What I have loved most though is GIS Cloud’s commitment to customer service. They are simply the best at it I’ve ever seen. If I ever have a problem in the field, or while developing a GIS form, I simply contact their premium support department and in less than 24 hours, usually much faster, I have a solution! I am separated by 8 time zones from GIS Cloud headquarters, so naturally there are some minor time constraints, but they are really good at what they do! Good customer service is hard to come by these days, so the GIS Cloud team is a breath of fresh air! [![Liberia Field Data Collection with Smartphones](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-4-FINAL-20.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Liberia-Day-4-FINAL-20.png) **Many influencers in the field claim that one of the most important trends in GIS software adoption is its democratization. Did you have any difficulties in setting up your project without previous experience in the field using cloud GIS technology and do you agree that it is a kind of software that could be used by anyone?** If I can set up the software, anyone can! That’s the beauty of it. I will say that not all personality types will enjoy working with GIS. For example, my wife probably would hate it. Haha! But if you like systems, and actually like getting powerful results with a few easy steps, then GIS Cloud’s solutions are for you. I love the ease and power of this product! I sound like I’m doing a commercial for GIS Cloud, but I’m serious, this is one of the most intuitive products I’ve ever used. **What are your plans for the future?** Right now, we’ve just cleared the first 67,000 clean water filters from customs in Liberia, so that project is about to be in full swing. I’m helping lead a clean water relief effort in Fiji as they’ve just experienced a direct hit from the most powerful cyclone ever recorded a few weeks ago. Down the road, I hope to take the systems we’ve created in Fiji and Liberia, and pass it along to other non profits around the world so we can see some dramatic life change happen in our lifetime! Follow Give Clean Water Initiative on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/GiveCleanWater/?fref=ts). Want to try out Mobile Data Collection for yourself? [Sign up here.](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) Related content: Learn about GIS Cloud Non-profit Use Cases at AidEx in Brussels (15-16 November) Mapping Villages in Southern Bangladesh to Improve Healthcare Interventions Mapping the Disease: Using GIS for Improving Malaria Interventions in Nigeria Discover the world of Geo-Marketing: FiDA & Co. Studios Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Fiji, GIS, GIS Cloud, Give Clean Water, initiative, Liberia, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, non-profit --- ### [‘Beyond Fieldwork’ Webinar Recording Available Online](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-fieldwork-webinar-recording-available-online/) **Published:** June 2, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last week we held [Beyond Fieldwork: What’s Next After Data is Collected? ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-fieldwork-whats-next-after-data-is-collected/)webinar, focused on adding extra value to field data through GIS Cloud apps. A recording demonstrates how to efficiently analyse, update and communicate using collected data. A recording also includes use cases and **a live demo** showing how to easily manipulate data in web based GIS system. Interested in more updates from GIS Cloud? Follow us on [Twitter.](https://twitter.com/GisCloud) ### Related content: - [Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/power-your-workflow-with-online-gis-apps-from-data-collection-to-collaboration-and-sharing-integrated-with-desktop-solutions-webinar-recording/ "Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording!") - [Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-in-the-railroad-industry/ "Webinar Recording: GIS in the Railroad Industry") - [Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management/ "Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management") - [GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/ "GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording)") - [Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/watch-the-tree-maintenance-made-easy-webinar-recording/ "Watch the Tree Maintenance Made Easy Webinar Recording") **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Beyond Fieldwork, GIS, GIS Cloud, live demo, recording, web based GIS, web GIS, webinar --- ### [The added dimension of location – this is where it gets interesting: An Interview with our Mobile Apps Architect](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/give-users-a-gui-to-interact-with-the-data-rinse-repeat-an-interview-with-our-mobile-apps-architect/) **Published:** July 4, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We talked to [**Nenad Filipović**](https://www.giscloud.com/team/nenad-filipovic/), our Senior Frontend Developer, and Mobile Apps Architect. He shared some insight into his daily work routine and shared advice to young developers who want to dive into the world of GIS and mapping apps. [![GIS Cloud Jobs](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Neno-intervju-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Neno-intervju-1.jpg) **1. Can you describe your regular working day and responsibilities in working with GIS Cloud Dev team?** Depending on the day, things I do range from developing new features on our frontend, to working on our mobile apps or participating in tech strategy meetings. Some days it’s just bug fixing. My schedule is rather flexible which means I have the freedom to dedicate my time and energy to tasks in a way I consider optimal. **2. How did you end up working with GIS and mapping apps?** My first job as a developer was in another GIS software company. I was still in college, and this was a just a part time job at first. I had the basics of programming down, but knew very little about cartography or GIS. Once on the job, my new colleagues began explaining how the stuff actually works and what it does and I was fascinated! I have always found data visualization interesting, and having data shown on a map surely beats a bar graph or a pie chart. I stayed with the company well after finishing my degree and then got asked to join GIS Cloud. **3. How did your work on GIS Cloud platform evolve through time, from the beginning to the point where you are now?** Starting out, I did almost everything apart from tinkering with the map engine itself. I’ve had a thing for JavaScript for quite some time, so over the years I’ve focused more on frontend part and I’m also doing most of the mobile hybrid work. Mobile Data Collection is probably the most important part I did for the platform. I guess Crowdsourcing will be next. **4. What technologies and tools do you use?** For me, it’s JavaScript as much as possible. The old platform is pure JS with jQuery, and now we use React with Redux. I’ve been using Sublime Text for years, but I am switching to VS Code. Oh, and Cordova and React Native for our mobile hybrid apps. **5. What is the most challenging part of your work?** With a platform so big, and so many tasks still in the backlog, I often find myself solving problems, not in the way I would prefer to. Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to write a perfect piece of code which handles all cases of a particular problem. Balancing the inner engineer against a real-life timeframe is something I am still trying to get a grasp on. **6. Are there any particular skills required or recommended for GIS developers? What would you recommend to young developers just entering the world of mapping apps?** There’s a lot of different stuff we do, and a lot of it has little to do with GIS. If you’re a software developer you’ve probably done this more than a few times: set up a database, apply some interfaces to have frontend and backend talk to each other, give users a GUI to interact with the data, rinse, repeat. And then there’s the added dimension of location – this is where it gets interesting and GIS-y. So, what one should do is take in the basics of cartography as soon as you can. Learn about geographic reference systems and map projections. Chance is you’ll never have to deal with the maths behind this directly, but it helps if you know it’s there. For instance, putting points on a map using their GPS coordinates is a piece of cake, but trying to determine how far they are from one another is not as simple as it sounds. Platforms and APIs can do calculations for you, but even then, understanding what goes inside them makes you better at using them. **7. What would you highlight as the best part of your work at GIS Cloud?** Once you get that whatever you do have a direct impact on the outcome of our product, YOUR product, you start the appreciating it. It still feels great to push out a new feature or an app or to squash a bug which was holding your clients back. **8. Being a developer, you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk, stuck to your computer screen. How do you achieve work-life balance?** I sometimes go camping, sometimes for a hike, at times I climb or go for a bike ride. Sometimes I go out and drink, go to a concert, listen to some music or play a game. I do this alone or with my girlfriend or with my friends. Not sure about balance, but it’s never boring. Related content: Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Orange County Interview – Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring Geomobiliti Inc. Interview – Using GIS Cloud in Railroad Industry **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advice for developers, Developer at GIS Cloud, interview, job, mapping apps --- ### [Orange County Interview - Fighting Droughts and Watershed Monitoring](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/orange-county-interview-fighting-droughts-and-watershed-monitoring/) **Published:** April 7, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** With the recent severe drought happening in California, we wanted to do an interview with one of our users from the area, Grant Sharp, Environmental Monitoring Section Manager with the OC Watersheds Division of OC Public Works in Orange County, California. We wanted to get his thoughts on the matter and find out what is the action plan for fighting it and see if GIS can be of any help. The entire interview can be accessed in the video below. **GC:** Could you tell us briefly what is your role in the Orange County? **GS:** The organization I work for is called Orange County’s Public Works and I manage the divisions called Environmental Monitoring and we are a division within the Environmental Resources Service area of OC public works. Our main job as a division is to collect information about the environment in the county, to provide a service of what is going on in the environment to residents and businesses. The ideas is to protect the environment in a better way, that is done in a way that supports wildlife, aquatic habitats, providing safe and healthy habitats for animals, birds, fish and humans to enjoy. **GC:** With the recent discussion in the media about the fact that California has one year of water left, do you guys in Orange County have an action plan to fight it? **GS:** What is going on in California is a very serious crisis and we are facing severe shortages in water supplies for domestic, agricultural, industrial, business use and so on. There is a strategy to do something about it and residents, businesses and local governments plays an important role in it. We all have to do our part to conserve water so a lot of environmental monitoring that we do is about the surface water. What we have seen is that with the drought a lot of people are cutting back on the amount of water that they are applying to their landscape area or their driveways and sidewalks. So basically they are starting to change their behavior and that is resulting in less impact on the surface water. We are definitely seeing improved conditions in environment because during the dry weather people are using less water which results in less pollutants ending up in the water which reflects on healthier streams, bays and harbors. So it hasn’t all been that bad, people are definitely changing their behavior, so there are some indirect environmental benefits from that change. **GC:** There have been some quite shocking meteorological statistical info, that this January has been the driest in the records history. Have you been monitoring and collecting the data that can justify this piece of information? **GS:** We monitor rainfall amounts for Orange County, and we just had a January and February with almost no precipitation. Another thing this draught is doing is that it is causing the people to look at the storm water or rainwater as a resource. Our infrastructure is designed so that when it rains most of the rain when it falls on the urban landscape, runs of directly into underground pipe and then from there it goes into a channel. It’s not used or treated as a water resource and so with the draught problems, it is causing the people to start looking into the storm water more as a resource of drinking water. And that is a good thing because people are looking into engineering ways to harvest and reuse water so it has a good impact on the environment. **GC:** Given that you rely on different methods of collecting the data, how do you see the importance of GIS in your everyday workflow? **GS:** In terms of being able to collect data from the field, GIS Cloud has provided a major benefit to our organization. It allows us to be more efficient and productive in terms of how we go into the environment and collect the information. We are able to record and document data in real time. It has helped us streamline our workflow and processes. We were able to convert what used to be done largely on paper and can now be done electronically with mobile devices. Once that information was in the GIS Cloud applications, it opened a lot of doors in terms of what we can do with that data. **GC:** What did your workflow look like before you started using GIS Cloud and how has it improved since? **GS:** We basically recorded info on a piece of paper, brought it back to the office and inputed the information into the database or an excel spreadsheet at which point you were still not able to do anything really with that information. So having the ability to push the data into the cloud in real time in the field has definitely made us much more efficient. **GC:** Do you use Desktop solutions together with the GIS Cloud? **GS:** Yes, the ability to integrate both GIS Cloud and Desktop had been a great asset as well. We can have people working on the desktop and then pushing the info to the cloud for everyone to see and collaborate on it. This especially comes in handy with working with our customers and clients or for sharing internally with our staff. So it becomes a very powerful tool for collaboration once you combine it with desktop. **GC:** Your data was in ESRI shapefiles prior to using GIS Cloud, so has transferring your data into the GIS Cloud been an easy road? **GS:** Yes, the transfer process has been really easy and that is another thing we really like about the GIS Cloud package. You can easily publish the existing data using ArcGIS Publisher. It publishes ESRI shapefiles to the GIS Cloud platform in only couple of clicks. The process for taking the existing data sets and converting them into usable layers in GIS Cloud platform is a very easy and a quick process. And because it is so easy and straightforward and while the entire system operates so fast, it has opened the door to a lot of our data that previously we didn’t have the use of. It has allowed us to explore datasets we haven’t explored before and to get more use out of the existing data sets. **GC:** In terms of customization of some of the apps to fit more your area of expertise, can you tell us from your own experience how did you find using the GIS Cloud’s API? **GS:** Yes, so we have used GIS Cloud’s REST API and it has been relatively easy to bring in real time data from some of our Remote Sensing equipment that collects rainfall and water level data from over 80 stations throughout the county. We were able to customize the map so that the data is being pushed to the map in real time. Our users are able to pull out charts and graphs of the historical data and export the data in various formats. So we are providing our customers with the current information they need, especially with everything that has been going on lately. They have a lot of interest in where it’s raining and so on and can get that information but also historical data as well. GIS Cloud has reduced the amount of time that we as an organization have spent helping people obtain that data. They are able to access the data themselves and download exactly what they need from any device. **GC:** You have used GIS Cloud for volunteer projects. What was their take on using the MDC app in terms of user friendliness? **GS:** We do a lot of volunteer clean ups where residents can come out and help collect the garbage and trash, preventing it getting into the environment. So we wanted to be able to collect the data on the trash that was being cleaned up. We did a crowdsourcing type of a project where the volunteers accessed the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app for the data collection and they all found the MDC app extremely easy to use. And once we had the collected data that the volunteers had sent to our map, we were able to continue using the data for different analysis. **GC:** With the GME shutdown, there has been a lot of discussion in terms of alternatives. Would you consider GIS Cloud to be a good alternative or as we like to say, simply a better solution? **GS:** I would definitely see GIS Cloud as not necessarily alternative but as a viable solution for anyone who looks to extend their abilities to manage and share data and collaborate. There are several things what makes GIS Cloud unique compared to other providers. First and foremost is the relative ease and simplicity of the platform is what sets GIS Cloud apart from every other application I have used. It doesn’t require a lot of training, you don’t have to sit through expensive online webinars to be able to use the platform. You can literally jump in day one and be able to develop content and collect data from the field. Additionally, I want to provide my employees with tools that will make them do their job more efficient and effective, and that is what makes GIS Cloud a very attractive solution. Another thing that sets GIS Cloud from other providers is the speed that the platform operates, there is no delay in caching layers even when it comes to large amounts of data. Whether you are on your desktop connection or mobile device you are able to work very fast. I would also like to emphasize that while these things are advantage, I don’t want to understate the fact that you can use GIS Cloud to do powerful analysis with large amounts of data. We have used GIS Cloud for integrating a lot of different data bases, data sources and data sets so that we can do powerful analysis by using the tools and features GIS Cloud provides. It helped us in decision making and how we manage our assets, so that is another thing that sets GIS Cloud apart from other providers. And the ability to integrate GIS Cloud with other desktop solutions as I had mentioned has been a tremendous feature when it comes to collaboration throughout our organization. **GC:** As a conclusion, what would you like to add? **GS:** We have been using GIS Cloud for the past 3 years and still use it on a daily basis, and we keep finding new and improved ways of utilizing the apps. It has helped us a lot in achieving the goals we he have set for our organization in terms of providing better services to our customers. So we really look forward in many more years of using it. **GC:** Special thank you to Grant Sharp who was kind as always to find the time and do an interview with us. ### Related content: - [Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-and-watersheds-monitoring-rainfall-in-orange-county-california/ "Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study)") - [Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/volunteer-watershed-cleanup-events-orange-county-ca-case-study/ "Volunteer Watershed Cleanup Events: Orange County CA Case Study") - [Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/benchmark-surveying-case-study-monument-inventory-in-orange-county-ca/ "Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA") - [Watershed Management with Cloud GIS ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/three-uses-of-cloud-gis-for-watersheds/ "Watershed Management with Cloud GIS") - [GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording) ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-water-resource-and-watershed-management-webinar-recording/ "GIS for Water Resource and Watershed Management (Webinar Recording)") **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Mapping the Italian Heritage - A Story about GIS Cloud Implementation for the Proditerr@ Project](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-the-italian-heritage-a-story-about-gis-cloud-implementation-for-the-proditerr-project/) **Published:** March 30, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Maria Laura Scaduto and Andrea de Tommasi told us about how they set up the [Proditerr@](http://www.proditerra.eu/) project, dedicated to creating a cooperative web platform for promoting the typical local food products of the Belìce river Valley in the Western part of the Sicily. [![Mapping Italian Heritage ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Agri-Food-Belice.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Agri-Food-Belice.jpg) The “[Proditerr@ Project](http://www.proditerra.eu/) – Products, Identity and Territory” started in September 2016, with an aim to implement a web GIS-based platform to describe, illustrate and promote the typical agri-food products of the Belìce river Valley, presenting it to a wider public across Sicily, Europe, and the World. The valley stretches across a beautiful territorial context localized between the three Provinces of Palermo, Trapani, and Agrigento, in the Western part of the Sicily. The project is lead by the Me.R.I.D.I.E.S. Association and funded by the Regional Administration of Sicily. It is a result of the cooperation of the Hospitality Training Institute „Virgilio Titone“ at Castelvetrano, Trapani, and the ‘Museums and Natural Areas’ Network, a cultural Association linking together many museums, protected areas and cultural sites of the Trapani Province. The Proditerr@ project is expanding to include more stakeholders such as public and private organizations as well as the local food producers and farms. The architect **Maria Laura Scaduto,** who is the president of the Association Me.R.I.D.I.E.S. and also acts as a project manager for the Proditerr@ project, together with the GIS expert **Andrea de Tommasi**, responsible for the web platform realization, gave us an insight into the project and its main challenges. **CHALLENGES** At this stage, the most significant challenge in the particular scenario of the Proditerr@ Project was to find a scalable and a cost-efficient solution that would cover different challenges. The scalability in terms of data hosting was very important in the perspective of a next desirable evolution of the project scope, its information richness and wideness of public and private contributors. Maria Laura Scaduto and Andrea de Tommasi wanted to find a web-based mapping system that would **be easy to customize** and use for creating layers with the information on agri-food products, farms, producers and cultural areas. The mapping projects needed to be **e****asy to set up and user-friendly** to students and experts from different fields. Except for scalability of the system and the ease of use, it was important to **enable data sharing and publishing in a short amount of time**. Having different multimedia options such as adding links, descriptions, and photos to a map was another important prerequisite. As the project also involves fieldwork done by students and teachers, having an option to easily **collect data using mobile and tablet devices in the field** would ensure that the location data would be thoroughly mapped. [![Mapping the Italian Heritage by Students](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/School-workgroup_duo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/School-workgroup_duo.jpg)Proditerr@ student workgroup for collecting data in the field Another important option was to be able to **integrate other software solutions** with the web-based mapping system, especially in the later stages of the project. **SOLUTION** In order to conveniently collect, organize and disseminate digital data and information, and also multimedia resources for the benefit of all different users of the Proditerr@ Project, the Me.R.I.D.I.E.S. Association has decided to design and implement a first prototype of a dedicated web platform. They have integrated the usual static contents of a basic CMS with web mapping modules for publishing web maps based on the GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). Maria Laura Scaduto and Andrea de Tommasi state that solution has been selected due to its **versatility for producing personalized interactive maps also for non-expert editors employed in the project**. Moreover, they said that > Within the specific scenario of the Proditerr@ Project, with respect to the available financial budget, a cloud-based GIS solution such as GIS Cloud has offered a ready-to-use hardware & software architecture, and a very suitable technical tool set and, at the same time, a very easy-to-use operative GIS system, that furthermore can be very quickly shown and easily shared with students and teachers participating in the project activities. Also, students used GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app for collecting new data about agri-food products, production areas, farms and producers, cultural sites and protected areas. GIS Cloud enables the Proditerr@ technical staff to integrate public base maps based on WMS services with local GIS resources and newly collected data directly written and archived on the dedicated partition of the online GIS Cloud repository. **The first results of these mapping activities are visible in the integrated preview offered on different web pages of the Proditerr@ platform.** [![Mapping the Italian Heritage](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Proditerra-platform.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Proditerra-platform.jpg) Within the Proditerr@ Project, the team uses the GIS Cloud Map Editor on a daily basis to build various responsive, personalized maps dedicated to the representation of agri-food production areas, localization and metadata publication of producers and farms. The maps also enable localization and metadata publication of cultural sites, museums, protected areas, new ones being added each week. **Plans for the Future** The Proditerr@’s team aim for the future is to expand the scope of the Proditerr@ web platform and its complexity in terms of GIS modules, digital contents and Open Datasets being freely accessible and usable by many different users and for various purposes. The next step in this process is to **integrate an e-commerce module with the GIS Cloud system** to improve the suitability of the platform for the benefit of agri-food producers and farms, and to create a smart marketplace for typical products of the Belìce river Valley. Interested in trying out [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to create your custom mapping projects? [Sign up here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Webinar Recording: Mapping Entire Liberia to Bring Clean Water to Every Single Person – NGO User Story COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) Restoring Mediterranean Dry Stone and Educating Public About Its Heritage Through Interactive Maps (Case Study) Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Andrea de Tommasi, GIS, GIS Cloud, Italy, Map Editor, Maria Laura Scaduto, Mobile Data Collection, Proditerr@ project --- ### [Successful Workshops Across US East Coast and FOSS4G as a Growing Platform for GIS Community](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/successful-workshops-across-us-east-coast-and-foss4g-as-a-growing-platform-for-gis-community/) **Published:** September 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** As you already know, this year at GIS Cloud we are focusing all our resources on reinventing our platform and making all our solutions even more intuitive, as well as adding some new features that will make a huge impact on different workflows around maps. [![foss4g-report](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report-1024x683.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report.jpg) That is why we decided to spend a significant amount of time presenting these solutions to our users, clients and partners across the globe. The annual [**FOSS4G**](http://2017.foss4g.org/) Conference which was held this year **in Boston** seemed like a good base for the US East Coast Tour. As FOSS4G supporters for a couple of years now, we have come to know that this type of event is a great platform to meet the community and users from many different industries who are in search of solutions for data collection and management, as well as ways of improving the efficiency of cities and organizations working with location-based data on a daily basis. FOSS4G is a conference organized entirely by volunteers, and we have to say, they did a great job. The first two days were reserved for workshops and other events, and there were many to choose from. Some workshops were introducing 3D visualizations, others were presenting different web applications, geocoder solutions and much, much more. [![foss4g-report2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-report2-1024x314.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-report2.jpg) GIS Cloud held a **“Real-Time Collaborative Mapping”** **workshop** on the 14th of Monday, focusing on different workflows around data and on collaboration using maps as a basis. Attendees gained **hands on experience** with our solutions which enable users to complete their project using a single platform, with apps that work together, from data collection and management, to data classification and analysis, to creating a unique custom application on top of the platform. They also got **a preview of the new GIS Cloud platform** and an innovative collaboration tool, **Collaboration Streams,** which allow for real-time communication, exchange of documents and photos, drawing, as well as discussion around features or a certain ‘map view’. [![foss4g-report1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-report1-1024x213.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-report1.jpg) We also seized the opportunity provided by FOSS4G’s hospitality and organized a separate **co-located event in Boston** on Tuesday: **GIS Cloud Training Sessions**. These sessions included a live demonstration of GIS Cloud Solutions for the entire workflow of an organization. On top of this, we had some time to present more about the company itself and to introduce real user stories and case studies in order to familiarize attendees with our vision and the impact of cloud-based GIS on organizations and communities worldwide. The next three days were quite intense and we spent most of the time behind the booth, introducing Collaborative Mapping to new users or catching up with the existing ones about new developments and plans for the future. There were many interesting **talks** during the conference and two of them were given by members of our team. Dino, our CEO, talked about **“Offline Maps Sync using SQLite”** to a full and curious auditorium, and Igor, our Business and Partner Manager presented a way of building an app without coding in his presentation **“Don’t Code, Configure: Turn Your Maps into Apps”**, which brought us some interesting future partnerships. [![foss4g-report3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report3-1024x291.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report3.jpg) We also had an opportunity to exchange experiences with fellow GIS exhibitors and to get a better grasp of the **GIS community**, whether during session breaks or at the many interesting social evening events FOSS4G organized for us, such as having draft beer at the Harpoon Brewery or mingling in the Boston Aquarium. Essentially, we all want to spread awareness about the many new mapping solutions on the market, especially in the cloud, and there are a lot of us dealing with similar challenges in our day-to-day work. [![foss4g-report4](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report4-1024x286.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FOSS4G-Report4.jpg) On Friday, FOSS4G wrapped up with an exciting invitation to next year’s conference in Tanzania, but our visit to the East Coast wasn’t over. We headed to New York State to meet up with users and clients, and to hold a few more workshops as well. On Tuesday the 22nd we had another **full hands-on workshop in Albany** at New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets. During the presentation we received many questions and were very happy for the interest and enthusiasm shown about our solutions. Due to many applications for the workshop in **New York State** we decided to organize one more in the north of the country, so on August 24th we held a similar **workshop in Syracuse** at the Syracuse Center of Excellence. New users were delighted to learn about the full array of possibilities GIS Cloud apps have to offer, and existing ones were enthusiastic about the new features we presented as a part of the new platform. We received great feedback from attendees of all the workshops and we are positive they are going to result with some great new partnerships in the near future. Related content: GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August COVID 19 Surveillance and Community Mapping Project Using a Real-time Web GIS Platform in Philippines Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Training Sessions On August 15th in Boston](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-gis-cloud-training-sessions-at-the-foss4g-2017-in-boston/) **Published:** August 3, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud is organizing a co-located Training Event alongside the [FOSS4G 2017](http://2017.foss4g.org/) Conference. Attendance is **free**, even for non FOSS4G visitors. It will be held on Tuesday, August 15th in **Boston, MA at the Seaport Hotel and Trade Center (Harborview 3) from 9 am – 3 pm.** You can register for the event below the schedule. [](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-Training-sessions-in-Boston-FEATURE.png)[![gc-training-sessions-in-boston](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-Training-sessions-in-Boston-1024x681.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-Training-sessions-in-Boston.png)[](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/GC-Training-sessions-at-FOSS4G.jpg) Learn first hand about cutting-edge mapping technology that enables you to collaborate in real time on a map, mobile data collection in offline mode, listen to technical talks as well as diverse case studies from different communities around the world. **GIS Cloud Training Sessions:** **9.00 – 11.00: Collaborative GIS Workflow with Comments and Attachments Related to Specific Features on Maps** Whether you are collecting data in the field or reviewing it instantly and sending information to your colleagues from the office, adding features or analyzing and making data driven decisions, you can do every step of your project within only one mapping platform. As a bonus, get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud Collaborative streams technology that will change today known workflows on a map and learn about how to make the use of collaborative mapping in different set-ups and use cases. **11.15 – 12.00: How to Use Offline Maps Sync to Efficiently Gather Data & Create Maps with Mobile Phones** How to use mobile phones and tablets in online and offline conditions to update and add new data to a map in real-time? Offline maps enable you to store large amounts of vector data directly on your phone or tablet device which can be rendered as a map in offline conditions. Maps can also be searched and queried providing you full access to your data. By using advanced syncing capabilities, you can get map updates on your phone that will use least amount of network bandwidth which can be useful when working in the field with limited network coverage. Learn about the benefits of offline maps technology and hear awesome user stories from all around the world. **12.00 – 13.00: Lunch Break** **13.00 – 13.30: Create Your Own Branded App on Top of a Powerful GIS Platform** Creating a custom mapping application has never been easier! Learn how to create a custom and branded app without having to write a single line of code in just a few minutes. **13.45 – 14.45: Make Your Own Branded GIS Crowdsourcing App – Complete Solution for Cities and Organizations** From custom forms made in a just few clicks to your own branded app for collecting data that you can deploy to your communities or organizations, review data, respond and act upon requests. With report enabled communities we can plan, transform and build the future together. **14.45 – 15.00: Closing Remarks, Q&A, and Mingle** Ask us anything you want to know about the development, features, and applications of GIS Cloud, chat and meet with our team after the session. The workshop attendees will get the trial access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution and City Portal together with an exclusive beta access to GIS Cloud new platform, and a GIS Cloud T-Shirt with cool new design. **REGISTER FOR THE SESSION HERE:** Name Company Email Related content: GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Collaborative Mapping, FOSS4G 2017 Boston, Training Sessions, workshop --- ### [Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attend-gis-cloud-workshop-at-foss4g-2017-in-boston/) **Published:** July 11, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Recently, [we announced ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-at-foss4g-2017-and-east-coast-in-august/)our participation and sponsorship at [FOSS4G 2017](http://2017.foss4g.org/), the largest annual geospatial open source event in the world. Among other activities such as conference presentation and exhibiting, **we will also take part in the** [**workshop program**](http://2017.foss4g.org/workshop-signup/). [![GIS Cloud at OSGEo FOSS4G event in boston](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GC-workshop-at-FOSS4G-Boston.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/GC-workshop-at-FOSS4G-Boston.jpg) **Dino**, our CEO, will hold a workshop “Real-time Collaborative Mapping with GIS Cloud,” scheduled for **Monday, August 14th** at the Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis in Cambridge, MA. > This workshop will highlight the importance of team collaboration using a map as a base for any workflow. You will be guided through all the steps, from creating an online mapping project, integrating your current desktop and client/server systems with the cloud, sharing map projects with your internal team, outside stakeholders or with the public using crowdsourcing capabilities. Emphasis will be put on innovative cloud-based collaboration streams that capture your daily activities on a map, from organizing your data to real-time team communication and messages. The goal is to enable complete map-centric workflows from start to finish that can be applied to any organization dealing with spatial data. The workshop is an excellent opportunity to not only master workflow in cloud apps, but also to see **an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud collaboration streams** as well as other exciting novelties. **Workshop Takeaways** - You will learn how to create a map in the cloud by collecting or importing data, how to style and edit your data and make reports, from the field and the office - Every participant will set up a data collection project and learn to create custom forms easily - You will learn how to collaborate on a map and speed up your workflow by – Making comments and discussing live directly on a map – Working simultaneously on shared data with your colleagues – Sharing and publishing your data – Integrating easily between desktop and cloud - You will learn how to create your custom Branded App Also, you will get: - Practical insight into value and use of cloud technology for your business or organization - An exclusive preview of GIS Cloud Collaboration Streams technology - Crowdsourcing Solution Overview - To meet GIS Cloud core team - You will be able to further develop your mapping projects on your own after the workshop - GIS Cloud Premium license(s), T-shirt, and GIS Cloud materials The number of seats at the workshop is limited, so hurry up and sign up [here](https://docs.google.com/a/giscloud.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq40YPxnjW8Up0SAUhstozwqfFcnJdgbgTreWbYAesBFOKLA/viewform?entry.109657788=113&entry.664662615&entry.1211738297). Related content: Visit GIS Cloud Booth and Attend Collaborative Mapping Workshop at GEO Business Show 2017 in London Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at GEO Business Show on May 24th GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Boston, FOSS4G 2017, workshop --- ### [Copy Symbology - New Feature Release](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/copy-symbology-new-feature-release/) **Published:** February 15, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Copy Layer Style cover image](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover-2.png) When it comes to data visualization, we can all agree that it takes a while to classify the data just the way you want it. Don’t get us wrong, this is an essential part if you want to get the most out of your maps and make them more presentable to the others who will be viewing them. But this doesn’t mean that you have the time and resources to re-do this on every layer on your map, or maybe even on multiple maps. For that purpose, we have developed a great new feature that will help you copy the style from one layer to another in a matter of seconds. Check out our quick video and learn how to improve your mapping skills now: For a step-by-step guide, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-copy-layer-style/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at and we can help you with data visualization in your projects as well. In the meantime, try some data visualization options yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** copy layer style, Custom symbology, data classification, data visualization, layers, New feature --- ### [Managing Recyclable Waste With Online GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/managing-recyclable-waste-with-online-gis/) **Published:** August 19, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Project-Cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Project-Cover.png) Our Partners [**NubiGroup** ](https://www.nubigroup.gr/)from Greece helped the “[***GreenPoint – Mob***](https://greenpointmob.eu/)” project collect the data on **mobile waste containers** in remote areas in different countries and **create a spatial database** on waste and recycling bins, as well as monitor the status of the “GreenPoint-Mob” containers. This significantly **improved waste management**, saving the project **time and costs.** “GreenPoint – Mob” is a **mobile waste container** consisting of smaller containers for different waste streams (plastic, paper, glass electronic appliances, aluminum, and organic waste). Fulfilling the operation **tender** was challenging on behalf of the Municipality of Nestorio in Greece because they needed an operational, easy-to-use **online collaborative solution without any paper workflow**. Also, they needed a fully synchronized application system that is **cost-effective and scalable** for their tender needs. With **NubiGroup** and [**GIS Cloud**](https://www.giscloud.com/how-it-works/) solution, they managed to **share collected data** and **maps with locations** of mobile waste containers to **non-GIS experts** throughout the project in different countries with a flexible **all-in-one online solution!** ### Table of Contents - [Building Recycling Awareness with Location Information](#building) - [Overcoming the Operational Challenges with Collaborative Solution](#overcoming) - [Benefits and Results of Online GIS Implementation](#benefits) ## **Building Recycling Awareness with Location Information** **NubiGroup** our [partners ](https://www.giscloud.com/partners/)from Greece create a new generation of geo-services, research, and products by **exploiting geospatial information and GIS Cloud solutions.** Their focus is on **providing geo-solutions** to the wider public and private sector. In this particular case, GIS Cloud applications were used to meet the requirements of the “***Development of a mobile Green Point (waste container) at the cross-border region, and promotion of prevention and recycling “***[***Green Point – Mob***](https://greenpointmob.eu/)***“*** project on behalf of the Municipality of Nestorio (project partner). The **main objective** was to Improve the management of recyclable waste (paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, batteries, used oils, electrical and electronic equipment, bulky waste, used clothes, and lamps) in the remote areas. The “GreenPoint – Mob” is a **mobile container** consisting of smaller waste containers for different waste (plastic, paper, aluminum, glass, electronic appliances, and organic waste). The reason for this idea is the need to cover recycling in distant and remote areas but also to reinforce the local citizens to [**start waste recycling through waste collection at home.**](https://greenpointmob.eu/green-point-mob/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bin-image-on-Map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bin-image-on-Map.png) The container will remain at each selected area for a necessary number of days following training activities for awareness through a strong information campaign and storytelling for the people. Improving **daily workflow processes,** with **real-time, collaborative** solution and **location intelligence** is going to increase the efficiency of the project and **reduce the costs** for individuals and stakeholders that NubiGroup consults and provides services to in this project. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Kostas-Green-Point-Workflow.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Kostas-Green-Point-Workflow.png) ## **Overcoming the Operational Challenges with Collaborative Solution** In the framework of this project, GIS Cloud applications were used to develop a **spatial database** on waste and recycling bins as well as to monitor the “GreenPoint-Mob” containers. The Municipality of Nestorio recognized the vast benefits of new technologies, especially **online GIS** for their upcoming project. They had earlier incorporated the GIS Cloud solution for the monitoring and management of municipal green spaces. The value of understanding the condition of their assets and field information in one place under a single solution helps with **tender setups and budget planning.** Transforming their everyday operations and workflow with online GIS helped with this particular project as well. **Reducing** the **unnecessary paperwork** for field data collection and inspection was crucial. Creating **custom online forms (surveys)** to facilitate the data collection in the field like collecting recycle bin locations with full descriptive information was achieved with [**the Mobile Data Collection application**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). It was really important to replace the messy paper surveys and provide **clear communication** and fast reaction between the teams, especially because the project is connecting different countries together. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Mobile-Data-Collection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Mobile-Data-Collection.png) All of the information collected was presented on a map with custom symbology in the the [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application Within the Map Editor, you can **create, edit, and manage geospatial data.** Unique ability to **share maps and projects** between different teams and project managers helped project managers to stay in sync and make fast and informative decisions. All of the actions in Map Editor and the Mobile Data Collection app are visible in **real time and synchronized immediately.** Easy and user-friendly applications within the GIS Cloud platform additionally helped bridge the gap between the GIS staff and **non-GIS experts** on the project. This helped them **save time and additional money** regarding the project communication and collaboration. That’s half of the job done already. ## **Benefits and Results of Online GIS Implementation** Single online GIS solution helped NubiGroup with: - Easy and efficient collaboration between international teams - User-friendly and accessible application from any device at any time - Scalable and flexible solution without the need for any hardware investment - Documented decision support - Real-time synchronization of the data All of the **existing and collected data** of bins, recycle bins, and green point mobile containers were easily accessible and visible to all project partners and managers through GIS cloud **Map Editor** and **Map Viewer** applications. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bins-Map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Bins-Map.png) The **collected data** on the project **can later be used for further analysis.** For example, the reallocation of waste and recycle bins based on different criteria like density, settlements population, etc. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Map-Hot-spot.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Map-Hot-spot.png) Also, the **location and schedule** of the “GreenPoint – Mob” containers are accessible and can be viewed through an **online map** that is shared with the project stakeholders. This helped with **predictive analytics**. Identifying and rightly scheduling all of the field and office activities is **decreasing any future costs**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Map-3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Green-Point-Map-3.png) With [**share and publish**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/share-and-publish/) options, maps are accessible to the stakeholders and teams privately and publicly, depending on your project need. There is also [**a full data report**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/report/) option with just a couple of clicks on the map. Maps bring an **easy visual language** to stakeholders and project managers, improving collaboration, and displaying project progression and results. Using a **location intelligence** to communicate the project inquiry and solve issues on the spot gives you a strategic advantage! GIS Cloud is a **fully scalable,** pay-for-what-you-use online platform with no desktop installation required. However, suppose you need **additional data control** and abide by internal security policies. In that case, the GIS Cloud system can be **installed on your servers behind a firewall** as an on-premises private cloud solution. You can **easily scale your app subscription**s at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for vegetation management projects, [**Sign up for the free 14-day trial.**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) You can also contact our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study **Categories:** Blog, Government **Tags:** Albania, Case Study, cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, data collection, data visualisation, field data collection, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, goverment, Greece, location intelligence, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, NubiGroup, online GIS, parnters, recycle, recycle containers, recycle mobile containers, recycle waste, use case, Waste Management, win tenders --- ### [Optimizing Operations with Online GIS in Sustainable Forestry (case study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/optimizing-operations-with-online-gis-in-sustainable-forestry-case-study/) **Published:** September 2, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Marija-Forestry-Cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Marija-Forestry-Cover.png) [Gozdno gospodarstvo Les](https://www.gozd-les.com/slovenski-gozdovi/slovensko-gozdarstvo/gozdno-gospodarstvo) from Ljubljana, Slovenia **manages over 2000 ha** of the estate consisting of **forests**. It is largely owned privately with few exceptions of company-owned forests. Using **online GIS**, they have **complete IT support** for their core business – planning, marking the trees to be felled, harvesting and selling the round wood. In addition, they spend **50% less time** **on orientation** in the forest, have **reduced errors by 90%** when locating their borders for marking trees process, and **increased control by 100%** over auction tree candidates’ location and habitat trees’ locations. **Marija Jakopin,** their **CEO,** told us that their business includes **manufacturing round wood and selling it** to resellers or end-users such as saw mills and local wood product manufacturers. They also manage forest cultivation, maintenance and construction of skidding trails, renting the grasslands to local farmers, etc, which they all now **manage in GIS**. For their everyday processes, they needed an adequate and precise GIS solution as an alternative to the slow and outdated Garmin GPSMAP 64 with uploaded forestry administration parcels. Using **GIS Cloud apps**, they obtained an **accurate location intelligence workflow** without paperwork and achieved **real-time collaboration** with different stakeholders and teams providing forestry services in Slovenia. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry10-duo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry10-duo.jpg) > *Now we no longer depend on paper, there are fewer phone calls describing to the harvesters/forest cultivators where and what has to be done, I don’t get lost in the forest anymore, there are no more situations where we mark the trees to be felled over our borders as we know where the borders are, we have a profound process and support for planning.* *Marija Jakopin CEO of Gozdno gospodarstvo Les* **Table of Contents:** - [Facing the Modern Forest Management Challenges](#facing) - [Finding the Right Online GIS Solution ](#finding) - [Transforming the Forestry Operations with GIS Cloud](#transforming) - [Reducing the Costs and Increasing Company’s Incomes](#reducing) ## Facing the Modern Forest Management Challenges Forest management dates back from the early 7th century with the German tribe known as Visigoths. They instituted regulations because they were concerned with the preservation of oak and pine forests facing an ever-increasing shortage of wood. Modern **forest management** as we know it today is a complex and broad range of objectives with demanding business criteria. From the provision of timber, fuelwood, natural and wildlife habitat, biodiversity management, to erosion control, and much more. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry3.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry3.jpg) The typical day at Gozdno gospodarstvo Les starts by communicating with the Slovenia forest service to obtain **permission for harvesting**. They **select the trees** that are later **felled**. On the locations where the manufacture is in progress, they **monitor** the **harvesting progress** and **coordinate** with round wood resellers where they measure and rank logs for shipment. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry8-Wood-cutting.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry8-Wood-cutting.jpg)[![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-duo-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-duo-1.jpg) Numerous **meetings with different parties** like grassland renters, hunters, neighbors, farmers, scientists, environmental organizations are just typical day-to-day activities for them. It’s all done in person or by the phone while doing the hard labor of field data collection and monitoring. Finally, when the fieldwork is done, they head back to the office to work on planning and accounting of the tasks. All of this work insists on a properly arranged workflow so that all of the business processes can be in sync and mutually correlated. Marija together with Gozdno gospodarstvo Les realized that with the help of **Online GIS** they can **maximize the value of their assets**, **improve forest management**, **reduce day-to-day costs** and **enhance communication** between different stakeholders and teams. ## Finding the Right Online GIS Solution With quite a few natural disasters that hit them in the past, like wind and ice breaks and bark beetle gradations, Gozdno gospodarstvo Les didn’t plan much ahead and needed to upgrade their forestry planning process. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-duo-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-duo-2.jpg) > *Our need for GIS started as soon as I joined the company (in 2017) as a CEO. There was no adequate digital geographical solution. The first problem was orientation, the second was planning and the third locating the borders of the estate parcels.* *Marija Jakopin – CEO of Gozdno Gospodarstvo Les* At the end of 2020 with a helpful reminder of a district forester, they felt a need for a long-term forest management plan. This was an opportunity to **implement a proper GIS solution** for the less appealing alternative – **Excel sheets** with incorporated geospatial data of forest stands. Finding the right GIS solution was an extensive and time-consuming research. The first solution they reached for was Google Earth Pro. They imported the parcels of the estate (in .kml format). The solution had no mobile version, so in order to see where they were in the forest, they still had to use paper maps. They obtained a device Garmin GPSMAP 64s, uploaded their parcels and all the forestry administrations (division of Slovenian forests in governmental forestry sections). The **GUI of the device was not easy to handle** and the display was poor. They were hoping to find an affordable solution that would support their planning, manufacturing and sales processes and would have a mobile phone app. They also reached out to local GIS manufacturers, especially because they covered Slovenia’s forest services processes. They found a local GIS provider with a substantial solution to automatically import Slovenia forest service documents and refresh parcels data, with a connection to Surveying and Mapping Authority to get fresh parcels data every morning. But as solutions like these are designed for large organizations, the **price was unreachable**! They needed an easy and scalable SaaS (Software as Service) solution, so they tried a couple of online solutions with a free trial. They decided to give a chance to Esri, but their solution was not as intuitive as one would expect. The .kml files (estate parcels) did not get imported, so they turned to their support. > *That was a show stopper, as the support was less cooperative to say at least. This experience showed me that Esri’s solution was too complex for us and had unpromising support.* *Marija Jakopin – CEO of Gozdno Gospodarstvo Les* Their next attempt were Google maps. The .kml file went through well, but there was the limitation of 10 layers and no locking feature for the layers. When they went in the field and tried to zoom in on a mobile phone, all they could get by touching the screen was the attribute table of the parcel they were standing in. There was also no possibility to structure the layers, so they had to scroll down through a couple of hundred parcels to get to the next layer in which they wanted to save some planning data. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-truck-duo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-truck-duo.jpg) The biggest challenge was to find an **adequate and affordable solution** for **sustainable forestry** and help them with long and short-term forest management planning! ## Transforming the Forestry Operations with GIS Cloud With the help of GIS Cloud, Marija together with Gozdno gospodarstvo Les transformed numerous daily workflows and operations. > *Finally, I found GIS Cloud, which was a relief. My ability to set the working environment and the processes were still a marathon, but the GIS Cloud support was awesome.* > > Antonija (Key Account Manager at GIS Cloud) helped me through the journey of defining the processes, setting the environment, educating me and my crew about the workflows. Her positive spirit, sense of humor, intelligence, and substantial knowledge about not just GIS Cloud solution, but GIS in general was inspiring and led us through to the point where we don’t even know how we managed to do our business without GIS. *Marija Jakopin – CEO of Gozdno Gospodarstvo Les* [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-1.jpg) First of all, **no more paper**. They are literally saving the trees! The starting point for their sustainable forest management operations is **collecting the data** in the field with the [Mobile Data Collection (MDC) app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). What drew them to the MDC app was the powerful but intuitive and user-friendly interface. Entering the data in the field in all kinds of weather and terrain conditions needs to be an easy task for the workers. Whether you are a tech guru or just a classic user, the MDC app can be optimized for your needs. In [Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) you can set work orders or surveys for different types of field jobs like foresters, harvesters, farmers, etc. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-Data-Collection-blurred.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-Data-Collection-blurred.png) One of the best features that **MDC** has for any vegetation management business is the offline mode. Vast forest areas aren’t entirely covered with GPS signal, so [offline mode](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/why-offline-maps/) really comes in handy. With MDC you can enter data along the way like walking down the forest and marking a beetle gradation instantly on your mobile devices. This **data is visible to harvesters and district foresters** **right away** in the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) web or mobile application. It is optimized even for non-professionals and enables you to access maps on any device in real time. Gozdno gospodarstvo Les even tracked their sales progress with GIS Cloud apps. There is no better way of understanding the data than through an **interactive map**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Map-Forestry-blurred-2-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Map-Forestry-blurred-2-s.png) As soon as the truck loaded the logs, the data on the rank of logs and their amount was entered in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). It supports a number of vector and raster formats, **rich GIS symbology** with built-in collaboration capabilities. **The apps are connected and always in sync.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-workflow.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry-workflow.png) For billing and other reports that the company sends to contractors, the **data about the work done has to be transparent**! Even the Slovenia forest service has to have traceable information about the removed wood from the forest. All of the data can be easily filtered through Map Editor Datagrid to help you understand it better. Now they no longer depend on the outdated paper workflow. > *I don’t get “lost” in the forest anymore, there are no more situations where we mark the trees to be felled over our borders as now we know where the borders are.* *Marija Jakopin – CEO of Gozdno gospodarstvo Les* With GIS Cloud, they have a profound process and support for planning and know the current state of the assets to **mitigate any liability** and redistribute the work more efficiently! Gozdno gospodarstvo Les also tracks the data about: - The forest cultivations (planning and progress) - Meetings with locations and notes, - Data about rental contracts of the grasslands, - Border markings - Candidates for special sales auctions that take place once a year - Trees dedicated for environmental purposes - Illegal felling and garbage disposal etc. ## Reducing the Costs and Increasing Company’s Incomes Considerable time saving and more control of what needs to be done is helping the services of Gozdno gospodarstvo Les to **reduce their costs and work smarter**. There are fewer phone calls with explanations to harvesters and forest cultivators where and what has to be done. They don’t get lost in the forest anymore and there are no more situations where they mark the trees that need to be felled beyond their borders. **Now they know where all of the forest borders are and they have a profound process and support for sustainable forest management!** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Forestry2.jpg) **They improved their day to day forestry activities** and got great measurable results: - **25 % less time on phone calls** (no longer need to explain to the contractors where the harvesting area is) - **50 % less time for orientation in the forest** - **90 % fewer mistakes** when marking trees for harvesting that are out of our boundaries - **100 % more control** over auction trees candidates’ locations and habitat tree’s locations - **existence of short and long-term planning structure** - possibility to show owners of the forest (their clients) where their estates lie In the future, Gozdno gospodarstvo Les will optimize and digitize all of their processes including automatically importing fresh parcels from Geographical authorities in Slovenia (GURS), and implementing a workflow for their contractors to report their daily progress directly within the GIS Cloud platform. GIS Cloud brought them a new and exciting visual language where **stakeholders and teams improve communication** and help prepare a better plan of displaying project progression and results. Identifying and rightly scheduling all the field and office activities in conjunction with cost optimization and customer reliability is **helping with the budget**. Using **location intelligence** to communicate ideas and solve issues in real time gives them a business strategic advantage! GIS Cloud is fully scalable, a pay-for-what-you-use online platform, with **no desktop installation required.** You can easily **scale** your app **subscriptions** at any time per your project needs, get new subscriptions or downgrade if your project scope changes. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for vegetation management projects,[ Sign up for the free 14-day trial.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) You can also contact [Antonija, our Key Account Manager](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) that supported Marija Jakopin – the CEO of Gozdno Gospodarstvo LES, to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study) Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Vegetation Management **Tags:** Case Study, data collection, data management, forest management, forestry, operations management, tree care, Tree inspection, Tree Management --- ### [Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change - WeForest (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beekeeping-and-reforestation-in-response-to-climate-change-weforest-case-study/) **Published:** September 16, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Cover_2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Cover_2.png) In response to **climate change**, WeForest promotes forest landscape and ecosystem restoration in their projects. As a part of the Katanino Forest Restoration Project, they provided an alternative source of income from forest-friendly activities such as **beekeeping and tree nurseries!** With the help of [**GIS Cloud**](https://www.giscloud.com/)**,** they **mapped** the beekeeping areas and regions of forest landscape restoration to **improve their everyday workflow**, **monitor the progress** , and **collaborate** on the project with farmers in real time! Table of Contents: - [Fighting the Climate Change with Reforestation](#fighting) - [Forest Restoration with Tree Nurseries and Beekeeping ](#forest) - [Mapping the Landscape with Online GIS](#mapping) - [Benefits of Real-Time Collaboration on the Project](#benefits) ## **Fighting the Climate Change with Reforestation** Building upon corporate and scientific partnerships, [**WeForest** ](https://www.weforest.org/)empowers communities to sustainably advance and implement innovative, high-standard, scalable, and lasting solutions to **restore forest landscapes**. WeForest project goal is to reach over **100 million trees** – equivalent to around 85 000 hectares – restored or conserved by the end of 2024, making a significant contribution to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. WeForest project started as an initiative to **respond to climate change**. In Zambia, WeForest promotes forest landscape and ecosystem restoration through social forestry projects that include community forest management and farm forestry. In this project, they also used a [GIS Cloud solution for mapping trees and tracking farming progress](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/weforest-increasing-efficiency-and-transparency-in-forest-restoration-process-with-gis-cloud/) Thanks to online GIS, they have been able to accomplish most of their vegetation management workflow approaches. The team is spread over Africa, Asia, and South America and 7 countries (Brazil, Ethiopia, Zambia, Senegal, Tanzania, Malawi, and India), sharing the same commitment for a better world. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-MDC_Farmer-recruitment_-Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpeg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-MDC_Farmer-recruitment_-Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpeg) All the forest-based projects under WeForest require a **higher level of skill and technology in data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation**. ## **Forest Restoration with Tree Nurseries and Beekeeping** One of the projects being implemented in Zambia is the **Katanino Forest Restoration Project** on the Copperbelt Province in Masaiti District. The project goals: - Protecting and restoring approximately 4800 hectares of the Katanino Forest Reserve. - Providing alternative sources of income from forest-friendly activities such as tree nurseries and beekeeping. - Hand management of the reserve over to the communities. - Shift to sustainable energy production and consumption to decrease the pressure on forest resources. In the absence of strong governance, Katanino Forest Reserve has been **heavily degraded** for charcoal production, agriculture, and timber extraction. WeForest is laying the groundwork so that local communities, with public institutions, can take over the management of the reserve. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Hanging-of-behives-in-the-mapped-farm-woodland_Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Hanging-of-behives-in-the-mapped-farm-woodland_Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpg) In addition, more than **900 farmers** in the buffer zone will **set aside at least half a hectare** each in their farms as restoration plots and take up income-generating activities – **mainly beekeeping** – to reduce pressure on the forest. > *“If the bee disappeared of the surface of the globe,* > > *then man would have only four years of life left”* > > *Albert Einstein* Through the beekeeping scheme that requires a farmer to set aside about 0.5 Ha of farm woodland for conservation, WeForest has managed to **increase the area under assisted natural regeneration**. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Hanged-Hive_Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-Hanged-Hive_Picture-by-Haggai-Mulenga.jpg) ## **Mapping the Landscape and Tracking Progress with Online GIS** In the past five years alone, **42% of the forest has already been lost** and another 18% heavily degraded. This trend is likely to increase if there is no intervention, while the needs of the local community living around the forest are growing. Current reforestation efforts in the area have been limited and restricted to small areas outside the forest reserve, mostly on private land. Farmers around the reserve are engaged in forest restoration and trained in agroforestry, using Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) in combination with enrichment planting of seedlings from local tree nurseries. The project aims to sustainably restore miombo woodland in the original forest reserve. They needed a **fast and responsive** tool for data acquisition, collection, and monitoring of the project. WeForest used the [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app to collect the data under forest landscape restoration. Creating **custom forms** for farmers and project managers to collect the attributes on **beehives** and **tree restoration areas** and **corner points** was crucial. They were able to obtain location intelligence from the data and send the same data in real time online. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Frame-769-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Frame-769-1.png) An additional benefit was the capability to collect and add photos that saved a lot of time with explaining what was on site. In some remote areas, they used the [**offline maps**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/why-offline-maps/) feature that helped them bridge the gap between bad connectivity and weak internet connection. They would carry out daily farm visits and collect appropriate data and conduct area mapping by creating polygons. To monitor the progress of the project, the visualized data on an **interactive map** in [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) was accessible from any device at any time. All of the data collected would be reviewed and edited for project purposes. This resulted in creating a **very required digital database** from which they were able to analyze the details and plan further progress. The carried out geospatial analysis with the collected data and with the help of the [Report feature](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/report/) created a clear visual overview. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Copy-of-MDC_ANR-Project-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Copy-of-MDC_ANR-Project-1.png) ## **Benefits of Real-Time Collaboration on the Project** **Online GIS** helped WeForest ease the transition from **paper to digital** without additionally training the farmers. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Copy-of-MDC_Mapped-ANR-Polygons-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/1_Copy-of-MDC_Mapped-ANR-Polygons-1.png) GIS Cloud’s user-friendly applications and no hardware investments were crucial to engage farmers and project managers. Flexibility to work **online and offline** if needed was a big plus on this project. Map Editor application enabled them to **share and monitor the data** with a large group of users and different stakeholders that **collaborated in real time** ensuring the transparency of the project. By creating custom forms they empowered the users with flexibility in data collection and presented an opportunity to track the progress of particular farmers on a project. Allows downloading of data that is compatible with software for further data processing. Being able to provide **remote sensing and spatial analysis** results such as **vegetation cover** **change** and **carbon stocks** in **real time** was helpful not only to present climate data and weather forecasting but to facilitate **wildfire monitoring** as well. Using GIS Cloud as the **go-to solution,** WeForest started improving the livelihoods of local farmers and people living in woodland areas. Through sustainable forest-friendly alternatives such as beekeeping and increasing forest cover, they were able to promote **sustainable forest management practices.** GIS Cloud is a fully scalable online platform with no desktop installation required. If you are interested in using GIS Cloud, [**Sign up for the Free Premium 14-day trial.**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Also, be free to contact our [**Solution Consultants**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management – Use Case WeForest – Improving the Forest Restoration Process in Zambia with GIS Cloud Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** arborists, beekeping, bees, climate, climate change, Cloud Data, data classification, data management, data managenent, data visualization, ecosystem restoration, environment, field data collection, forest management, Forest Preservation, forest restoration, forestry, forrestry, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, nonprofit, offline data, online data, real-time, reforestation, tree nurseries, use case --- ### [Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/manage-your-geospatial-data-live-with-gis-cloud-and-desktop-integration/) **Published:** November 18, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/URISA-Webinar-QGIS-REC.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/URISA-Webinar-QGIS-REC.png) **Spatial data integrity with WMS and WFS – setting up “Single Source of Truth” environments** Talking to our customers, we found that there’s a whole range of different users that benefit from having an online GIS system in place, but many of them still use a desktop GIS solution, such as QGIS for example, to supplement their workflows. It’s a perfectly valid setup, as those tools provide some more robust analysis and processing features used in anything from planning, to imagery processing, to statistics, etc. but lack the ability to properly **share the data** with a colleague, a different department, a client, and have it be open to feedback if needed. On the other hand, those that have been primarily using cloud setups wanted to take advantage of some of the more complex analysis features that are available on a desktop GIS solution, but still **needed to have access to the live data coming in from the field in real time.** **In both scenarios, the biggest challenge was how to keep the data intact and maintain its’ integrity in environments in which everyone needs access to the live data, on desktop and cloud, and need to work with the latest version of it in real time.** One simple solution that presented itself for both cases is to set up a **Web Feature Service** (WFS). WFS is a web service that provides **access to features stored on a server** and can be used for anything from **simple queries** to **adding, deleting, or updating features**, while also being supported on multiple platforms. By using WFS, your data can be stored in one location, but accessed and edited anywhere it’s needed. You can set up your own WFS server like Geoserver, that’s always an option, but you’ll need time, resources, and the know-how, and all that can get pricey – fast. We realized that some of our users simply don’t have the dedicated time to implement it and we wanted to help out, so last year, we set it up for you – all you have to do is create your map in Map Editor. The key benefits of using the GIS Cloud’s WFS feature to integrate your desktop and online workflow are: - **Single source of truth** for your data, which means you’re not working on copies or outdated information - Collaboration is simplified as your data can be **accessible on different platforms** - Regardless of where you’re working, you’ll always have **real-time information** - Access to data collection, editing, and other out of the box applications needed for online workflows [We can help](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) you set this up in a matter of minutes but if you want to see this in action first, take a look at the webinar session we held for the URISA team a few weeks ago where we discussed how to **integrate your desktop processes with the GIS Cloud platform**, and why you should use both. We talked about our **WFS server** capabilities and how you can use it to streamline your workflow, but also touched on our **QGIS Publisher**. (By the way, you can learn more about the Publisher and how to use it to start getting real time data into QGIS in our next webinar ‘**Turn Your QGIS Map Into A Data Collection Project**’ on November 30 – [**just sign up here!**](https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3FnCBW30Toi96uNR31YHBQ)) You don’t have to take our word for it – [create your GIS Cloud account and try it out!](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! GIS Cloud and Jal Technology at the Oman Geospatial Forum (April 10-11) PowerApps & GIS Cloud – New Integration Release! Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** data collection, field data collection, GIS Cloud, GIS webinar, Mobile Data Collection, online, publisher for qgis, qgis, qgis publisher, webinar, webinar recording, WFS, WMS --- ### [Unique Values in Data Collection Forms - New Feature Release](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-feature-release-unique-values/) **Published:** January 19, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![New feature release for Unique values](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cover.png) To further ensure the quality of the data you’re collecting in the field, we have added yet another feature to our [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) applications called **Unique values**! This feature enables users to avoid any duplicate data from being collected by defining which form items or columns in your table should have completely unique values. A great example of this would be setting up a unique value option for your **custom ID column** – something that many users have requested in the past. Of course, there are other use cases so to help you understand how you can start using this feature today, we have prepared a short video with a couple of examples: For a step-by-step guide make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-enable-unique-values-in-forms/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at info@giscloud.com and we can help you implement this feature in your project as well. In the meantime, try the feature yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! Multi Labels – New Feature Release Copy Symbology – New Feature Release New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Mobile Data Collection Update Release **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** custom ID, data collection, field data collection, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, new features, unique values --- ### [Field Data Collection: Best Practices](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/field-data-collection-best-practices/) **Published:** January 27, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Field Data Collection Tips and Tricks Article](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Cover-2.png) Every field project is a bit different in a way. Even if you’re working in the same industry and on the same site for years, there will always be something you’ll need to tweak and adjust to make it work. A big part, that’s pretty much always lacking, is the time and resources you get for the job. The problem is that you’re expected to deliver the same quality results as always but with less time and a smaller budget. And, the cherry on top, this time the project is even bigger. Crazy, but not impossible if you implement a couple of tweaks and make initial proper decisions. Here are the 7 suggestions on how to save time and money without sacrificing the quality of your projects that matter: ## **1. Don’t do it on Paper** This one’s obvious and, considering you’re reading this, you probably already agree. But, you would be amazed at how many organizations are still complacent with their paper workflow. To summarize, writing important pieces of information on a paper significantly increases the time it takes to collect the data on-site and transfer it to your data centers. Even if you have the time to do it like that, there’s a huge risk of losing the information entirely or, even worse, getting bad quality data that will end up causing you to make bad decisions in the future. In short, if you want to significantly save time and money, don’t do it on paper! ## **2. Make it Location Smart** Everyone has a device in their pockets that tracks their location so why not make the most use of it. Jokes aside, understanding the “where” of your data is not a commodity anymore but a necessity. It’s not just about the location of the information you’re gathering but also about its surroundings as that gives you additional insights about the location of interest. It improves the overall quality of the data collected, even if it’s not a requirement. But how does it save time and money for you? Well, read on! ## **3. Plan it on a Map** If you already deal with spatial data in your organization, then you know the perks of overlaying various information in a single place to understand it and plan better. And if not, then simply try using the list of addresses that you need to visit and place it on a map – it can give you a whole new perspective on the project costs. Information like what route to take to get to a certain destination or maps that show you the terrain and the surroundings of the site, can give you a better understanding of the time collectors will take to collect the data and the costs of getting to the destination and back. Placing existing data on a map significantly helps you to understand the scope of the project, prioritize your teams’ efforts, organize the schedule and predict potential risks certain sites have. In short, it’s a huge time saver and as such mandatory for projects that matter. ## **4. Make it easy for your field teams** It’s all about controlling every step of the process as much as you can to ensure the best possible results. And that’s not that easy once you send out your crew as they deal with different situations you can’t always predict which causes human errors which then results in bad data. The key is to create an environment for your crew in which they can’t make many mistakes. To ensure data quality use applications that enable you to control the following: - - Automatically reject incomplete forms that are missing values - Prevent data duplicates - Prevent collectors from typing random values - Show only the form items relevant to the collector - Share sensitive data with “read” or “write” permissions - Collect data like accuracy, usernames, and location without collector’s intervention There are more but this should be a good starting point. In addition to the above, features like the ability for collectors to navigate to a location of interest, pull up all the necessary information and documentation from the mobile device (preferably from a map) on the fly, and understand their surroundings on a map (especially important for projects that deal with assets beneath the ground) should also be considered as mandatory and must-haves. And last but not least, please don’t give your crew an application that will take them months to learn. It’s 2022 and it shouldn’t take more than an hour or two to fully adopt a new solution. ## **5. Do it in Real-Time** In today’s world, if you’re not online then you’re missing out. It’s the same with business environments in which you need to be aware of the ongoing processes in real-time. In a data collection sense, knowing which crew is where, in real-time, enables you to coordinate your teams more efficiently according to the new information you’re simultaneously receiving from the field. Online environments enable you to react to any unforeseen situations your crews encountered simply by providing them with a solution via the tool you gave them for data collection. That can be in the form of an additional object you put on a map (i.e. alternative road they can take or a missing permit for accessing certain zones) that will then be instantly visible to your crews, or by giving them feedback on the data they potentially didn’t collect or information that needs to be re-collected, all while crews are still in the field. Huge time saver! That said, offline data collection is just as important as there are still a lot of areas that are not covered by internet hotspots. Make sure your tool of choice works in offline environments as well as it does in online ones! ## **6. Be Fancy with the Results** You’ve done well with the data collection and got good quality results. It’s time to give your efforts justice and present it in the best possible way. Of course, you need to think ahead so when choosing the data collection tool, make sure you select the one that gives you the ability to present and deliver collected data in the best possible way. You should be able to deliver the results in preferred formats like excel, PDF, various spatial formats, or even map prints as these are the basics but if you want to go the extra mile don’t just send it over an email or put it on a USB stick (or hand over a stack of papers). Be proactive and impress your stakeholders by giving them access to a map with data that enables them to pull up their own reports for the data of their choice. Bonus points for giving them a live dashboard that shows the results in real-time. ## **7. Don’t Overkill it** Let’s say you agree with the majority of the suggestions above. The next logical question is: is there a solution that enables me to do all of that in that manner? Well, there is but you’ll need to choose what route to take with the resources you have on hand. There are plenty of desktop, cloud, or even hybrid solutions that can provide you with the tools you need. There are even open source options like QGIS that can reduce the overall cost. If you already have a mapping tool in place then to get the functionality above seek a cloud tool that can easily integrate with your existing system or at least give you the results in a format your current tools can consume. And for longer use seek a tool that gives you access to APIs for easier and faster integration into your existing systems. In case you don’t have anything at all or your app is not location smart, then you should always opt to go for a tool that doesn’t ask you to go to a university for four years to learn how it works or require you to invest thousands of dollars into the infrastructure first. Most desktop and client/server mapping tools require you to do that (even open source), so the solution you should go with is a cloud one that has the tools you need now, that will not cost you a fortune and that will be easy enough to learn and deploy in a matter of days instead of months. ## **We do all of the above and more** As they say, it’s easier said than done but, here at GIS Cloud, we do exactly this daily for many customers in different industries and with many unique and interesting use cases. We have built cloud-based tools by extracting the best out of the mapping world and bringing it closer to business teams to bridge the gap between the highly valuable but complex GIS systems and all the roles in the business organization: [**Mobile Data Collection**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) – a simple but extremely powerful application that enables you to create custom forms, control data access for your teams, organize crews and ensure the best data quality you can get. And most importantly, it gives you results the same day. [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) – advanced but easy to learn app for users that need more out of their data collection project. You can introduce advanced visualization, bring in your spatial data, create collaborative environments, integrate with existing systems, manage data, perform data analysis, and much more. [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) – ideal for clients and stakeholders that “only” need to view and query the data in an environment they can understand. If needed it can be white-labeled to give that extra edge in your projects that matter. There are many other products that when bundled together create a perfect tool so make sure to check them out. We’d love to give you a tour and set it up to fit your needs so don’t hesitate to **[**reach out**](mailto:info@giscloud.com) and we’ll do our best to help out!** Related content: How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** best practices, data collection, field collection, field data collection, field team, forms, GIS Cloud, Location, map, Map Editor, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, paperfree, planning, real-time, tips and tricks --- ### [Mini School: Map Data Visualization Guide](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mini-school-map-data-visualization-guide/) **Published:** February 1, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![Mini School for Map Data Visualization Guide](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cover.png) Unlike paper mapping, GIS provides a far richer and more flexible medium for portraying spatial data visualization. GIS allows us to interact with maps more easily and make more precise decisions and actions based on the representation of spatial data. When visualizing the data, it’s essential to keep in mind the person who will be viewing that map. Even though you understand your map and what you are trying to present, the end-user may have more difficulty understanding what you wanted to show. For the reasons above, we have decided to share with you our best practices and advice when it comes to data visualization. In the video recording below, you will learn about available visualization options in GIS Cloud, and hopefully, you will find inspiration and some tips and tricks to make your maps even more intuitive and easy to use. For step-by-step guides, make sure to visit our manual [here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/maps/). As always, we would be happy to hear from you, so feel free to send us an email at **hello@giscloud.com**, and we can help you with data visualization in your projects as well. In the meantime, try some data visualization options yourself by [signing in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/), or if you already haven’t, [create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and start using GIS Cloud today! Related content: Webinar Recording: Data Visualization and Classification (Hands-On Tutorial) GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County Spatial Visualization with Animated Graphs Using GIS Cloud Map Portal and D3.js Unique Values in Data Collection Forms – New Feature Release Field Data Collection: Best Practices **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** best practices, data visualization, easy to use, intuitive, manual, mini school, step-by-step, tips and tricks, video recording --- ### [GIS Cloud Track - New Product Launch! Tracking fleet, people and assets](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-track-new-product-launch-tracking-fleet-people-and-assets/) **Published:** February 3, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** ![GIS Cloud Track New Product Release](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Track-Blog-Cover.png) [**GIS Cloud Track – Get Early Access**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/) After many (many!) months of hard work, we are so excited to finally present our newest product: GIS Cloud Track! Having the location of your crews and assets in the field is one thing, but knowing the information on whereabouts, movement trends, and **the status of anything** **you manage** in real-time is a game-changer! That’s why we’re introducing a brand new product **created for managers**, who want to ensure the safety of their field crews, understand and optimize operations costs, to confidently base decisions on accurate real-time data from the field. With GIS Cloud Track, you only need a smart device (Android or iOS) to start getting insights and reports into the **real-time location of people, vehicles, fixed assets, and IoT.** The best part is, the solution is fully integrated with the entire GIS Cloud platform! This means that you will be able to use your custom maps built in Map Editor, as well as data collected with the Mobile Data Collection, as a basemap for overseeing your tracked items. We’re giving you early access to the new GIS Cloud Track solution, to apply **[visit the Track product page](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/)**. We can’t wait to hear what you think! Related content: GIS Cloud Track: Key Benefits of Real-Time Tracking Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud GIS Cloud Track **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** early access, Fleet and Workforce Management Solution, Fleet Management, GIS Cloud, Location, Map Editor, Mobile Data Collection, new product, real-time, track, tracking --- ### [Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-and-planning-of-electric-distribution-network/) **Published:** June 21, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** The electricity distribution system is one of the main parts of electric power systems. It’s important to transform existing systems and utilize the latest technologies to overcome issues such as power theft or poor distribution of power supply. Learn how the new line collecting feature in GIS Cloud can be of help in electricity distribution network management. [![electric-distribution-networ-use-case](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-Distribution-Networ-use-case-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-Distribution-Networ-use-case.jpg) The continuous growth of population followed by advancements and improvements in complex electric power systems has raised big challenges for **distribution network operators and electric utility engineers** to supply, assure and enhance power system sustainability and efficiency. The GIS Cloud mapping technologies play a central role in planning, management and monitoring operations within the electric utility information system were powerful visualization and analytics tools can resolve data accessibility issues and improve the decision making process. ## Critical role of GIS in the electrical Distribution system Electric utility companies need to have **two types of geographical information**: a distribution network containing crucial technical information and locations of numerous poles, power lines, circuits, transformators, facilities etc., and consumer and billing information with a list of existing customers, their locations and consumption details to determine the areas for a potential customer and network expansion. Utilities need accurate information on their asset inventory. Biggest problem electric utilities are facing is storing the historical data and updating it due to the real-time changes on the field. GIS Cloud technologies help utilities to manage relevant information about customers and distribution network with a perfect overview of the entire system visualized on a map. It can help utility engineers to **identify patterns of distribution, demand and consumption** to assess energy requirements needed to develop a profitable distribution system. Many developing countries that still use traditional methods for asset management are looking to implement GIS in their system and simplify the process of mapping, managing and monitoring the overall state of the entire distribution system. With Mobile Data Collection application field surveyors can collect new information about the distribution network and map exact locations of their assets. ## Mapping of electricity Distribution Network Implementation of GIS systems in field data collection projects starts with creating a geodatabase containing relevant information about assets in existing electrical distribution system. In many cases, existing data is stored in paper-based forms which don’t have much value when it comes to efficient management of operations. The main advantage of the GIS Cloud platform is the ability to map and link spatial and non-spatial data of the system to the **point, line or polygon drawings on a map.** Field operations managers create an online surveying form with different attribute fields such as voltage capacity of distribution line, installation date of a transformer, conditions and types of poles or geotagged photos and audio notes. If you have existing historical data, you can import them to GIS Cloud database in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to create **an official data repository of the distribution network**. In many cases, the data is stored together with coordinates. However, the locations about different parts of the distribution system can be collected just as an address and can be georeferenced and placed on a map with [Geocoder app](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-geocoder/). On the other side, you can start an entire **asset data collection project from scratch** and digitalize the electrical distribution system from electric poles, distribution transformers, power voltage lines and other assets in the electricity distribution network with [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/). The locations and details of cable routes can be collected in the form of line drawings on a map. With our newly developed feature in our MDC app, you can combine **GPS tracking and manual line drawing methods** to achieve maximum time efficiency and accuracy when mapping and managing large areas covered with the electricity distribution network. Field operators can do surveying projects to **update and correct the existing information** of distribution network in the shortest way possible. They can edit the location and attribute information of cable routes, electric poles and transformers both in the field or back in the office. The updates are visible in real-time thus giving a perfect insight into the data collection process for better control of the data quality. [![electric-distribution-map-mobile-data-collection](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-distributionMap-1024x681.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Electric-distributionMap.jpg) ## Planning and Expansion of electricity Distribution Network Extensive and continuous GIS surveying of electrical network together with consumer and billing information is providing utility managers with an improved operational and decision-making tools. Before making any kind of decision, utility managers are using the GIS database to answer important spatial questions such as where are the most suitable areas to place a new transmission line or where are the areas with most power outages and various system overloads. Continuous population growth and the expansion of cities demands for a growth of electric distribution systems. With GIS Cloud Map Editor, utility managers can create spatial queries based on the information stored in the database. By analyzing various parts of the distribution system, utility managers can identify areas with aged infrastructure, areas with overload in system components, areas with various system loading conditions and areas with frequent power outages due to the possible electricity theft. The insights from spatial analysis can help planners and engineers to improve the power supply and asset management, in the context of planning the new transmission lines or cables, resolve outages and improve consumer services. With **Map Editor**, you can analyse the electric distribution system and other essential parts of infrastructure such as buildings, roads and possible obstacles to highlight the areas suitable for construction and expansion of distribution system. Using **Mobile Data Collection** app, field operators can draw line features in highlighted areas and store them together with photographs and other relevant information for planning utility construction sites. With powerful search tool inside the app, you can access your data by typing in the ID number or any other attribute value. Utility planners can share the results to different stakeholders and communicate feedback to other vendors. ## Complete solution for utility workflow One of the benefits of GIS Cloud technologies is that there is no need for extensive education of your workers. The solution is implemented in your workflow immediately and it’s suitable for non GIS users as well as professionals. The option to collect line features in the field with **high GPS accuracy** and storing them in the database can increase time and cost efficiency of the entire organization as it offers more convenient way to collect data. The greatest benefit is the **real-time collaboration between top management and field operators** where maps and layers can be shared with different levels of access. [Sign Up for Free](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and setup your first line collection project for electric utilities with Mobile Data Collection app. Watch the GIS Cloud for [Electric Utilities webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-solutions-for-electric-utilities-webinar-recording/) where you can also see a live demo of the apps. Related content: GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud” Landslide Prediction Mapping for Safe Housing and Construction Planning Using GIS Webinar Recording: Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Use Cases **Tags:** accuracy, asset management, collaboration, collect lines, distribution transformers, electric poles, Electric Utilities, Electricity Distribution, field asset data collection, GPS, ID number, managing, Map Editor, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, monitoring, planning, polygons, power lines, spatial analysis, survey, utility --- ### [Turn Your Map Into a Cloud-based GIS App](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/) **Published:** July 23, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![gis app development](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-app-development-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-app-development-1.png) In this article, we’ll show you the fastest and easiest way to create an online GIS app with the App Builder. We’ll also weigh in on the benefits of online GIS apps over desktop GIS. If your company uses **maps and field data** daily, you probably have a person in charge of the data. In most cases, that person is a GIS or CAD specialist or an entire assets management department. And it’s common to have multiple streams of location data coming from field engineers, field workers, subcontractors, and others. All of this can equate to a mess of epic proportions, from errors when transcribing data to having problems with sending large datasets to clients. To curb these issues, **create an online GIS app** that acts as a central access point for all the data and also allows collaboration across the board. Sometimes you can find a ready-made app that fixes your workflow, but in many cases, it’s necessary to develop a web-based GIS application. The downside is that gis web application development is often just too much work. That’s why we’ve developed the App Builder and the Map Portal. GIS tools that allow you to create a web-based GIS app in no time, with **little or no coding**. Keep reading and learn what kind of heavy-lifting our geospatial platform is capable of and learn how to build and deploy a production-ready web-based GIS app **in just one afternoon**. ## **Is Desktop GIS a Sensible Solution for Collaboration?** Let’s start with an example. You have a colleague from finance or legal team to whom you want to share a parcel map so they can attach a legal or finance document to each parcel. If you’re using desktop GIS, this simple task can turn out to be **a lot of work**. And we mean a lot of work for the GIS/CAD specialist. [![turn maps into apps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/turn-maps-into-apps-1_sjena-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/turn-maps-into-apps-1_sjena-1.png)Toolbar from the most popular desktop GIS Sharing large geospatial datasets with clients and subcontractors can also be cumbersome. Your client may not have GIS skills or even a way to open your dataset. Not to mention that if the dataset is large, you won’t be able to send the data easily. Desktop GIS is a one-way channel for communication and collaboration. So it makes sense to get an online GIS app that helps everyone involved to collaborate seamlessly. ## **Using a Web-Based GIS App** With the App Builder, you can create an online map portal that any number of people can view, edit, or export data from. You can manage permissions for users and customize the map portal to fit your workflow. Also, it is really easy to create a branded application by personalizing custom UI elements and adding your company logo. Having **all data in one place**, available to all stakeholders, is the key to company-wide collaboration. Forget about transcribing data, field data errors and data scattered on several servers. The App Builder and Map Portal give you a chance to create and **try out the solution at no cost**. You can create an app and try it out for your workflow to see if it fits your needs. ## **How to Create a GIS App in One Afternoon** You can find the [App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/app-builder/) in our Map Portal app. As an example, we’ll showcase all of the features by showing you how to create a GIS application that lets you manage pothole locations in the city of Boston. Let’s start with setting up the app and choosing the domain. #### **1. Create an instance and choose the domain** First, you’ll need to open your [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) app and create a new app instance and name the app. You can use the default domain name or contact our support team to setup a custom one. Here you can also adjust the ribbon color and add a logo (you’ll be able to make changes later on). [![GIS application development](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-application-development.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-application-development.png) Hit Save, and you have your first GIS app template. The next steps explain how to customize the app to suit your workflow. #### **2. Add a map and customize the toolbar** You can add any map you already have in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) app. Just choose it from the dropdown menu. [![GIS app development - no coding](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-app-development-no-coding.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-app-development-no-coding.gif) Now you can customize the main toolbar. There are many options that you can turn on and off: - search - show/hide toolbar - Layer list - zoom to current position - zoom - zoom in - zoom out - view entire map - select - info - measure tools - area selection - print - show google street view - show scale - show coordinates The map toolbar is located just above the layers list. [![GIS app development - interactive mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-app-interactive-mapping.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/GIS-app-interactive-mapping.png) #### **3. Add custom tools to the top menu** The is one of the most powerful features in the App Builder and it makes GIS application development a lot faster. It allows you to create a tool and add it to the top menu (ribbon). In the picture below, you can see the tools we’ve added to the menu. They allow the users to filter through the data, make changes on the map, do buffer and hotspot analysis and export data. You can choose from many pre-made tools or create a custom tool by adding JavaScript code. All of these tools make it easy to deploy GIS applications daily, adjust them at any time, and have as many apps as you want. [![gis web application development](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-web-application-development.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/gis-web-application-development.png) Here are a few examples of tools you can create: - Add, edit and delete map feature - Export map or layer - Create an info window - Analysis tools (area, buffer, near, hotspot) - Spatial filter - Search box - Custom code Now that you know how to use the App Builder, it’s time for you to see a few real-life examples. Here are a few case studies that revolve around creating a GIS app with App Builder. [Crime Risk App – Carabineros De Chile](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/carabineros-de-chile-crime-risk-map/) [Creating a Hydrological Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-hydrological-map-portal/) [Dynamic GIS Solution for Firefighters](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/firefighters-of-chile-use-a-dynamic-gis-solution-for-strategic-planning-and-fieldwork-coordination-case-study/) There are endless ways you can customize your GIS app, so it’s best you explore the App Builder yourself. [To get started, contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/), and we’ll set things up in no time. Related content: Webinar Recording: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder Webinar: Turn Your Maps into Apps with App Builder 4 Main Reasons Why Governments Choose Cloud Based GIS Satellite-based leak detection solution from Utilis powered by GIS Cloud field data collection and overview system Webinar Recording – Turn your QGIS map into a data collection project **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** analysis, App Builder, asset management, desktop GIS, JavaScript, layer list, Map Editor, map export, Map Portal, online GIS --- ### [Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/tram-station-asset-management-in-the-city-of-zagreb-use-case/) **Published:** August 8, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** When waiting at the tram station, it can be bothersome if you don’t know when the next tram comes. Some tram stations in Zagreb, Croatia have a digital display showing information about arriving trams (their line number, direction and the estimated time of arrival). [![tram-station-management-gis-cloud-software](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tram-Station-Management-MP1-cover-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tram-Station-Management-MP1-cover.jpg) Geography student Matija Ostović decided to explore which tram stations in Zagreb have an information display or other assets, and create a [Map Portal](https://tramstations.giscloud.com/) to **help citizens get by in the city traffic jam**, also alerting city services on needed actions. ## Collecting field data with a smartphone The ideal solution for this kind of fieldwork is to use [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/) as it provides a fast and straightforward collection and inspection functions. Further analysis of collected data can be done in [Map Editor.](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-gis-cloud/) To collect information it was necessary to tour the tram stations of the observed tram lines. Assets included in the mobile survey were the existence of displays, shelters, benches and the map of all tram lines at tram stations. Tram stations with benches or displays were categorized by its condition and maintenance necessity. The first step was to **create a collecting project with an appropriate survey form** in [GIS Cloud web application](https://mdc.giscloud.com). It is important to emphasize that the form and structure of the project can be easily changed in every moment. The next step was **to collect the data in the field** using a mobile survey; for all the stations on tram lines 5, 6 and 8, that is 128 tram stops altogether. Those tram lines were chosen because they spread in all directions and include the busiest part of the city as well as the wider city center. The **collected data also includes photos** of tram stations provided by an advanced tool available in [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/). ## Visualizing the tram station data on an online map Fieldwork took about 20 hours, and after the data was collected, it was edited and visualized in GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-gis-cloud/). This application allows you to classify data by a particular attribute and display the differences between features in the map using different symbology. In this case, the goal was to have a simple overview of the classification by many attributes, so the perfect solution was the use of GIS Cloud [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/), where you can publicly display interactive maps. Using [App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/app-builder/) to create a Map Portal, it is possible to display up to 5 maps in a single portal, and quickly switch between them. For this use case, we enabled **switching between 4 different maps**: - map of displays - map of shelters - map of benches and - map of bench condition. It is now easy to see which kind of asset is available at a particular tram station. Click [here](https://tramstations.giscloud.com/) to open and explore the [Tram station Map Portal](https://tramstations.giscloud.com/). ![tram-station-management-gis-cloud-software](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tram-Station-Management.gif) Further on, in the [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) it is possible to filter features with the same values of an observed attribute on the map, e.g. in this case you can use filters to show only tram stations with a digital display, or only tram stations without displays. It is fast and easy to set up in Map Portal using [filter builder tool](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-set-up-filters-in-map-portal/). One more benefit is that you can make your maps publicly available with the Map Portal and also you can brand your app by setting the logo and a custom color of the ribbon toolbar using the [App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/app-builder/). ## The condition of tram station assets Some tram stations lack various assets. **The worst situation is in the area between the main city square and Črnomerec**, the final station on tram line 6, especially at the stations Slovenska**,** Mandaličina and Sveti Duh, where no additional assets are present. There is only the old pole with information on which tram lines pass through that station. Also, a concerning fact is that the tram station Zagrepčanka, situated on a large crossing between the Avenija Vukovar and Savska cesta, has none of the extra features; neither a display nor a bench nor a shelter in both directions. **People are often nervous when waiting at the station** Zagrepčanka in direction east (lines 3, 5 and 13) because the trams are less frequent and people wonder whether it is better to keep on waiting for the tram or to go on foot. The map of the tram stations with information about their assets can be **useful for many Zagreb tram users**, but also for the organizations responsible for maintaining tram stations**.** It allows them to see what they need to add, repair or replace to improve tram station conditions. Collecting data required a lot of effort because it was crucial to make a trip around the whole city, but the GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/) made the work a lot easier. **GIS Cloud apps are user-friendly,** and anyone with basic IT knowledge can learn how to use them. To learn more about GIS Cloud for Roadworks watch this [webinar recording](https://vimeo.com/172840939) on solutions for roadworks infrastructure and maintenance. Interested in trying GIS Cloud solutions for traffic asset management? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks, Use Cases **Tags:** App Builder, asset management, field data collection, filter, inspection, interactive map, Map Editor, Map Portal, Mobile Data Collection, survey, traffic management, webinar recording --- ### [Sharing Large Raster Maps and Drone imagery with GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-large-raster-maps-and-drone-imagery-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** September 4, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Sharing large raster maps and drone imagery with gis cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sharing-Large-Raster-Map-And-Drone-Imagery-GIS-Cloud-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sharing-Large-Raster-Map-And-Drone-Imagery-GIS-Cloud.jpg) We wanted to find out what is the greatest problem geospatial experts face when trying to share raster maps or drone imagery. So, last year we held a poll for a crowd of GIS power-users. Take a look. [![Greatest problem gis experts face poll](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/greatest-problem-GIS-experts-face-poll.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/greatest-problem-GIS-experts-face-poll.png) The poll from last year’s webinar about sharing rasters. **More than 50% of GIS users say that difficulty in sharing and handling large datasets is the most significant problem.** And it’s no wonder. Most companies only use desktop GIS software that shackles their ability to share rasters easily. On top of that, the raster maps and drone images are probably scattered on several hard drives, memory sticks or even DVDs. So, what’s the best practice to tackle these problems? We think it’s adding an online GIS solution to your current desktop set-up or moving entirely to cloud-based software. Keep on reading and learn how GIS Cloud can help you get there. ## **Have all your raster maps and drone imagery in one place** As you already know, raster datasets are large and probably stored on several devices. It is often the case in the drone mapping business, where the great potential of raster data [rarely reaches its true potential](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/the-challenges-of-drone-mapping/), due to its size. If you want to **share maps seamlessly** with collaborators and clients, they have to be located in one place, and that place is the cloud. Now, let’s see how you can get all your geospatial data centralized using GIS Cloud. To upload the data, you need to use the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), a central application in the GIS Cloud suite. The process is as easy as it gets: 1. 1. Create a new map 2. 2. Drag and drop a raster on a map (vectors also supported) [![Sharing raster maps drag and drop](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/sharing-rasters-drop-data-1024x581.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/sharing-rasters-drop-data.png) The data promptly visualizes and it’s ready for sharing and editing. You can also use this large rasters and drone images as basemaps. However, most GIS users have a lot of spatial data and need an option for bulk upload. By using the file manager tool, you can **upload significant amounts of data** in no time. Then just create a map and add the uploaded raster or vector data. When you upload the data and everything is set up, your dashboard should look something like this. [![Sharing raster map with map viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sharing-raster-map-map-viewer-1024x614.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sharing-raster-map-map-viewer.png) As you can see, the maps are neatly laid out and ready for sharing. ## **Collaborators and Clients can view the raster maps online** A large amount of data in various formats is often difficult to distribute to a large number of users. Printed maps and large datasets on DVDs are slowing the information flow to the point of meaninglessness. This data is often restricted only to the use of experienced GIS staff who know how to operate software necessary for working with mapping data. Sharing raster maps and drone imagery online has many advantages. You can **instantly share insights** with a client and get direct feedback. Also, the only thing you need to view the data is a browser, be it on a smartphone, tablet or desktop. Up to now, we have shown you how to centralize your raster data with GIS Cloud, now let’s cover the sharing aspect. Sharing a map is easy, open it in Map Editor and share it with a user that has a license for the Map Viewer app. Any user who has a Map Editor license can also view privately shared maps. The [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) is an app that gives users an easy way to view and access maps and data. It’s optimized for non-professionals and enables you to access shared or public maps on any device in real time. Here’s how it looks when viewing a shared map.[](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sharing-raster-map-map-viewer.png) [![Viewing raster map with map viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Upload-raster-map-gis-cloud-1024x584.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Upload-raster-map-gis-cloud.jpg) It also allows you to **share data in a controlled environment**, allowing different levels of access to your clients by defining permissions (give access or restrict access). ## **Working on top of your raster maps and drone images** As we have mentioned earlier, you can use your **rasters as basemaps**. On top of the basemap you can use the Map Editor to edit spatial data and create points, lines and polygons, and also non-spatial data like pdf and photos that you can add to a map feature. When the data is uploaded, you can perform spatial analysis. Use tools like **hotspot, buffer, area & radius coverage** to get the most out of your spatial data. [![Raster map heat map tool](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/raster-map-heat-map-1024x577.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/raster-map-heat-map.jpg) Heat map created with hotspot tool. Another cool thing you can do is to populate the raster map with field data in real time. By using the [Mobile Data Collection App](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/), you can collect points, lines or polygons. Every data point collected instantly populates the map. There’s a lot of stuff you can do with GIS Cloud. Explore all the features by signing up to the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). ## **Integrating raster data from desktop GIS tools** The fastest way to share raster and vector data from your desktop GIS setup is to integrate with GIS Cloud. If you’re using ArcMap or QGIS, you can integrate the data easily. GIS Cloud [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) extension enables you to publish your maps from ArcMap to GIS Cloud. It automatically uploads your data, symbology, layer structure and spatial references. The idea is that what you see in your desktop GIS is instantly replicated on your GIS Cloud account. Once your maps and data are on GIS Cloud, they are easily shared to the public or embedded into your website. All of the above also applies for the GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS. ## **Use cases regarding high-resolution raster maps** Real-world examples are the best way to understand how GIS Cloud can help you when working with large rasters. [**Mapping Land Usage With Drones To Build A Hospital Extension In Tanzania**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-land-usage-with-drones-to-build-a-hospital-extension-in-tanzania-case-study/) The use case describes in detail how you can map land usage with drones. Learn how Engineers without borders completed this project by mapping hospital area with drones and using GIS Cloud to visualize high-resolution drone imagery, achieve real-time data editing and team collaboration. [**Sharing The 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report From South Africa**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/sharing-the-3d-drone-mapping-imagery-with-clients-a-report-from-south-africa/) The project consists of mapping a large scale (600ha) development area in Hammarsdale, South Africa. 3DroneMapping staff had a task to use drones to produce high-resolution orthophotos and contours. There are more interesting use cases you can explore on our company blog. If you want to know more about GIS Cloud, don’t hesitate to [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Also, try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording Sharing the 3D Drone Mapping Imagery With Clients: A Report from South Africa “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online The Challenges of Drone Mapping Supporting raster data in .ECW, .IMG, .SID, .JP2 formats **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering **Tags:** ArcMap, buffer, data collection, data sharing and collaboration, desktop, Drone imagery, gis collaboration, high definition, hotspot, Map Editor, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, pdf, polygons, Publisher for ArcMap, qgis, raster data, real-time, sharing, sharing drone data, Sharing large raster data --- ### [Raising Awareness About Geoheritage With a GIS Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/raising-awareness-about-geoheritage-with-a-gis-portal/) **Published:** July 10, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Geoheritage map - GIS Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-Portal.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-Portal.png) To better understand how the planet Earth has formed and how life on it evolved, it is necessary to take a look at the evidence we have about those processes. The rock records are the evidence. To understand and study those records, it is necessary to raise public awareness to **keep the rock records intact**. That’s why Martina Puljko, a graduate geologist from the University of Zagreb, created a [geoheritage GIS Portal](http://geoheritage-croatia.giscloud.com/) that shows the locations, as well as the description of geoheritage sites in Croatia. ## **About Geoheritage** Geoheritage is a surface and subsurface part of the lithosphere whose understanding is essential for the interpretation of the geological processes that shaped the planet Earth and the entire course of evolution. It’s also called geological heritage. Geoheritage diversity includes geological and geomorphological diversity. Geological diversity consists of different types of rocks, minerals, fossils and relief forms, different underground and surface structures. The geological and geomorphological heritage of Croatia is very rich and diverse. The unique value is a **vast diversity** in a relatively small area that has a scientific, cultural, landscape, economic, and personal worth that needs to be preserved. Intensive construction and industry could **irretrievably erase evidence** in the form of rock records, both about the evolution of the plant and animal world, as well as human evolution and the creation of our planet. To prevent it, we need to be aware of its importance and protect it in the best possible way. In this map portal, the geoheritage sites are shown in the following categories: geographic – botanical, geological, geological – geographic, hydrological, and paleontological. Stone spheres of Vrgorac are shown as a separate category. [![Geoheritage map GIS portal - site picture](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-portal-site-picture.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-portal-site-picture.png) ## **Creating the Geoheritage Map Portal** #### **Preparing the Data** The first step in creating a map is gathering the data. To create this map portal, Martina used the data from the [State Institute for Nature Protection](http://www.haop.hr). She processed 54 different geoheritage sites. #### **Changing the Symbology** The data was in the form of three shapefiles, one polygon, and two point shapefiles. Information about every site, such as geoheritage categories, subcategories, name, description, coordinates, photos, etc. was added through the datagrid with the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application. Geoheritage localities in both polygon and point shapefiles were grouped in the categories mentioned above. For a better visibility, Martina placed a point shapefile with the same attributes above the polygon shapefile. To each category, she added a specific symbol. #### **Creating the Map Portal with App Builder** [App Builder](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-turn-your-maps-into-apps-with-app-builder/) is used for organizing and editing the Map Portal layout. It is possible to set a default map, manage toolbar buttons, add items to the top menu (such as filters, map export, etc.), manage different panels, manage datagrid visibility and edit homepage options. [![Geoheritage map - GIS Portal - app builder](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-Portal-app-builder.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Geoheritage-map-GIS-Portal-app-builder.gif) **Filters** were added to the default map to provide an easy way to view different geoheritage categories. For easier understanding, the info window with the map description was added. [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is an excellent tool for delivering geospatial data to the public. It makes it easy to visualize various types of data on a public GIS portal you can customize. It allows you to insert a lot of useful features to **make your maps stand out**. ## **The Results** Steps described above resulted with an **interactive map portal** which enables an overview of 54 geoheritage sites in Croatia. By clicking on each site, a window appears with all the data about that specific location. This map portal enables more efficient management of protected areas in the Republic of Croatia and provides access to information to the general public. The map combines geoheritage and geodatabase information in one place. Interested in creating your own [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/)? [Send us a message](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and we’ll help you get started. Related content: Exploring the City of Darwin Map Portal How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal Supporting a Swim Marathon With an Interactive Map Portal New Release – Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** App Builder, filters, geoheritage, Geoportal, GIS Portal, GIS symbology, interactive map, Map Editor, map export, Map Portal, polygons --- ### [Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-public-transportation-after-the-earthquake-in-zagreb-croatia/) **Published:** September 24, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Public-Transportation-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Public-Transportation-cover.jpg) Martin Malović, Geography/GIS student at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science made an **interactive Map Portal with the help of GIS Cloud apps,** representing changes in public transportation due to earthquake damages to facilitate daily movements for people in the city. Maps that are created as a part of this project show the Zagreb city center tram network that was temporarily out of service due to earthquake damage. Because of this unfortunate event, ZET (Zagreb Electric Tram) needed to replace these tram routes with standard bus lines. The main goal of this project was to create maps that will make planning and travelling with public transportation in the center of Zagreb much easier to the public. On **22 March 2020, an earthquake of magnitude 5,5 on Richter scale** hit Croatian capital Zagreb. The earthquake caused severe damage to the historic city center. That same day all **public transport in Zagreb was temporarily suspended.** After the gradual reopening of the public transport system in late April and early May 2020, parts of the ZET – tram system in the center was not operational because of the track and overhead wire damage. In mid-June 2020, **almost 3 months after the earthquake**, ZET tram traffic in the center was still out of order which stimulated Martin to do this noble project. **Project Outline:** - Setting Up Data Collection Projects and Collecting Data In The Field - Creating a Custom GIS App To Represent Maps For The Public - Results For Faster Routes Planning ## **Setting Up Data Collection Projects and Collecting Data in the Field** To collect the necessary data four different layers were created: - tram tracks - tram stops that are out of service - replacement bus lines - stops of the replacement bus lines **Generally, in GIS, tram tracks and bus lines are shown as lines, while tram and bus stops are shown as points**. For this purpose, **4 different projects** were created in the[ Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/). For each project, it was necessary to define data type (point, line or polygon) and attributes that describe individual elements. Number and type of attributes can be changed at any time later. Next step **was collecting field data with a smartphone**. It was necessary to go to all of the closed tram stops and replace them with alternative routes via bus stops. At each stop, geo-location was added by filling in the form regarding a specific stop using the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app and sending the right location via the smartphone GPS. Other attributes that were collected for each stop were: - stop name - street name - type of stop - lines passing through stop - existence of benches, shelters and informative displays - photos of stops [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Transportation-in-Zagreb.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Transportation-in-Zagreb.jpg) These attributes can be edited later in the[ Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), a connected web app for uploading data, creating maps and data sharing. Martin took photos of each stop and track segments and added them as one of the attributes in the project. According to locations of stops and the basemap, Martin added geo-locations of line elements later in Map Editor. He also edited attributes of all four layers later in the Map Editor. From the collected data, Martin **created two different maps**: - First contains layers of tram stops and tram tracks - Second contains layers of bus stops and bus lines. ## **Creating a Custom GIS App to Represent Maps for the Public** In order to make all collected data publicly available, Martin used GIS Cloud App Builder to create his [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). This GIS app that you can create in one afternoon, allowed him to display several maps at once and easily switch between them. The first map in the Map Portal contains layers of tram stops and tram tracks, and the second map contains layers of bus stops and bus lines. As mentioned, two different maps were previously created in Map Editor by adding two layers that contain tram tracks and tram stops to the first map and two layers that contain bus lines and bus stops to the second map. Attributes are presented on the map with different icons. You can review attributes for each layer using the datagrid, which you can open by pressing the button on the bottom of the map. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/transportation-map-portal.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/transportation-map-portal.gif) [To browse Map Portal for public transportation, open this link.](https://app109845.giscloud.com/) **Results** of closed tracks in the city center showed that **seven out of fifteen day tram lines changed their regular routes and operated on a different schedule** (lines 1, 4, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17). One regular line(line 13) and all night lines were out of service as well. Closed tram line sections include tracks in 6 streets in the city center: - Ilica Street from Franjo Tuđman Square to Ban Jelačić Square - Jurišićeva Street from Ban Jelačić Square to Draškovićeva Street - Vlaška Street from Draškovićeva Street to Eugen Kvaternik Square - Franjo Rački Street between Draškovićeva Street and Square of the Victims of Fascism - Savska Street and Frankopanska Street between Ilica Street and Vodnikova Street between Ban Jelačić Square and Main Railway Station Also, a short track on Eugen Kvaternik Square, loop for the tram line 13 was out of service. In total, **5,2 kilometers of tram tracks were out of service which makes around 10 % of the entire tram network.** The busiest section of the entire system is in Ilica Street between Frankopanska Street and Ban Jelačić Square where seven day lines (1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17) operate in regular conditions. The busiest stops are still located on Ban Jelačić Square (central square). Fortunately for the public transport users, replacement bus lines were introduced: - line 608 connected Eugen Kvaternik Square and Square of the Victims of Fascism, was replacing the tram traffic in Vlaška Street and Franjo Rački Street - line 611 connected Main Railway Station and Nikola Zrinski Square, partly replacing tram traffic between Main Railway Station and Ban Jelačić Square Tram tracks in Ilica Street, Jurišićeva street, Savska Street and Frankopanska Street, with a total length of 3 kilometers, were left without the bus line replacement and therefore without public transport at all. ## **Results for Faster Routes Planning** This was **the biggest drawback of public transportation in Zagreb** because the large part of the city center was left without any public transport. Some parts of the neighbourhoods were more than 1km away from the nearest public transport stop. Bus terminals on the British Square and Kaptol where passengers from regular bus lines change to tram lines were left without the replacement bus service. This meant that the passengers needed to include their long walks into consideration in their travel schedule. Consequences of the earthquake and changes in public transportation also increased travel time for the passengers in the wider area of Zagreb city center. This happened because all tram lines had to bypass Ban Jelačić square using a southern route that passes near the Main railway station instead of a direct route through Ilica, Jurišićeva and Vlaška street. Thanks to the Map Portal Martin created using the data he collected on the **changes in public transportation**, citizens are now able to find what tram, bus lines and stations are operational so they can **plan their routes in advance and save time on public transport travel.** Interested in collecting data in the field or creating your own custom GIS app? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Mapping Parking Zones, Garages and Free Parking in Zagreb (Croatia) Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog, Government, Roadworks **Tags:** City Map Portal, cloud, Cloud GIS, custom app, data collection, field data collection, geography students, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, public transport, University of Zagreb --- ### [How to Create a Hydrological Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-create-a-hydrological-map-portal/) **Published:** July 2, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![hydrology inventory map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hydrology-inventory-map-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hydrology-inventory-map.png) Hydrology databases make it possible to map, track and observe **water resources**. Monitoring and modelling the data is essential in creating a sustainable system for managing the public water supply. Having to find and track down needed information manually is inefficient and unreliable, especially when taking into consideration that all assessments and analyses are made with geospatial data (vectors and rasters). This article will show you how to create a hydrological map portal with a real-life example. Marko Sinčić, a graduate hydrogeologist from the University of Zagreb, created this project to bring the hydrology data of the Karlovac Municipality to the broader audience, the civil engineers, geotechnicians, hydrogeologists, scientists and others who can make good use of the data. This comprehensive [hydrology inventory](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) was made public via a [map portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) powered by GIS Cloud. **Table of contents:** • [ About the Geospatial Data](#about) • [ Creating the Hydrology Maps](#creating-hydro) • [ Available Hydrological Information](#available) • [ 1. Data Observation Stations](#data) • [ 2. Hydrology Inventory](#hydrology) • [ 3. Elements at Risk](#elements) • [ 3. Basemaps](#basemaps) • [ Creating the Map Portal](#creating-portal) • [ Results and Conclusion](#results) ## **About the Geospatial Data** To carry out any kind of hydrological analysis, certain geospatial data is needed: environmental factors, elements at risk and triggering factors for landslide events. Most commonly used are the environmental factors, that include data like geology, soil science, hydrology, geomorphology, land use, and digital elevation models. Elements at risk include buildings, transportation networks, lifelines, essential facilities, population data, agriculture data, economic data and ecological data (elements at risk in this project are limited to a narrow town area). Triggering factors include rainfall, temperature data, evapotranspiration, ground acceleration, and earthquake data. [![hydology geospatial dataset](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hydology-geospatial-dataset-1024x527.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/hydology-geospatial-dataset.png) Since the portal is **publicly available** and third parties can freely download the layers, it consists only of the information already available somewhere else (due to copyright) or with the information developed from the available data. However, it’s the only place where the data is integrated, highly searchable and easily accessible for everyone. Also, anyone can export the data they need by using the GIS Cloud Export feature integrated into the map portal. Hydrology inventory was created by digitizing a [topographic map of Croatia](https://dgu.gov.hr/proizvodi-i-usluge/sluzbene-drzavne-karte-i-ostale-karte/topografska-karta-1-25-000-tk25/176) 1:25 000, with watersheds and the drainage system as an exception, which were created with desktop GIS tools. Elements at risk and land use vector basemap were downloaded from open source databases and later imported. ## **Creating the Hydrology Maps** Most of the layers were made in ArcMap and transferred to [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) with the [GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/), and later imported to the Map Portal. All data observation stations were added as point objects using their coordinates. Since the Map Editor has a hotspot tool for point objects, it was used for making hotspot maps for each point object from the hydrology inventory group. Geomorphological basemaps were creating in ArcMap, but a huge variety of background basemaps can also be found in the Map Editor, and a few were selected to be a part of the map portal. [![Using publisher for arcmap](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/publisher-for-arcmap-hydrology-map.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/publisher-for-arcmap-hydrology-map.png)Uploading vector data with GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap Publisher for ArcMap is a fast and reliable tool to transfer all vector data from ArcMap to the Map Editor. It instantly recognized all vector layers preserving its attribute table and successfully uploading them where needed. Since most of the layers are vectors major part of the work was done in an instant. Few raster data were imported manually to the Map Editor. Combining the two features made the transfer process as simple and efficient as possible. ## **Available Hydrological Information** In the next few sections, we provide a detailed description of each layer and its use. Layers are grouped by themes to make things more manageable. #### **Data Observation Stations** This group consists of main weather stations, climatological stations, rain gauge stations, and river level monitoring stations, all being point objects. The first two offer a variety of climatological and meteorological information available for the given location. Rain gauge distribution is important in determining the amount of liquid precipitation in certain areas. Rain is one of the most important triggering factors, gathering data from these stations is used to predict and analyze further events, as well as determining why some occurred in the past. [![Hydrology map - data observation stations](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-data-observation-stations-1024x501.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-data-observation-stations.png)Data observation stations map > [Open and browse the map portal](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) By clicking on the river level monitoring station, a link shows which brings you to a website with current river levels (where available). Overall, tracking river levels and figuring out patterns such as low, medium and high waters is useful for predicting floods. Also, by making virtual monitoring stations between two real ones and interpolating the information with certain statistical methods, one can determine the strength of the hydraulic connection between rivers and groundwater. Overall, these stations show the user where to access data and at which locations certain data is being monitored. As a result, the needed observation area can be selected and the data collected. #### **Hydrology Inventory** In this layer group, you can view the natural hydrological phenomenons, as well as water tanks and wells. The map shows puddles, small pools of liquid on the ground, usually created by rain that can be a triggering factor. There are also spring locations indicated on the map, another triggering factor for landslide events. [![Hydrology inventory](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-invetory-1024x526.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-invetory.png)Hydrology inventory map > [Open and browse the map portal](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) Watersheds were developed from a digital elevation model using desktop GIS tools. The results are small polygons, when combined with a drainage system provide crucial hydrological information. The drainage system was also made from a digital elevation model and the shown system is a key hydrology factor when determining landslide susceptibility. Usually, multiple buffer zones with different distances are created around the drainage system and each zone is given a different grade for the susceptibility assessment. Similar processes can be done with springs and puddles, depending on the purpose and the study area. Drainage system distribution is well shown when combined with watersheds layers, as well as with rivers, which essentially are the largest and most simple drainage system. #### **Elements at risk** When doing a risk assessment, elements at risk are essential. For this purpose, railways, buildings, and roads were added for a narrow area of Karlovac, but more objects can be collected by digitizing certain maps, some are even visible on the background basemaps. [![Hydrology map - elements at risk](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-elements-at-risk-1024x563.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-elements-at-risk.png)Elements at risk > [Open and browse the map portal](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) #### **Basemap Overview** The basemaps on the map portal are split into two groups, one being geomorphological and the other background. Geomorphological include digital elevation model, from which hillshade and slope were created. Slope aspect and corine land cover are vector basemaps which show certain categories. Slope aspect differs depending on the angular orientation of the slope and land cover is split into detailed groups, each represented with different colors. Hovering over the polygon allows the user to read out the category. Background basemaps are available in the Map Editor and were added to show the bigger area beyond Karlovačka County, as well as a source of plenty spatial information – especially the categorized elements at risk for buildings and roads. [![Hydrology map - corine land cover](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-corine-land-cover-1024x566.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrology-map-corine-land-cover.png)Corine land cover and objects from hydrology inventory > [Open and browse the map portal](https://karlovac-hydro.giscloud.com/) ## **Creating the Map Portal** Once all the geospatial data was uploaded to the Map Editor, it was time to present and visualize the data. A variety of options for visual presentation of vector data such as custom icons made the final output look excellent – simple and informative for both keen experts and the broader public. Last modifications on the layers were made: labels, colors, grouping, overlapping options, etc., and then the portal came into play. All data can be found in the “Customize Your Map” section and then according to certain goals and themes the data was split into four thematic maps: “Drainage system,” “Distribution by Watersheds,” “Spring density” and “Observation stations”. Along with many options for the main toolbar, “Export Map” and “Export layer” were added as well. A “Read Me” panel was set to open when visiting the portal, offering a summary and information about the whole project. **Here’s a quick overview of the workflow:** 1. 1. Choosing default appearance for each layer on the “Customize Your Map” map 2. 2. Creating new thematic maps by duplicating the original one and removing excess data 3. 3. Making specific appearance settings for every thematic map in the Editor 4. 4. Adding maps to the Map Portal 5. 5. Customizing the Map Portal (panels, main toolbar…) ![Hydrological map portal - GIS Cloud app builder](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hydrological-map-portal-GIS-Cloud-app-builder-1024x567.png)Customizing the Map Portal with App Builder ## **Results and Conclusion** The portal is divided into five maps which present information about Karlovačka County. The first map is called Customize Your Map and it contains the most data (not available on other maps) which you can use to customize your map by turning layers on and off. The other four maps are thematic ones, derived from the original one and contain only a few layers for the chosen theme. The second map shows the connection of the drainage system and springs on a digital elevation model. On a hillshade basemap, wells and puddles are shown for each watershed (Distribution by Watersheds map). The fourth map, spring density shows the spring hotspots analysis together with locations of water tanks and the drainage system. Observation stations and land use represents four types of observation stations on a land use cover, whose characteristics you can see by hovering over the polygons. ![Spring density map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Spring-density-map-1024x527.png)Hotspots map showing spring density The “Export Map” button on the portal gets you a preview of the map in png format and if you’re interested in individual layers, use the “Export Layer” button. Besides the portal being public, these two options make the data available to download and use for personal or professional use for different purposes. As stated in the introduction, the data provided can be useful in several fields of study, for professionals and scientists, as an integrated resource for hydrological information of Karlovačka County. Customizing your map by choosing which layers to observe or which map to view even non-experts to this topic may find useful. For questions, additional information, and feedback contact the Map Portal author via [email](mailto:msincic0@gmail.com). If you’re interested in building your own Map Portal [send us a message](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Create a custom dashboard using the GIS Cloud API Create a GIS Project in 3 Easy Steps Raising Awareness About Geoheritage With a GIS Portal Spatial Visualization with Animated Graphs Using GIS Cloud Map Portal and D3.js **Categories:** Blog, Civil Engineering, Water Utilities --- ### [Disaster Response and Risk Assessment in Vegetation Management - Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/disaster-response-and-risk-assessment-in-vegetation-management-use-case/) **Published:** March 25, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-assesment-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-assesment-cover.png) Recently we held an exciting webinar on [Online Solution for Vegetation Management! ](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-gis-cloud-solution-for-vegetation-management/) We touched upon some critical pain points of everyday vegetation management workflows and had an interesting poll where we found out that some companies still use paper forms or don’t collect their data in any way yet! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Poll-vegetation-webinar-e1616686954470.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Poll-vegetation-webinar-e1616686954470.png) GIS Cloud has been working with numerous companies for vegetation management, which had the same problems in the past. We wrote on this topic in our blog on [how to optimize your vegetation management with online GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-vegetation-management/). Utilizing our apps and platform revolutionized their workflow, improved communication and collaboration, leading them to **make better decisions and cut their costs.** With the digitization of your workflow, you are literally saving the trees and keeping the money in your pocket. Tree Risk Assessment is **crucial for maintaining a safe and eco-balanced environment**. Different natural mechanisms, such as storms, wood decay, soil, wildlife, etc., vastly affect everyday workflow and need **quick and more efficient disaster response**. If you are facing everyday challenges like: - Slow and overwhelming paper workflow that is affecting accurate data entry and is by no means acceptable in a case of emergency (storms, wildfires, etc.) - Inability to share information with relevant teams in the field and in-office which slows down disaster response - Complicated coordination of teams in the field: who needs to do the job, what has already been maintained, map potential risk areas, operational visibility, etc. in this specific use case, you will find out how **easy and fast it is to classify your data** into relevant categories and i**mprove your workflow and management plan.** ## Collecting Quality Field Data Is Crucial! Creating [custom forms (surveys)](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-form-for-data-collection-in-mobile-data-collection-portal/) in our free **Mobile Data Collection Portal** web app will help prepare your team for any field project needs. Include important collecting requirements such as: - Inspection date - Site Name - Location - Species - Defect - Hight - DBH - Crown Diameter - Notes/Comments - Age Class - Risk Assessment - Electronic Signature - Photo - Media - and much more… If you need to collect fallen trees, branches, identify the effects of wind, decay, fire or any other disaster related to trees, the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) will ensure your **online and offline** disaster response on any device **in real-time!** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-Veg-Editor-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-Veg-Editor-s.png) All forms are fully customizable and have numerous options like dropdown menus, autofill, select lists, checklists, barcode, etc. Forms can be edited at any time and synced in real-time across all devices. In case your GPS signal is poor, and you need a **precise location** for any type of spatial feature, you can use the **pinpoint and drawing tools** to mark it. ## Understanding And Analyzing Data For Smarter Response There is no better way to understand the data than **through an interactive map!** Once you’ve collected your project data in the field, the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) app allows you to analyze the field crew tasks, filter and edit data, and share it with your stakeholders or management in real-time! Once you log in, you will see the full scope of the work done with collected data in your hazardous tree risk assessment project. The most important thing is that you can immediately see whether the work is done and what else is there on your disaster response team’s agenda. Different assets can be marked and **color-coded** in our [Layer List](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/layer-list/) with **different symbology**. This means that the assets are represented with different colors on the map depending on the category and status. For example, you can have different types of layers with adequate form data to edit or collect like: - **Zones of interest** (polygon): *Type: free parking, protected grass, no-drive zone, no-parking zone, permit needed, pedestrian zone Description: parking fee is 50$* - **Work Done** (point) *Type: All, Some, None* - **Risk Assessment** (point) *Type: High Risk, Low Risk, Moderate Risk* - **Appropriate Roads** (line): *Type: small trucks only, by foot only, heavy machinery allowed* - **Property Entrance** (point): *Description: i.e. Owner asked to ring the bell before entering* - **Private properties/no entry zones** (polygon): *Type: protected area, private residential area* - **Noise and Work Hours Zones** (polygon): *Preferred work hours: 6am – 9am, 9am-12pm, 12-3pm, 3pm-6pm, 6pm-9pm Additional information: no heavy machinery* All of these layers can **be filtered in the Datagrid** to help you understand the current state of the assets better, mitigate any field liability and redistribute the work more efficiently! [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-Man-Veg-Filter.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Risk-Man-Veg-Filter.png) For example, you can filter only the locations where the work is not done. Once the locations are filtered, you can **choose each individual tree or any vegetation asset** and assign it to your company’s team or individual. The team or individual will get all of the assigned information he needs in his **Mobile Data Collection App**, like preferred work hours, [what roads to take to the location](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-mdc-features-read-only-fields-navigate-to-feature-and-manual-audio-recorder/), whether there is free parking, whether it is a high or low-risk job, etc. Once the job is done, they can select the option in the custom form, and the feature on the map will **automatically change the color in real time,** indicating that it has been handled. It’s that straightforward and easy! ## Online GIS For Reporting And Sharing Once everything is set, easy-peasy, on schedule and performance measures are effective, it is time to increase communication and collaboration with the stakeholders. Using the [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) and [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) as a **go-to solution** will improve many aspects of data sharing and reporting privately and publicly. With just a **couple of clicks,** present your data to clients, subcontractors, management or the public. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Map-Portal-Vegetation-Risk.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Map-Portal-Vegetation-Risk.png) They will be able to **search, visualize and explore** the data with adequate information and make essential business decisions. Identifying crucial information and pain points will help with **cost optimization and customer reliability.** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Growth-Sustainability-c.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Growth-Sustainability-c.png) Be more effective, reduce future costs and optimize your tree risk assessment and disaster response! If you are interested in using GIS Cloud for tree and vegetation management projects, [Sign up for the free 14-day trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Vegetation-price.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Vegetation-price.png) Contact our [Solution Consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you set up a desirable, customized GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management GIS For Vegetation Management Risk Management in Agriculture (Use Case) GIS Cloud Solution For Vegetation Management Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Vegetation Management **Tags:** arborist, Cloud GIS, collaboration, disastrer response, field data collection, forestry, GIS, GIS Cloud, managing vegetation risks, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mapping Trees, maps, Mobile Data Collection, risk assessment, tree, Tree inspection, Tree Inventory and Inspection, Tree Maintenance, Utilities, webinar recording --- ### [Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/attach-media-files-documents-and-much-more-to-your-map-data-in-gis-cloud/) **Published:** November 13, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-Media-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-Media-cover.png) GIS Cloud is a versatile platform and allows you to import and attach various files to your collected and imported data easily. There are 2 ways to add files to your data. The first one is data collection with [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app where you can add photo and audio files to your spatial data in addition to textual information. Another way is to add various files, photos, videos, audio, pdfs, URLs, etc., to the data in Map Editor. To make things more manageable for users in the future, in this article we will deal with the second part and show you how to add multiple files through [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). It is pretty intuitive and straightforward, so let’s get started! **Table of Contents** - Attach Photos, Videos and Audio - Attach documents, URLs and Folders - Attach URLs or Websites - Attach Folders Which Reside in GIS Cloud - Attach Geotagged photos - Adding 360° Images ## **Attach Photos, Videos and Audio** Using our [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) app, you can attach various media files to your map features whether they are points, lines, or polygons. Media files you can attach can be: - - Photos - Images (.png, .jpg, .gif, .jpeg, .bmp) - Videos (.mp4, .flv) - Audio recordings (.mp3, .wav) Apart from that, you can also **view photos and videos and listen to audio files** which are already attached. All media files need to be uploaded to your **File Manager**, and your layers (data tables) must reside in the Database to be able to edit them and attach media files. Uploading these files to the File Manager is simple: 1\. Select a database layer or [import the layer into the database](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-import-a-layer-into-database/) 2.Upload files to the GIS Cloud [File Manager](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/file-manager-as-data-source/) 3\. Select a feature on a map and right-click on it 4\. Click on ‘Attach media file’ [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-1.png) 5. Find the media file in the File Manager and click ‘Select’. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-2.png) You can also attach media files **in the Info Panel through Datagrid** ([Edit attributes](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-attributes/) button), as seen below. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-media-video.gif)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Attach-media-video.gif) ## **Attach Documents, URLs and Folders** You can attach different kinds of **documents, links, and folders** to your point, line and polygon features using Map Editor. We support attaching: - - - Pdf and folders within GIS Cloud, - Links to external web sites - Links to external online document files ### **Attach URLs or Websites** 1\. Open a map in Map Editor 2\. Select a feature 3\. Click on [Edit button](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-attributes/) in the Datagrid or in Info window 4\. Type in the whole web address. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Editor-image.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Editor-image.png) ### **Attach Folders Which Reside in GIS Cloud** To **attach folders** which reside in GIS Cloud just follow these steps: 1\. Open a map in Map Editor 2\. Select a feature 3\. Click the ‘Edit’ button in the Datagrid or in the Info window 4\. When the edit form opens, click the ‘Attach media file’ next to the attribute where the folder will be attached [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Editor-Datagrid.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Editor-Datagrid.png) 5\. Browse and select the folder 6\. Save changes Please note that web pages which require login can’t be attached. If the web page doesn’t open, maybe the problem is that the attached page requires a secure or insecure connection. GIS Cloud apps can be opened only in the secure mode (e.g., ). The attached external links must also follow those rules. If the GIS Cloud app is opened **via HTTPS** (), add *HTTPS* to the external link as well (e.g.,[ https://www.giscloud.com/](https://www.giscloud.com/)). If GIS Cloud app is opened **via HTTP**, you just need to also add *HTTP* to the external link (e.g., ). ## **Attach Geotagged Photos** GIS Cloud has implemented the possibility to **add geotagged photos to your point data**, where the latitude and longitude attributes (metadata) **automatically create a point**! You need to be aware that your photo needs to have GPS location in **EXIF file** (GPS latitude and longitude). [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Geotagged-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Geotagged-1.png) 1. Create a new point layer and add one String attribute.[ Find more about creating new layers here](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/how-to-create-a-new-layer/) 2. From the Feature tab select [Add geotagged images](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/add-geotagged-images/) in the dropdown menu 3. Choose the attribute column where you want to add your geotagged image[![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/geotag2-1024x460.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/geotag2-1024x460.png) 4. Select photos from the File Manager. Click the ‘Close’ button once the green colour indicates the image is uploaded 5. Double click on the layer and go under the [Display](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/edit-layer/#display) tab 6. Click ‘Get bounds from source’ and Reinitialize layer 7. After the bounds have been updated, click the ‘Save’ button 8. Zoom to layer ## **Adding 360° Images** Besides adding regular images on features in GIS Cloud, you can also **add 360° images.** To be able to do so, you need to use the Map Editor or [Mobile Data Collection Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/) app. The process is the same as adding a normal image, just make sure that your pictures have **EXIF** metadata. The layer needs to be added from the **Database Manager.** 1\. Open Map Editor or Mobile Data Collection Portal 2\. Click on the feature on the Map 3\. In Info Panel or Info Window click on ‘Edit Attributes’ 4\. Choose a field where you want to add your 360° image and click on the **Attach button** or **Photos field**. Works in both cases[![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/360-image.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/360-image.png) 5\. Select the 360° image from File Manager and click on ‘Save’ It’s as simple as that! You have successfully added a 360° image. To open it, just click on the feature on your map. Also, here is a quick video tutorial on how to add 360° images: If you wish to try all this, [Log in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/) or [Create your account](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/), and get to work with all of our premium features completely FREE for 14 days. Related content: Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! How to collect polygon features with Mobile Data Collection app GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** 3DroneMapping, Cloud GIS, data, data collection, data visualisation, documents, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, images, information map, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, recording, Spatial Vision, url --- ### [New Release - Share & Embed Maps From Your Custom Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-release-share-embed-maps-from-your-custom-map-portal/) **Published:** March 11, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-cover.png) [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a customizable GIS Cloud application that gives you a **public overview** of your daily mapping efforts and helps you visualize, export and publish geospatial data. To make your map sharing even more convenient, we created a **new user functionality** to share a specific view of the map you need to convey to the public or stakeholders. It is simple, just select your geolocation on the map, zoom level and turn on specific layers you wish to share or embed. To set this option, you need to proceed to your custom Map Portal and open the GIS Cloud’s [App Builder](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/app-builder/). Under the **Top Menu**, add a **New Item**. Choose an action, in this case, “**Share & Embed**” and give it a name, let’s say “*Share Map*”, that will be displayed in the Ribbon of your custom Map Portal. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Builder.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Builder.png) Once you’ve set this up, click on the “**Share Map**” in the ribbon, and a new modal window will appear with **Share or Embed** choices. Most importantly, both choices are **publicly available** to **all users** who wish to utilise the map portal and share the map. **Share Option** automatically generates a link that can be copied. It opens an active map in the map portal at the previously selected zoom level and the precise location on the map at the moment of link creation. The map keeps **opened and closed** previously selected layers adjusted by the user who generated the link, including **layer properties and transparencies** at the moment of link creation. **Embed Option** allows you to embed your map, not the whole Map Portal. You can choose: - Window Width and Height measured in pixels - Select the map extent or zoom level - Show options you wish others to see - Embed code – generates I-frame code for embedding the map The map also keeps the **previously selected zoom levels** and **initial or new** map extent options. It keeps previously selected opened and closed **layers and transparency** adjusted at the moment of embed link creation. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Embed.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Share-Embed-Embed.png) You can try these options right now on your own portals, or just [click here and try it on our custom Map Portal.](https://mapportal.giscloud.com/) With the endless possibilities to customize your Map Portal, the **Share & Embed** option helps the users transparently and effortlessly utilize specific data from any device at any time and share maps that can help them make better business decisions. If you’d like to try out this new Map Portal functionality, [Sign Up for Free ](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/)and get a 14-day Premium GIS Cloud trial! Related content: Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) New Release: Add Electronic Signature to Your Digital Forms! New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! Connect External ORACLE Database – New GIS Cloud Release! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** App Builder, collaboration, data collection, embed data, GIS, GIS Cloud, Information Transparency, Map Portal, mapping, maps, Mobile Data Collection, public and private cloud, public works, share data --- ### [Improving Crop Inventory And Crop Scouting With GIS Cloud Apps (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-improving-crop-production-with-crop-inventory-and-crop-scouting-solution/) **Published:** July 12, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** In many parts of the world, farmers are still struggling to improve farming techniques and ensure profitable and efficient crop production**.** Environmental problems such as pests and diseases, cause significant losses to farmers but are avoidable if using GIS solutions that include crop scouting apps and an easy tool for managing the crop inventory. Simplify your Crop Inventory and Crop Scouting process by collecting field data with the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app! [![farm corp inventory and crop scouting](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Farm-Crop-Inventory-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Farm-Crop-Inventory.jpg) ## **Using GIS Technology In Precision Agriculture** Precision agriculture helps farmers to ensure profitability, efficiency and sustainability while taking care of the environment. With the Mobile Data Collection app, farmers can create **precise farm plans and inventory maps** to distinguish and identify crop areas together with farming conditions. It provides farmers with a set of organizational skills required to efficiently manage farming resources and avoid unnecessary spending of harmful pesticides and herbicides. In this use case, agricultural specialists and farmers can learn how to utilize Mobile Data Collection app to **build an agricultural cloud database** where they can effortlessly query agricultural and geospatial information such as soil quality, fertilizer application, crop inventory, pests, ownership records and other related information. Farmers can also learn how to keep track of the continuous changes in the fields and modify the data with updates instantly visible in real-time. GIS and GPS are just one part of the precision agriculture technologies that help farmers manage their farmlands. Drone mapping is an excellent way to add value to the geospatial data. If you have NDVI images of your farms, you can use it as a basemap for your field scouting. Farmers can combat the spread of pests by identifying critical intervention areas. They can draw a polygon area on a map to determine the specific areas with pest or weed infestations. ## **Up-To-Date Crop Inventory Helps Farmers Improve Crop Performance** The development of crop inventory database provides the most important agricultural information as farmers can distinguish, map and measure crop areas and farming conditions to determine crop production forecast. Farmers can **overlay information** on a map such as moisture levels, soil quality, irrigation methods and overall growing conditions of the crops to estimate the crop production. Analyzing the data is very important, and most major food security programs rely on this type of information since they use it in relation to trade, development policies and other food security issues. The goal of this use case is to conduct field surveys of crop inventory to estimate food production and **assess production practices** on agricultural land segments. Based on satellite imagery, field surveyors are drawing polygons and collecting information about the ownership of a particular land segment, the types of crops and the overall growing conditions in the same or different surveying forms. With **Search function** implemented in Mobile Data Collection app, agricultural specialists and farmers can search field owners and zoom directly to the position of their land. The search tool helps farm managers have a better insight into the type of crop and amount of product each farmer is producing. Farm managers can create surveying forms for different types of operations in the field and share it with field surveyors. Whether you are performing field surveying, crop scouting, pest treatment control, irrigation methods or harvesting surveying, forms are instantly accessible on mobile devices and can be modified at any time without risk of data loss. GIS Cloud **Auto-sync feature** checks if any changes were made to your forms and maps and notify you to prevent data loss. Even if the internet connection is not sufficient in your area, you can download the map on your device and collect data offline. [![farm crop inventory map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Farm-Crop-Inventory-Map-1024x681.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Farm-Crop-Inventory-Map.jpg) The data collected in the Crop Inventory surveying form includes: - Field enumeration information - Field segment ID, - Owner of the land, - Field manager, - Soil Sampling results. - Crop Inventory - Land type (agricultural and non-agricultural fields, empty and cultivated fields..), - Tillage method, - Irrigation method, - Crop planted, - Date of cultivation, - Crop condition, - Soil Nutrients, - Amount of pesticides, - Photo and other multimedia files. Field surveyors are collecting polygon layers and assessing **changes in agricultural production** levels and **shifts in cultivation practices** in every single field. Field surveyors can update the last-years information and have more accurate ground observations on an interactive map before cultivating crops. Farming managers can organize teams for collecting new data or updating existing ones with different sharing permissions. Farmers can combine results obtained from [soil sampling inspection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/how-to-use-mobile-data-collection-tools-for-soil-sampling-in-agriculture/) and use **automatic GPS tracking or draw polygons** where farmers used fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to increase agricultural productivity. This way, farmers know the right amounts of resources they spend on the different type of crop to improve soil nutrient level. Farmers can analyze the farming conditions to **maximize the crop outputs** and to assure better management of available resources. With information about crop inventory and size of farm fields, they can distinguish and calculate areas of individual crop type and together with other agricultural information (growth condition, disease or pest control) assess the production of crops for the upcoming year. ## **Crop Scouting Apps And Pest Control** Crop Scouting in agriculture is a process of assessing the pest, weeds and diseases infestation on crops that directly influence crop performance. With precise GIS technologies that include crop scouting apps, farmers can map and [**locate areas with pest issues**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/agriculture-risk-management-use-case/) and visualize them on an interactive crop map. With historical information about the types of pests and diseases attacking a particular crop, farmers can easily control interventions and prevent pests before they appear. With the help of NDVI maps obtained from drone mapping, farmers can easily visualize the areas where crops suffer from stress and pest diseases. With NDVI images as a basemap, farmers can use [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) to increase the effectiveness of crop scouting. They can draw polygons were significant crop stress is noticed and intersect with information obtained from crop inventorying. Farmers can precisely determine **which type of crop is most affected** by which type of insect or disease and to view the amounts of pesticides used before or after the cultivation to make decisions for field treatments and better pest management. Data you can easily collect with a crop scouting form in the Mobile Data Collection app: - Pest Type, - Type of crop treated, - Type of pesticide, - Amount of pesticide, - Date of application, - Slope direction, - Wind direction, - Application method. It can also help farmers determine whether the pesticides are needed for specific crops and fields, thus decrease the amounts of pesticides and economically distribute the resources. For example, if corn crops grow in excellent condition without the use of pesticides, it is a better financial decision not to use pesticides in those areas. ## **Crop Inventory Solution** GIS Cloud solution for crop inventory has already proven to be an easy-to-use tool for farmers and farm managers of [sugarcane plantations in Brazil](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/maintenance-of-sugarcane-plantations-in-agriculture-with-copla-gis-mapping-solution-events-in-brazil/). It offers a comprehensive solution from creating surveying forms, sharing them with different permissions, collecting crop scouting data both online and offline in the field, analyzing them in the office and sharing the results in private or public cloud apps. Watch our [latest webinar recording](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-collect-lines-polygons-with-mobile-data-collection/) and learn **how to set up line and polygon projects for your crop inventory**, as well as how to use key features to boost your crop scouting efforts. If you want to try this solution and test it out, [sign up here to begin your free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Benchmark (Surveying) Case Study: Monument Inventory in Orange County, CA WeForest – Improving the Forest Restoration Process in Zambia with GIS Cloud Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Vegetation Management --- ### [Pool Service Software for Maintenence Companies](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/pool-management-software-for-companies/) **Published:** November 29, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Many pool maintenance companies are still tracking their daily jobs, workers in the field and data on pool equipment status on paper. We are providing an **online pool service software** which allows fieldworkers to fill out simple survey forms on their mobile phones about the daily tasks on each pool. Managers in the office can instantly view changes on the map, track jobs and manage tasks and teams in the field, through a simple app interface. [![Pool service app](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-management-software-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-management-software.jpg) According to our clients from pool maintenance companies, the crew in the field has to inspect a couple of hundreds pool sight each day. Divided into teams they are driving to the location, maintaining pools and making sure that everything works as it should. **Among many services, pool maintenance companies take care of:** - regular equipment check-ups, - pool cleaning, - regulating chemicals, chlorine and salt in the water, - checking if the pool pump works correctly, - whether the cover for the pool is in place, - whether the floor drain and nozzles are open, and so on. In a month there can be more than 10 000 visits to many different objects, which generates a large amount of data, and requires team and jobs coordination. Here you can see a video from one of our clients using the Mobile Data Collection for pool maintenance: > [ View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLi3w0lNrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading)[A post shared by Torkret Pool Design (@torkret\_pool\_design)](https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLi3w0lNrR/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) on Mar 18, 2019 at 11:54pm PDT ## Inspecting pools with mobile phones, even without the internet connection Previously, fieldworkers had to take notes on jobs done on paper, and transfer everything to the computer in the office. This caused great time loss, and managers couldn’t review the jobs done that day or act to provide needed services in time. With GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, **fieldworkers simply fill in a form**, previously made by their project manager, with all the data they have to report on. This form is linked to each object, and when fulfilled and sent, object location is instantly visible as a point on the map. When clicked, it opens a window showing all data and photos entered by fieldworkers. [![Mobile pool service app](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-management-mob.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-management-mob.png) If there is no internet connection, the data is stored on the workers’ phone and sent when the device is online again. This allows for an unobstructed and fast workflow. Most importantly, fieldworkers can take photos from the job site linked to each object, which later serves as the **proof about a job they did**, shoving for instance whether the nozzles have been opened or not. This can be very useful to easily **put to rest any reclamations** pool owners may have, and ultimately save time and money. Fieldworkers and managers can access the same map and easily **coordinate jobs** around a specific object. Fieldworker gets an address and an ID of the object he has to inspect, everything else is already in the survey form. ## Pool service app tracks workers in the field Apart from visualizing pool objects on the map, it is also necessary to know which area fieldworkers covered until a certain time of the day. To be able to have an overview of the workers in the field, our apps provide project managers with a simple map-based interface, which also shows the location of every technician on the map and the route he has taken so far, tracking technicians’ vehicles. This way the manager can see which objects have been covered until this moment and go through the submissions made by fieldworkers. The manager can learn in real-time if there are any problems he has to deal with, or if some objects haven’t been inspected yet, having total control of the inventory he is in charge of. [![Pool service online app](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-web-app-1024x587.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pool-web-app.jpg) The project manager can access the map at any time and from any device, which allows him to get some office work done while he is out in the field. He can also generate reports on jobs done in a day, or in a specific time frame. The additional benefit of using pool service apps is a **complete database of all the objects and the owners**, created on the go, inspecting objects in the field. The database also includes the type of pool or the whirlpool, the date when it was built, the technique used to build it and so on. If you want to try out our solution for pool maintenance or talk to our consultants, [contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Telecom Digitization, Service Coverage and Gap Analysis Streamlining Your Data Entry with Grouped Form Items Traffic Maintenance Using GIS Cloud: Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings Management (Use Case) Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry Roadworks Solution: Damage and Maintenance Reports for the City of Amsterdam **Categories:** Blog, Utilities - Other --- ### [GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-oil-gas-industry-sharing-oil-field-maps-online/) **Published:** April 30, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![GIS for Oil & Gas industry](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-4-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-4.png) We bring you a case study from the oil and gas industry that demonstrates the benefits of GIS for sharing mapping data with clients. Following a short inquiry with *CORE Geomatics*, we can see how the requirements in the Oil & Gas industry are met with the GIS Cloud solution. *CORE Geomatics* is a service company from Calgary, dedicated to conducting in-field oil and gas surveys in the range from a single site to pipeline construction surveys. ## **Sharing Oil Field Maps With Clients** *CORE Geomatics* received a request by one of their clients to provide access to their oil field data (borehole locations and well data, wildlife layer, surface elevation, parcels…) for planning and visualization purposes. A request proved to be specific in the aspect of data storage; as it happens, their client was a company that works entirely in a cloud environment, providing an ability to collaborate on data in real-time. They moved to the cloud for three reasons: - **paper-based** workflow proved to be **inefficient**, especially in viewing a large amount of data that is hard to place on a paper map. - desktop-based GIS software slowed down their collaboration, as it was **too complicated for non-GIS users** and also required transferring huge files in different formats like geotiff and shapefile via email or CDs/USBs. - their clients wanted to **lower the costs** of computer equipment, maintenance, software and additional staff training. Moving to an intuitive web-based interface means that they didn’t want to rely on expensive desktop solutions or computer performance and in-house servers. All this meant that a web-based GIS solution was needed to set off the project. One other requirement was to have adequate loading speed for usually data-rich maps populated with many layers and attributes. > “As a company that works in a “virtual office” environment, GIS Cloud has helped us to successfully provide an online mapping application to our client without the need of servers.” – CORE GEOMATICS [![GIS for Oil & Gas industry ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-1.png) ## **GIS Cloud as a solution for the oil and gas industry** As a web-based GIS application, GIS Cloud’s [**Map Editor**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) proved to be a perfect solution for *CORE Geomatics*. Built on the fastest vector map engine in the world, Map Editor works at an excellent upload and rendering speed while supporting data in different formats. Also, it has all necessary GIS features and symbology toolset that can be used for styling with respect to a client’s specific use. Also, having in mind that *CORE Geomatics* needed a way to deliver large amounts of data to clients, GIS Cloud developed a **custom search tool** for them to help with performing search queries, together with a **white-labeled solution** with custom logo and colors. [![GIS for Oil & Gas industry](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-2.png) > “With Map Viewer app we managed to deliver our results to our clients while having the full control of privacy settings and time that users are able to access the results.“ – CORE GEOMATICS At the same time, clients could work on data updated in real-time using an easy-to-use interface suitable even for users with no previous GIS experience, saving money and time required on staff training and desktop software. [**Map Viewer**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) solution enables sharing private maps to users, who could be assigned with different levels of permission (sharing, viewing, etc.). Moreover, it works across all devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, office computers), which means that it could be easily used both in the field and the office. Map Viewer for web and mobile provided the easiest way for *CORE Geomatics* to share a large amount of mapping data with clients. [![GIS for Oil & Gas industry](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/GIS-for-Oil-Gas-industry-3.png) ## **The CORE Geomatics Recommendation** In their own words, the three key features *CORE Geomatics* listed as crucial for their recommendation of GIS Cloud apps are: - **Cloud-based system** - **Customizable environment** - **Exceptional support from GIS Cloud staff** Interested in the GIS Cloud solution for Oil & Gas? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and schedule a live demo. Related content: Oil and Gas Case Study: Providing Client Mapping Data Online Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) QGIS North America: Collect Field Data Directly into QGIS and Publish Maps Online Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases, Utilities - Other --- ### [Smart City Apps for Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/smart-city-apps-for-utilities/) **Published:** June 28, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Smart city apps for utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-for-utilities-2-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-for-utilities-2.png) Smart city apps are an effective solution for getting data and feedback from your customers (citizens), contractors, or local governments. But, most of the smart city solutions are expensive and take ages to deploy. In this article, we’ll show you that’s not always the case. Keep reading and learn how to create a smart city solution for utilities **in just a couple of days**. We’ll show you how to use the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing, a suite of smart city apps that can help you engage your customers to provide relevant data (meter readings, damaged infrastructure etc.). **Table of contents:** • [ Engaging the Customers With Smart City Apps](#engaging) • [ Why Crowdsourcing?](#why) • [ How to Create a Smart City Solution in One Day](#howto) • [ 1. Creating a Crowdsourcing Project](#creating) • [ 2. Sending Submissions](#sending) • [ 3. Managing Submissions](#managing) • [ Key Benefits of GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing](#key) ## **Engaging the Customers With Smart City Apps** Who is better to tell you what is missing from their daily needs or if there’s a problem in the area where they live than your customers. If you provide them an easy way to send you a comment, photos or any relevant data they’ll be happy to collaborate. With the right smart city app, you can engage the customers to send data about their consumption, like meter reading or the status of the infrastructure, like damaged electric poles. Here are a few things you can improve by collaborating with your customer base: - Handling customer reports - Engaging your customers - Saving time on making work orders - Real-time insight into your assets - Faster response time for damaged infrastructure - Making informed on-the-spot decisions When the customer sends a submission via the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing, the data becomes a part of your process. It is shown as a point on the map in the admin app, where you can manage the incoming submissions, approve, delete and a lot more. [![Smart city solution](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-solution-1024x536.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-solution.png) Crowdsourcing apps allow you to make plans based on the customer input and react faster if there’s an issue with a utility asset. This type of smart city apps enables you to crowdsource data collection to your customers and to automate a big part of your field and office workflow. ## **Why Crowdsourcing?** Because it makes an army of customers and your employees work together. Enables the entire community to solve big problems, as well as small ones by collaborating. Anonymous users can send you reports about an issue, with attached photos, documents and comments. The data then lands in your database and is visualized on a map where you can continue to work. *You don’t limit yourself to a handful of employees – the customers become a part of your daily workflow.* The GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing gives you a single space on a map where you can engage the community and share the insight with your team. It’s a complete solution that includes a public mobile app, admin web app and a public web app; later we’ll describe each of them in detail. The smart city apps are intuitive and easy to use and allow you to collaborate with your team. There’s no need for coding or extra work, just create a public form for the customers and they can start sending you feedback. You can also **brand your apps** by changing theme color, adding your logo, and having a custom splash and welcome screen. Other smart city and crowdsourcing solutions have similar features as well. But, there’s one major difference; it takes a lot of time to develop and deploy them. In contrast, it takes **one day to create a project** with the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing. Learn how to do it in the next chapter. ## **How to Create a Smart City Solution in a Couple of Days** GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing allows you to create a smart city project in no time. We’ll show you how to do it with an example of an **electric utility customer service and feedback project** and give you an overview of our smart city applications. #### **Creating a Crowdsourcing Project** It all starts with creating a submission form. You can create your form with the Mobile Data Collection Portal or ask our support team to do it for you. Each project can have only one active submission form with any number of input fields. There are a lot of field types you can use for the submission forms, here are a few examples: - **Photos** of utility assets - Damage report list - Checkboxes for asset status (pole condition – broken, broken lines, leaning) - Data and time of the submission - Comments - Number fields for **meter readings** [![Smart city apps - mobile forms](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-mobile-forms-1024x989.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-mobile-forms.png) When the form is finished, it’s time for the GIS Cloud team to create the mobile and web apps. Contact the GIS Cloud team and send the necessary information (name, artwork and branding requirements, logo, color, custom button labels, etc). Create the apps usually takes one day to complete. The only process where you have to wait a week or two is the app store approval. #### **Sending a Submission** It’s straightforward as it gets, the users download the mobile app, fill out the form and press send. In case of weak reception the users can quickly pinpoint the desired location on the map. The data users send shows as publicly unavailable until you decide to approve it for the public in the Web Admin App. [![Smart city apps - branded](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-branded-1-1024x996.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-branded-1.png) Mobile apps are not the only way users can report issues; there’s also an option to deploy the **Public Web App**. It provides users with an overview of all issues that are in progress or completed. The user can also submit the issues from a desktop and pinpoint the location. The process is super easy, set the location of the issue and fill out the form. As you can see below, it’s possible to get a branded (white-labeled) Public Web App. [![Smart city application](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-application-1024x909.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-application.png) #### **Managing Submissions** The incoming submissions populate the map in the Web Admin App. The symbols represent the status or the approval state of a submitted issue. You can see how it looks in the picture below. The red ones are not approved for public access/viewing, the orange are in progress and the green ones are completed. You can edit the submissions by clicking on the symbol or by opening the submissions table (data grid). [![Smart city application - admin](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-application-admin-min-1024x802.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-application-admin-min.png) Aside from managing submissions, use the admin app for: - **Sharing** crowdsourcing projects with coworkers - Assign a level of access for each coworker (**view, edit, share and export**) - Create comprehensive **reports** - **Export** data to CSV - Open the data in Map Editor and Map Viewer The statistics tool is also a part of the admin app. There you can get info about how many submissions have been sent in a time frame, the submission approval rate and the status rate.[![Smart city apps - statistics](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-statistics-1024x865.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Smart-city-apps-statistics.png) ## **The Key Benefits of GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing** The GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing is a smart city solution that offers you a way to engage your customers and make the data collection process easier. We’ve mentioned a lot of benefits in the article, but here’s a quick recap: - Branded apps for citizen engagement - Creating a project is super easy - **Deploy the entire solution in less than two weeks** - Receive submissions from the field in real time - React promptly to any risks and dangers - Complete control over incoming submissions - **Budget-friendly smart city solution** - Get GIS Cloud support to set up the project Interested in the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing? Contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) they’ll be more than happy to give you a live demo. Related content: A Webinar Recording : GIS Cloud Smart Cities – City Portal How to Use Mobile Apps for Water Utilities in Inspections and Surveys Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities **Categories:** Blog, Electric Utilities, Utilities - Other --- ### [Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-crowdsourcing-to-restore-the-historical-city-center-of-mantova-italy-case-study/) **Published:** December 5, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** The historical city center in Mantova, Italy, has been deteriorating for some time now. The buildings are not being properly maintained, and some of them are abandoned, despite the fact they are a cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. But the Municipality of Mantova is trying to fix things with an **urban regeneration project**, a coordinated set of urban, building, environmental, and socio-economic interventions aimed to reduce the degradation of specific urban areas. [![Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-si-rigenera-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-si-rigenera-cover-s.png) The project goal is to identify and **monitor the areas in need of regeneration**, and also to define the actions that are required to reclaim buildings with a specific state of degradation. To carry out the project, the municipality opted-in for a **crowdsourcing approach**, so the Mantova citizens as well as various associations can work together. To locate and then monitor the historical areas and sites, they needed a crowdsourcing solution that would enable collaboration between citizens, associations, and the local government. The municipality chose the [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) solution for smart cities to address these needs. Read more about the project and how they implemented the solution. [Explore the Mantova si Rigenera Crowdsourcing portal >>>](https://mantovasirigenera.giscloud.com/) ## The Urban Regeneration Project – Mantova si Rigenera The Mantova si Rigenera project, meaning ‘Mantova regenerates,’ is part of the Interreg Central Europe initiative ([BhENEFIT](https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/BhENEFIT.html)) endorsed by the European Union to foster inter-regional collaboration. As mentioned in the introduction, the project aims to regenerate and reclaim the historical city center of Mantova with **coordinated interventions in specific urban areas**. They needed an interactive map to track and coordinate the interventions to historical heritage sites. > *The greatest challenge was to get data from people with no technical knowledge and ensure that they can read the data already provided by other users. The Crowdsourcing app is really easy to use and that’s what helped us overcome this challenge.* > > *Sofia Salardi, Project Manager* The idea was to gather the data about the state of historical heritage and cross analyze it with the data collected by the Mantova citizens. Various associations collected the base data to create an interactive map that was open to the public via the [crowdsourcing web app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) .[![Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-maps-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-maps-s.png) Associations gathered a lot of data about the status of historical heritage to create the interactive map: - Building conditions: field surveys on city center HBA buildings (public and private) collecting information about the level of usage, ground floor usage and building predominant use (residential, business, commercial, …), facades level of conservation, presence of abandoned or unfinished building sites, construction codification data; - Basic data about building use; - Services and facilities (use of objects within the land-use plan); - Tourism impact (visits, permanence, accommodation); - Data about inhabitants; - Public space costs. The citizens would use the app to select a location of a damaged historical site and fill out a questionnaire to give their opinion and also to upload photos. That way, the Mantova officials could see first hand how the citizens perceive the damaged historical sites. Here’s an example of a questionnaire in the crowdsourcing app. [![Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-form.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Mantova-form.png) The data gathered by the associations was used for correlation with the data citizens would collect with the crowdsourcing web app, so the municipality officials could **determine the areas that needed restoration the most**. ## Setting Up the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Project The Mantova si Rigenera officials created a crowdsourcing project in just a couple of days with a little help from the GIS Cloud support team. Here are the steps necessary to launch a GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing project and a quick overview of the most essential features. #### Creating A Crowdsourcing Project It all starts with creating a questionnaire (submission form). Project managers can create a questionnaire by themselves or ask the support team to do it for them. The next step is to create a web application, which is done by the GIS Cloud developer team. Mantova officials contacted the GIS Cloud team and sent the necessary information (name, artwork and branding requirements, logo, color, custom button labels, etc.). In a few days, they had a [Mantova si Rigenera Crowdsourcing Portal](https://mantovasirigenera.giscloud.com/) up and running online. #### Sending a Questionnaire Submission The Mantova citizens would need to open the crowdsourcing portal pinpoint the location of a historical building, and fill out the questionnaire. The data citizens sent didn’t immediately appear on the map because the project administrator needed to approve the submission in the Web Admin App. #### Managing Submissions The incoming submissions populate the map in the Web Admin App. The symbols represent the status or the approval state of a submitted issue. The red ones are not approved for public access/viewing, the orange are in progress, and the green ones are completed. You can edit the submissions by clicking on the symbol or by opening the submissions table (data grid). [![Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Smart-city-application-admin-min-1024x802.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Smart-city-application-admin-min-1024x802.png)Web Admin App interface with an example from the [Smart City Apps for Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/smart-city-apps-for-utilities/) article. Aside from managing submissions, the Mantova officials used the admin app to: - Share crowdsourcing projects with coworkers - Assign levels of access for each coworker (view, edit, share and export) - Create comprehensive reports - Export data to CSV - Open the data in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) The **statistics tool** is also a part of the admin app. It was used to get info on the number of submissions in a time frame, the submission approval rate, and the status rate. ## The Results and Future Plans The project was able to get data from atypical GIS users, the citizens of Mantova, and the non-technical personnel from various associations. Their contribution allowed the Mantova officials to analyze the municipality’s urban regeneration strategy taking into account different perspectives. The Mantova officials are planning to continue collecting data and analyzing it further. All of the data is easily accessible on the [Mantova si Rigenera Crowdsourcing portal](https://mantovasirigenera.giscloud.com/). > *We chose the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing because we were looking for a smart and user-friendly solution. The target of the project are citizens/associations etc. with no technical knowledge about GIS, for those reasons we needed a solution that’s really easy to use.* > > *Sofia Salardi, Project Manager* Interested in the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing? Contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/), they’ll be more than happy to give you a live demo. Related content: Traffic Management Solution: City of Amsterdam Case Study Data Publishing Solution Case Study: City of Canton Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Engaging Citizens with the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing App GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released **Categories:** Blog, Government, Use Cases --- ### [Digital Transformation of Field Operations in a Water Utility Company Using GIS Cloud (case study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/digital-transformation-of-field-operations-in-a-water-utility-company-using-gis-cloud-case-study/) **Published:** February 26, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-vode-case-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-vode-case-cover.jpg) **Digitizing the process of field data collection and infrastructure data management utilizing the GIS Cloud platform, *Liburnian waters* achieved a multilevel collaboration with local governments, increased their data accuracy, and reduced job timeframe by eliminating paper forms.** The implementation of field inspection via surveys on mobile phones had the biggest impact on their workflow, the solution which in time became [SmartAqua](http://smartaqua.co/) application, specialized in water utility data management. Water utility companies face challenges on several frontiers, from excruciating regulatory demands to water loss problems, as well as issues with **outdated infrastructure data**. The problems also emerge in the organizations themselves, most commonly because they lack strategic planning, have inefficient field operations with a lot of paperwork, or use a cumbersome system for asset management. To have a chance to tackle these problems, companies can turn to digitalization and implement sound management practices. **CASE STUDY HIGHLIGHTS** - **Transforming a paper-based field workflow into a digital one** - **Using GIS Cloud for data backup to meet regulatory demands** - **Improving fieldwork efficiency and collaboration across the board** - **Easier data management for water utility assets** - **Creating a data overview accessible online and facilitating decision making** This article presents an elaborate case study from south-eastern Europe which demonstrates how to digitize field operations and implement company-wide collaboration in a water utility company. The study shows in what way the *Liburnian Waters ([Liburnijske Vode](http://www.liburnijske-vode.hr/web/))*, a water utility company in Croatia, improved the process of collecting and managing water infrastructure data using the GIS Cloud platform. They also managed to increase their efficiency and save time on maintaining water utility infrastructure, hydrants, manholes, water meters, etc. (We already wrote about them a couple of years ago [here](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-for-utilities-managing-water-infrastructure/).) **SOLUTION ENABLED:** - [**Digitalization of field operations using the Mobile Data Collection app**](http://Field%20Data%20Collection%20and%20Data%20Publishing%20for%20Public%20Access) - **Bridging the gap between field and office workflows** - **Water utility asset management in the cloud** - **Effortless compliance with government regulations** - **Project monitoring in real time** - **Accessibility of data to the public** The digitalization of infrastructure data allowed them to have maps and inspection data available to anyone in the organization at any time, and accessible with mobile apps. Data was also [published online through a Map Portal](https://liburnijskevode.giscloud.com/), which made the data public and open for collaboration with local governments and citizens. This article will demonstrate the impact digitalization can have for a water utility company from a field operations point of view, and other benefits resulting from GIS Cloud system implementation. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-Map-Portal-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-Map-Portal-2.jpg) ## Liburnian Waters Company and Their Challenges *Liburnian Waters* are a water utility company in Istria, the western part of Croatia. The company is in charge of the water supply system maintenance, sewage system, water quality control, and water purification for four municipalities, including the City of Opatija. They also provide easy access to water and sewer infrastructure data to local government units. The company brings drinking water to approximately 29,000 citizens with current water coverage of 99%. **There were three segments the company wanted to improve with digitalization:** - **Field operations and collaboration** - **Data and team management** - **Regulatory compliance** The primary challenge was to improve communication and collaboration in the company while **reducing the paperwork involved in field inspections**. At the same time, to facilitate collaboration with external stakeholders such as local governments and citizens. Extensive paperwork and paper maps often included outdated information, leading to a slow data collection processes and a slow flow of information between their employees or third parties. On top of that, *Liburnian Waters* had a priority to **comply with regulations** by storing their data to a secure location and creating a backup of infrastructure data. That is why they needed a solution for a secure backup of their spatial data, as well as the system allowing to easily update information linked to spatial data, which is changing on a daily basis. What played the most essential part in solving the issues mentioned before, was extending from the desktop environment to the cloud, and the digitalization of the field operations workflow and data management. ## The Old Paper-based Data Collection and Data Management Liburnian Waters were using paper in every segment of their field workflow as well as in the office. The daily workflow started with printing inspection forms and maps of the survey area. The field crews would then go on to record the locations of assets with handheld GPS devices and perform inspections. Later they would return to the office and transcribe the data to ArcMap software. This was a typical paper-based workflow with **many drawbacks** like illegible inspection forms, inaccurate data, uncredited asset photos, lost paper forms, and so on. Although the company was using ArcMap, some of the infrastructure data was still stored as paper maps and paper inspection forms. It made **data management extremely inefficient, and data sharing slow**. If a municipality or some other company would request data, it took a lot of effort and time to get it. Also, making a backup of data for regulatory compliance was hard to address with the data situation at that time. To solve this problem, Liburnian Waters decided to store their data not only on their desktop, but to also transfer data to an online solution, and run their field operations and data management in the cloud. ## Designing the New Digital Field Workflow To make improvements for field operations, data management, achieve collaboration and meet regulatory requirements, the company needed to implement a new field workflow and data management system. The first step was to **have all data in digital form and to bring it to the cloud** to meet regulatory demands. This meant transcribing the part of data that was still in paper form as well as assembling the geospatial data. The Liburnian Waters were already using ArcGIS desktop solution, and this meant that the existing data needed to be transferred to the cloud in some way. That was easily done with the [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/), a plugin that enables a user to transfer data to GIS Cloud. This provided the company with a reliable backup system accessible from anywhere. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-Apps-Roles-3-S.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-Apps-Roles-3-S.png) After they made sure that everything complied with the regulations, Liburnian Waters started working on improving their internal processes and collaboration. ## Field Data Collection and Data Publishing for Public Access The data was now situated in the GIS Cloud, and it was time to prepare the system for the new field data that would start coming in from mobile forms. They used the GIS Cloud web app to set up **data collection surveys and link them to corresponding map layers.** For example, the hydrant inspection survey was linked to a map layer that contains hydrant locations and inspection data. The custom survey was then shared with collectors in the field, assigning them permissions to collect new data or update existing data from the field. The GIS Cloud web and mobile apps also provide a real-time overview of the entire water utility infrastructure. The field workers would take their smartphones and install the GIS Cloud [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app, find the survey on hydrants shared with them, and start filling in the **data entry forms regarding a specific asset** (eg. a hydrant). This allowed them to quickly and accurately collect field data and perform inspections (even when offline), at the same time saving a ton of paperwork. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-laptop-mob-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-laptop-mob-s.jpg) The data instantly appears in the GIS Cloud web and mobile apps as soon as it is collected, allowing the managers to **edit and review the data in real time**. More importantly, the application was easy to use and didn’t require any specialized training for their field crew. > *GIS Cloud enabled our employees to add different types of data such as sanitary network cleanups, inspections, and water shortages directly from the field.* > > *Siniša Čulić, GIS Officer in Liburnian Waters* [The mobile apps also ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/)allowed easy access to spatial data using smartphones and tablets with different levels of permissions (view, edit, and collect). That was especially useful to management as it allowed them to monitor the situation at any time regardless of the location or the device. To make **data accessible to the citizens, it was published online** through a branded map interface, which allowed citizens to determine whether their homes can be connected to the sewerage system. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Liburnijske-map-portal-s.jpg) To sum it up, the Liburnian Waters implemented GIS Cloud to introduce collaboration with coworkers, local government units and citizens, digital data collection and field inspections, an infrastructure overview, fast maintenance, and planning. In words of Siniša Čulić, GIS officer in the Water Supply and Drainage department: > *GIS Cloud enables collaboration between our company and local government units. Our management now has an overview of existing water infrastructure and drainage data on their smartphones while in the field. Moreover, our employees are using digital forms to enter information about sanitary network cleanups, field inspections, and water supply shortages. All data can be monitored from any location – with GIS Cloud Map Viewer; those who need accurate information now have a way to access it quickly and efficiently.* ## The Results After Digitizing the Company Workflow The new field data collection process improved the company’s productivity and reduced the time needed to collect the data (field inspection and maintenance, adding a new sanitary network, facilities, drainage, and water shortages data). All data is now available online to the office crews and management enabling them to plan their operations and prioritize tasks with more efficiency than ever. It also helped them to collaborate with local government units and citizens giving them access to different segments of spatial data. With the expertise and services of Smart Cloud staff, the regional GIS Cloud partner, Liburnian waters quickly implemented the entire system allowing them to transform their workflow in no time. The GIS Cloud mobile apps are user-friendly and didn’t require any specialized training for the field crew. The new solution significantly improved their coordination and communication. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-sanitary-shafts-logo.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Liburnijske-sanitary-shafts-logo.jpg) Encouraged by the excellent results achieved with GIS Cloud, Liburnian Waters are continuing to improve their business processes by ensuring the accuracy of collected infrastructure data. **Siniša Čulić listed the main reasons to use cloud software in water utilities:** - **Intuitive platform for collaboration with people within an organization, as well as with stakeholders from local government and citizens** - **Reasonable cloud service pricing in comparison to alternatives** - **Easy-to-use and doesn’t require additional training or IT resources.** ## SmartAqua: Solution for digitalization and fast recording of field data in water supply and drainage After extensive experience working with water supply companies and following the trends in water utility industry, which began to acknowledge the benefits of digitalization versus the paper-based workflow, GIS Cloud partners Smart Cloud joined forces with Jurica Kovač (Aqua Libera), an independent consultant with 27 years of experience with the management of public water supply systems, to surpass industry challenges. Together they launched [SmartAqua](http://smartaqua.co/), a solution built upon the GIS Cloud platform, specialized for the needs of water supply and drainage systems. This system of web and mobile apps provides a structured and efficient way to digitally record water losses, making data instantly available to managers, which results in efficient workflow organization and fast leak repairs. SmartAqua is equipped with **digital survey forms for recording and managing data on registered or unregistered leaks, different water system assets (hydrants, manholes, valves, etc.), water meter replacement and leak repair works**. Surveys can be customized according to the company’s data collection needs. Gathered data is accessible online through a map interface, and it is also represented on a SmartAqua dashboard with graphs and statistics. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/White-iphone-Mocqup-SmartAqua-formmap-eng-4-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/White-iphone-Mocqup-SmartAqua-formmap-eng-4-s.png) Implementing SmartAqua, water supply systems that have previously stored their data on paper or desktop solutions can finally have all their data gathered and managed in one place, accessible to anyone. Water infrastructure data is visually represented on a map, overlapped with all necessary information for the system, as well as images of assets from the field, as the proof of asset status. This transformation of data sharing, accessibility, and collaboration across departments or other organizations makes an enormous difference in the water utility industry, creating a modern digital workflow that will benefit the community as a whole. Want to find the right solution for your company? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Using Mobile Apps for Field Operations in Water and Sewer Utilities (Case Study, Australia) How GIS in the Cloud Helps Utility Organizations in their Digital Transformation Paving Company Efficiently Managing Operations Using Online GIS in Construction Industry Optimizing Operations with Online GIS in Sustainable Forestry (case study) GIS for Oil & Gas industry: Sharing Oil Field Maps Online (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Water Utilities --- ### [Accessibility Map of Zagreb for Persons in Wheelchairs (Collecting Lines Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/accessibility-map-of-zagreb-for-persons-in-wheelchairs-collecting-lines-case-study/) **Published:** September 10, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Accessibility map of zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map-of-zagreb.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map-of-zagreb.jpg) The main project goal was to create a map that shows sidewalk accessibility and wheelchair obstacles in the center of Zagreb to help people with disabilities. The case study also shows how mobile apps helped the Department of Geography to transform a paper-based field workflow into a digital one. People in wheelchairs face numerous **difficulties when moving in the streets**, such as high curbs, stairs, steep slopes, narrow or crowded sidewalks and sidewalks with damaged surfaces. All which makes it very difficult for them to move freely. Due to **improper infrastructure**, they often find themselves in situations where they need help from one or more persons, which discourages them from moving independently in the city. That is why the [Department of Geography](https://www.pmf.unizg.hr/geog/en) at the University of Zagreb started this project. The fieldwork and mapping were coordinated by Andrijana Horvat, a geography student, and Neven Tomečak, a student in a wheelchair. Professors Laura Šakaja, Ružica Vuk, Ksenija Bašić and Zoran Stiperski, acted as project leaders and supervisors. [You can explore the Accessibility Map here >](https://zagreb-access-map.giscloud.com/) ## **Project Implementation** To create a map, it was necessary to survey the given area in detail, for which eight students from the Department of Geography and eight students in the wheelchairs were engaged and divided into pairs. In a given area, each pair needed to **evaluate every segment of the street** (bounded by intersections) according to the given criteria: width, stairs, curbs, surface, slope, and crowdedness of sidewalk. Each criterion was appropriately rated: - 0 (self-passing), - 1 (self-passing with difficulties), - 2 (pass with the help of one person), - and 3 (unable to pass). By examining the mapping results, it was found that there were significant differences in the evaluation among the groups. So one pair of students was selected to redo the entire area and equalize the grades. [![Accessibility map of Zagreb](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map-of-zagreb-1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map-of-zagreb-1.jpg) In the meantime, there was an idea to present the research results through a **web GIS application** that would make it more convenient for users. It was decided to collect and visualize the data with the help of GIS Cloud apps. The initial mapping setup when the data was collected with paper forms and then manually uploaded to desktop GIS was time-consuming and tedious. The GIS Cloud apps enabled a lot more efficient data collection, analysis, and map creation. ## **Collecting field data – lines and points** Before going into the field, it was necessary to prepare the collection forms. In the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), one form was created for **line objects** that represent street segments, as well as attribute fields which represent the criteria, general score, and photo upload. Another form was created for pedestrian crossings that were collected as line objects with the general score field and additional notes. Also, a point layer was created for the sidewalk obstacles. The attributes assigned to points objects were: type of obstacles, barriers rating, photos, and additional notes. To collect the data, they utilized the [Mobile Data Collection app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and their smartphones. The ‘collect lines and polygons’ feature was of great help for ‘drawing’ line segments (sidewalks and especially pedestrian crossings) that could not be detected from Open Street Maps. The app made the field workflow feel like a breeze in contrast to the old paper-based one because the collected data instantly populated an online map in Map Editor. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/samo-mob2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/samo-mob2.png) “The MDC and Map Editor applications accelerated the work and provided a better way to collect data than the classic paper-based workflow.” Andrijana Horvat The greatest advantage of using these applications is that the field data was immediately available in the Map Editor and ready for further processing. Because of that, a long and complicated process of digitizing data from paper forms was discarded. ## **Creating the Web Application** The [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) application allows you to easily convert your map to a web GIS application with a custom user interface that can be created in a couple of hours. The app enables users to plan their way through the city and have an **insight into all the obstacles** they might encounter. Also, every line (sidewalk) and dot (obstruction) provide more detailed information about each criterion and picture. [![Accessibility map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accessibility-map.jpg) Creating a map portal in 3 steps: 1. 1. Create An Instance And Choose The Domain 2. 2. Add A Map And Customize The Toolbar 3. 3. Add Custom Tools To The Top Menu To learn how to create an online GIS application with Map Portal, take a look at this [walkthrough](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-app-development/). ## **The Results** The [accessibility map](https://zagreb-access-map.giscloud.com/) gives a clear insight into the infrastructure of the city for wheelchairs and can be an excellent starting point for implementing change because it indicates the problematic areas where the city authorities should intervene and solve problems. The next step is a project that will expand the accessibility map to other city areas and empower people using wheelchairs. Related content: Collecting all property data in Zarcero Canton in less than 2 months (Case Study from Costa Rica) Tram Station Asset Management in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) New Release: Collect Lines & Polygons with Mobile Data Collection! How to collect lines in the field using Mobile Data Collection app **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases --- ### [How Secure Is Your Data In The Cloud And Other Safety Tips](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/ask-an-engineer-how-safe-is-to-store-data-in-the-cloud-and-other-safety-tips/) **Published:** January 17, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Security-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Security-cover.png) It is important to know the basic facts about **cloud security**. That is why we decided to let you know the answers to common questions on the **safety of your data in the cloud** and the difference between public and private cloud servers. ## **Is It Safe To Store Personal Or Business Data In The Cloud?** In short, let’s put it this way – **Yes!** Cloud computing presents various information security challenges. However, modern-day industry standards have established clear guidelines and procedures that responsible cloud companies, such as GIS Cloud, regularly employ in order to enhance cloud system security. This includes adherence to strategies such as separation of concerns and domains, multi-layered perimeter defense, and established disaster recovery practices, among others. In the case of some cloud customers, the end result may even end up **enhancing the level of data safety**, compared to old-style on-premises systems that conform to obsolete information security standards. In GIS Cloud, all customer data is kept on computer systems that are **protected from unauthorized access**. We are using industry-standard access control systems, from physical machines in the AWS datacenters, to logical access by end-users, that are being carefully sequestered so that each user may only access their own data. All services are run in a way that their infrastructure is dedicated for their specific purposes, with carefully enumerated access vectors, all of which are under their relevant form of access control. This minimizes the chance that unauthorized access or some other form of intrusion can affect any other user. ## **GUI and API Protection** Each GIS Cloud data storage mechanism is bound to a **specific user account and/or API key**. Elements of GIS Cloud Maps, such as layers, data sources (files and databases alike), each have their own access control lists which are modifiable only by their owners and which can be specifically shared with other users without compromising access to unrelated data. We plan to introduce two-factor authentication for administrator and/or high-privilege role accounts in the future. ## **Public and Private Cloud (On-Premises)** GIS Cloud offers a **private cloud solution**, the so-called “firewall install”, where our software is deployed on the user’s infrastructure, thereby allowing the user complete control over all of the data uploaded to their systems through GIS Cloud applications. User’s infrastructure in such a case can be hosted both **on-premises** or even at some other **third-party facility**, such as dedicated parts of AWS, allowing for any amount of flexibility the user needs. The GIS Cloud **firewall install** by default does **not maintain** any **contact** with the **Internet**, allowing the user to be protected from any threats that may arise there. At the same time, there are software facilities that allow this solution to connect and share data with other data sources, including public GIS Cloud data storage, allowing for a hybrid cloud solution that may best fit the user needs. ## **Backups and Disaster Recovery** GIS Cloud provides a **comprehensive API** (application programming interface) that allows users to perform **complete backups** of everything they’ve ever uploaded to the GIS Cloud platform. In addition, GIS Cloud itself keeps **regular backups**, that are available for restoration upon **request**. ## **GIS Cloud Servers Location, Access and Security Tasks** GIS Cloud manages **multiple redundant Amazon server farms** in the **United States,** **Europe**, and **Australia**, with plans to expand to other continents. GIS Cloud private cloud solutions have been deployed both in the United States and across Europe, as well as other continents. GIS Cloud monitors its computer and network systems for availability and general security. **We are making sure any security vulnerabilities that could impact user data are resolved and/or mitigated with priority.** Customers are expected to guard the safety of their own user accounts and be mindful of whether they want to publish data on public portals or share it with private settings. The **GIS Cloud API** allows users to retrieve all the uploaded data, which means they can port the same data to a different service or a different provider at any time. GIS Cloud also allows access via various protocols such as **OGC** (Open Geospatial Consortium) standards like **WMS**, allowing the same data to be used with external applications. In addition, GIS Cloud can also read data that resides in [**external PostGIS databases**,](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-estate-case-study-displaying-your-own-postgis-database-on-gis-cloud/) and [**ORACLE database**](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connect-external-oracle-database-new-gis-cloud-release/), meaning it’s not necessary to upload a copy of the same data to GIS Cloud, rather, it can be shared. GIS Cloud regularly monitors service usage and makes sure there are enough resources for all users and typical usage peaks. [GIS Cloud Support](mailto:support@giscloud.com) will notify users whose usage exceeds the parameters in such a way that may require changes in order to adjust to the circumstances. We recommend that all user accounts are protected with **reasonably strong passwords** and that the individual account owners are made to understand the nature and impact of various data sharing options made available by GIS Cloud. For users who are particularly **mindful of security** and have their own network security infrastructure that they’d like to use to protect data within GIS Cloud apps, we recommend the **GIS Cloud Firewall Install.** We encourage you to [**Contact GIS Cloud**](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) for any additional information and [**Sign Up**](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) to try out our fast and reliable online GIS solution! Related content: Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration GIS Solutions for Government – Data Publishing Case Study Attach Media Files, Documents and Much More to Your Map Data in GIS Cloud Manage Your Geospatial Data Live with GIS Cloud and Desktop Integration **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Amazon Servers, Amazon Web Servers in Australia, API, Ask an Engineer, Cloud API, Cloud Data, Cloud Infrastructure and Security, firewall install, GIS, GIS Cloud, How Safe is to Store Data in the Cloud, On premises, Private Cloud, public and private cloud, public cloud, Safe Data, safety tips, security expert, servers, store data --- ### [Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study - Croatia)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/data-management-in-viticulture-using-online-gis-case-study-croatia/) **Published:** April 29, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Viticulture-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Viticulture-cover.png) *Ana Jantoš a Geography – GIS student from the University of Science in Zagreb wrote this case study to show how* ***online GIS*** *can make a crucial improvement in* ***vineyard management****. Besides creating an online database for inventory management and decision making, she states that GIS also helps to **identify areas** that can have a good impact on the future expansion of viticulture as an activity and a significant increase in production and yields.* Viticulture is a branch of agriculture that involves cultivation and grape production, and as such requires a lot of effort and time. As the proverb says, *“The vine seeks a servant, not a master.”* Croatian viticulture and winemaking has a long and rich tradition. In the past, it was of vital importance and thanks to the diversity of climatic and pedological conditions, a large number of indigenous species were developed, which is a special feature of Croatian viticulture and winemaking. Dealing with culturing vines for my own family needs made me think of GIS contribution to the cultivation and production of the vine. The main project goal was to **create a Database along with a map that shows vine species and their characteristics**, which are crucial for vine production. Those characteristics are also crucial for easier **maintenance and management** of the whole process. Due to an effort to improve viticulture and winemaking, it would be desirable to have a **database that could constantly be updated**. It is also necessary to **improve monitoring** of the vine condition and finished work in vineyards. This can be **easily achieved** with the GIS Cloud applications. Properly constructed layers with a correct database could be a great help, especially in larger vineyard areas where it is hard to track all of the data for thousands of vines. ## **Collecting Field Data to Create the Vineyard Map** To create a database and a map, it was necessary to find a way of mapping **over 2000 vines** in the vineyard. To make the database more systematic, vine rows and parcels needed to be mapped and collected along with the vine data. The best way to map all preliminary data due to the high density of vines was to take an **aerial photograph** of the vineyard using a drone which took about 15 minutes. After that, the aerial image of a 0.5-hectare vineyard had to be georeferenced, and the projection was added. Now, the aerial photograph was ready to be added to the map in Map Editor. The next step was to **map each vine and add its attributes and photos in the** [**Map Editor app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). There was another way of mapping the vines which includes the [**Mobile Data Collection app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) (MDC). After adding an aerial photograph to the map, you can create a custom form for data collection and link it to the map. In the MDC app, you need to find your form, fill in the attribute data and add photos, and **pinpoint each vine** to draw a feature on the map. Attributes can be associated with any vine cultivation or wine production data. In this case study, I chose the following attributes for the vine layers: - vine ID - vine species - row - vine health condition - overall vine condition - planting year - and pruning of the vine The most common vine sort in this vineyard is *Frankovka.* The Jukić family is cultivating these vine sorts because of the alluvial and loess soil which is suitable for it. This sort has proven to be excellent for the production of wine *Feravino* *Frankovka* and *Rose*, which exude quality. Each vine species was **marked with the appropriate color** by a grape symbol: - Blue – Muškat Ottonel - Yellow – Plemenka bijela - Purple – Frankovka In order to make the most of the space and bring higher yields and income, I decided to make another dot layer that represents the **places of possible planting** of new vines. The layer is marked with a plant symbol which in this case represents planting. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Vinyard-data-collection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Vinyard-data-collection.png) In order to make **vine digitalization** easier, the line layer representing vine rows and the polygon layer of the study area were first created in Map Editor. The **vine rows** layer has its number and length, while the study area layer has attributes about cadastral data, including the cadastral office, cadastral municipality, parcel number, owner info, and the area. The **study area** layer was made according to the Croatian *ZIS* (“Common land registry and cadaster information system”). You can also add whatever attribute is relevant to your case. For example, you can add attributes such as fertilization, type of vine disease, applied chemicals for disease treatment, the date and time of collecting those data in the field, pictures, voice recordings, etc. ## **Displaying Data in a Custom and Branded GIS App** If you want to display your data through a customized interface, the [**Map Portal app**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) is a great way to do it. The Map Portal is a **custom GIS application** that enables easy displaying of your **mapping data to the public**. It is a good solution as it reduces effort, paperwork, costs and saves time. The **public map** enables viewers to visualize, search, and explore presented data. It also provides access to maps on any device, smartphone, tablet, or desktop at any time. One of the Map Portal characteristics is that you can make a **personalized logo and domain**, but also **custom user interface and tools**. This is a great way to gain an insight into specific information or learn something new. This is very useful in industries where employees work in a particular area, as they can **see what jobs need to be done or which have already been done** by their colleagues. For example, in this case study, you can see the **health condition of the vines**. Further examination should be made for unhealthy vines, and specific treatment methods must be applied. People in charge of treating vines will be able to access the data easily and know the exact locations of the vines which need to be inspected. ## **Benefits of Using Online GIS in Vineyard Management** Creating an **adequate database** with the following layers and the map can significantly improve and systemize data. The GIS Cloud apps enable fast and easy creation of **maps and datasets that can be published or shared with certain people**. Most of the work that needs to be done in vineyards can easily be recorded and tracked with either the **MDC or Map Editor app**. Maps are an excellent tool for a **better representation and observation** of specific phenomena than the data in tables. For example, mapping and analyzing vineyards allows us to see things from a different perspective, so I noticed areas that would be suitable for planting new vines. Spatial data (with its coordinates) stored in the application gives us precise locations of the **vine that needs to be pruned, treated, and fertilized**, all without remembering which row and number of the vine are in question. All it takes for the application to contain all the necessary information is to enter the vine location with the following data in the app immediately in the field. In addition, it would be possible to add attributes that would represent the number of grapes harvested in a row, parcel, etc. throughout the year and the amount of wine produced per year. Those data could be used for **further analysis of yields and income** over a longer period of time. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Vineyard-and-datagrid-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Vineyard-and-datagrid-1.png) Databases give information on all types of vine characteristics, which were **collected and recorded in the field**, closely connected to the location, making work and data management easier. The database can be constantly updated and new data can be added. The important fact is that the older data can also be archived, and stored online. The GIS Cloud applications are quite intuitive and could be used by users who encounter GIS for the first time. Using GIS in viticulture can be a good practice that can make things easier for you. It is simple to use and helpful for mapping and analyzing data. One of the most useful advantages is the **automatic saving of data**, so you would not be concerned whether the data is lost, you forgot to save it or your device ran out of battery. This way, you save your time, money, and it is more environmentally friendly because it does not require a lot of paperwork. If you manage a vineyard and need a simple and fast, but reliable solution for tracking vine health and needed jobs, [Sign Up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) and try GIS Cloud for free, or [contact GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) to help you find the best solution. Related content: Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) GIS Cloud and Power BI – Infrastructure Management with InfraTrace Using Drones and Online GIS for Precision Agriculture in Greece – Case Study Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, collaboration, data collection, Data Managment Viticulture, GIS, GIS agriculture, GIS grape managment, GIS in Agriculture, GIS in Viticulture, GIS Viticluture, GIS wine, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection, online gis viticulture, vegetation GIS, viticulture case study, Viticulture project, wine making case study, Wine making GIS --- ### [Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/certified-gis-cloud-advanced-course/) **Published:** April 8, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GIS-Cloud-Advanced-course-cover-1.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GIS-Cloud-Advanced-course-cover-1.png) **Advanced Course** is designed to offer deep and valuable insight into GIS Cloud workflows for more experienced platform users. Save your seat and become a **certified GIS Cloud expert!** The intention is to introduce and demonstrate the diversity of advanced GIS Cloud app features to clients. The course is meant to power experienced clients with numerous advanced workflows to get the most from GIS Cloud apps. Even though GIS Cloud apps are user friendly, this course will help you to significantly speed up your everyday workflow and you’ll discover some awesome tips & tricks to achieving optimal outcomes. Course schedule: **Day I – Advanced data collection and map management** - - Data preparation - Table editing - Forms Manager (work on existing data, add items in bulk through JSON, advanced autofill – pull data from other layers, work on multiple layers within the same map) - Map preparation/optimization - Data overview (filtering, selections) Day I covers more advanced Map Editor options such as table editing, advanced form creation (advanced autofill, JSON, etc.), tips and tricks for map optimization, data review and analysis. **Day II – Integration and customization** - - - QGIS Publisher - Advanced data sharing - WMS/WFS - Custom map/layer options (search, highlight) - Custom applications Day II covers desktop and cloud integration through Publishers and WMS/WFS options, advanced data sharing and collaboration options, custom map and layer options and creating branded applications. Each session contains a **Q&A section.** First advanced course will be held for **two days** on **April 28 – 29 at 3PM (CEST)** Duration per session will be 3 hours. In the meantime, if you’ve purchased an [Annual Map Editor Subscription](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) in March or April, you’ll get one **free seat** on the course; **1 licence = 1 seat**. Purchase must be made before the beginning of the course date. **The price for this awesome certified course is 300$** Upon completion, you will be able to obtain a **GIS Cloud Certificate.** In order to get it, you’ll need to complete a written exam with a practical assignment. You will be able to take the exam **once** within the **3 months** following the course completion. In case the exam is failed, you can attend the next course within this 3 month period and try again, but for an additional fee. Don’t hesitate, **reach out to** [**education@giscloud.com**](mailto:education@giscloud.com) **and apply!** The advanced course is designed for **existing premium clients** who already have experience using the GIS Cloud platform or have attended the GIS Cloud [Crash Course](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/courses/). We recommend that clients attend Crash Course before proceeding to Advanced Course. If you still wish to attend the Advanced Course please note that you will need to demonstrate your basic knowledge in GIS Cloud apps through a quiz. **Requirements for attending are:** - - - - **Basic GIS Cloud platform knowledge** Clients must be familiar with the basic [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) features, such as creating basic projects in [MDC Portal](https://mdc.giscloud.com/), collecting data, uploading data, creating maps, editing maps and layers and visualisation of data - - - - **Access to Map Editor app** Clients need to have a yearly subscription to GIS Cloud Map Editor application - - - - **Downloaded education materials** Before the session starts, our team will send you learning materials with adequate data sets you’ll use throughout the course. Optional: - - - - **QGIS or ArcMap software implementation** If you are using QGIS or ArcMap desktop GIS solutions for you will learn how to integrate desktop and cloud-based GIS within your workflow. You can download the corresponding[ Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) and[ Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) to get ready. All our clients will highly benefit from these courses. You will learn advanced setups and app functionalities, shorten the working time and transform your business workflow! For more detailed **info and application** please contact [**education@giscloud.com**](mailto:education@giscloud.com) and visit our [**Learning Center!**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base/gis-cloud-advanced-courses/) ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by an expert GIS Cloud instructor. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, encourage discussions and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: GIS Cloud Advanced Course and new certification opportunities! GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Launches Learning Center! **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, Education, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [New Year, New GIS Cloud Monthly Crash Courses!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-year-new-gis-cloud-monthly-crash-courses/) **Published:** February 2, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-2021-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GIS-Cloud-Crash-Courses-2021-cover-s.png) We are happy to announce a new series of Crash Courses in February, starting with: - **Intro to Mobile Data Collection – February 4, 2021 – 3PM CET.** - **Intro to Map Editor – February 11, 2021 – 3PM CET.** The intention is to introduce the diversity of **GIS Cloud apps to new clients**. The courses are formed for beginners as well as experienced users, and demonstrate numerous beneficial workflows within the apps. Even though GIS Cloud apps are user friendly, these courses will significantly speed up the onboarding process for new customers and discover some awesome tips to achieve an optimal workflow for your business. ### **Intro to Mobile Data Collection** This crash course will save you the trouble of finding essential information on your own and give you an immeasurable starting point on creating **custom surveys and collecting field data** with GIS Cloud **Mobile Data Collection** app. The course will give you an insight into the **complete solution for field data collection and visualization**, tracking teams and jobs in real time, and enabling collaboration with colleagues. No need to export data, you can carry out your entire project using just one online GIS solution. **Intro to Mobile Data Collection Crash Course will be held on February 4, 2021 – 3PM CET.** ### **Intro to Map Editor** This crash course will help you master the basics of creating maps with your data directly in GIS Cloud and making them available online privately or publicly. Maps created in Map Editor will give you an excellent visual overview of the data, allow analysis and tracking the progress of mapping projects, as well as field data collection, all in real-time! You will additionally learn how to share the maps with colleagues to collaborate (collect, edit and style data) and stakeholders who only require a quick overview of the data. **Intro to Map Editor Crash Course will be held on February 11, 2021 – 3PM CET.** All our clients can highly benefit from these courses. You will learn about basic setups and app functionalities. You will shorten the onboarding time and transform your company workflow from paper to digital! ‍All GIS Cloud clients that have annual or monthly **active subscriptions** for [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) and [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **can apply** for onboarding guided crash course at: Find more detailed info about the Crash Courses in our [**Learning Center!**](https://manual.giscloud.com/knowledge-base-category/courses/) ## **Instructor-Led Learning Sessions** Courses are taught by an expert GIS Cloud instructor. Learning sessions emphasize best practices, encourage discussions and hands-on exercises. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Barbara-T-GC-team-s.jpg) ### Barbara Telebec **Solutions Consultant** As a GIS practitioner for over eight years and an expert in GIS Cloud technology and platform, Barbara specializes in empowering anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. She will help you to master any task using GIS Cloud apps to obtain optimal workflow for any short or long term project. If you have any questions about the program, send us an email at: Related content: GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  Certified GIS Cloud Advanced Course GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Educational Workshop With Indigenous Mapping GIS Cloud Services **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** advanced learning courses, Cloud GIS, collaboration, courses, data collection, Education, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, Mobile Data Collection --- ### [Engaging The Citizens In District Heating Management (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/engaging-the-citizens-in-district-heating-management-a-case-study/) **Published:** October 6, 2015 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![District heating network management gis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-heating-network-management-gis-1024x536.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-heating-network-management-gis.jpg) The City of Cluj and other parts of Romania face severe challenges because, in the last decade, more than **50,000 apartments** have **disconnected** from the **district heating system** and switched to **micro-heating units**. That’s why Mihai Iepure from the Faculty of Geography at the University of Cluj-Napoca wanted to **modernise the district heating network** by implementing GIS Cloud technology**.** ## **Improving The Heating System Is The Biggest District Challenge** The District Heating Maintenance and Upgrade**,** in charge of the supply of heating and hot water in the City of Cluj, required improvements**.** To make the system more efficient and preserve the district heating infrastructure, improving the maintenance and monitoring systems was essential. The central idea was to assist Cluj-Napoca’s citizens in managing **their own district heating** with an **interactive overview** of the heating infrastructure. It was essential to **improve** the district heating system’s **overall efficiency**. This meant upgrading the network, modernising boilers, pipelines and insulation, diminishing heat loss, and improving overall efficiency. > “If we were to look at the GIS implementation in local administration in Cluj-Napoca, the second-largest city in Romania, there is not much to see. The institutions are not very eager to invest money in something they do not believe in. They see only the financial part of the investment, but not the results and benefits this new technology brings. The same thing goes with the Autonomous Administration for District Heating (AADH). > > **Mihai Iepure, University of Cluj-Napoca** ## **The Online GIS Solution For The Heat Network Management** The best solution for this type of challenge is an **interactive web-based map**. It was essential to gather information about the district heating power plants, like: - exact position (GPS) - address - WGS84 - stereo 70 coordinates - water temperatures - contact information in case of emergency - pipe types - isolation material used for the pipes - other types of data provided by the AADH The next step was to acquire a **graphical database** from the local GIS and cartography company, MicroMapper SRL. The dataset was then edited in a local ArcGIS environment and uploaded to the GIS Cloud platform, using our [**Publisher for ArcMap**](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) extension. The upload was fast, and most importantly, it **didn’t alter the symbology** which was really important due to the complexity of the project. The map was further improved with the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) web application, where they had the possibility of **real-time editing** and **sharing** the information. [![District heating network management interactive map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-Heating-Management-interactive-map-2-1024x520.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-Heating-Management-interactive-map-2.png) [Click for the results of the project.](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/209486/regia-autonoma-de-termoficare-cluj-napoca-aplicatie-interactiva) The project resulted in an **interactive online map** which was easy to access and navigate by any of the Cluj-Napocas residents. Now they could effortlessly find the data they needed by simply searching their building by street address in the application, zoom in and get the info they needed. For example, if they have a hot water or heating system failure, they can find out which station they are connected to, and immediately know who to call about the issue. > “At the moment, AADH does not use any GIS, even though large amounts of money have been invested in the development, modernisation and keeping up-to-date the public heating network in Cluj-Napoca. > Having this in mind, I thought why not create an application for everybody to use to ease somehow the “relationship” between the AADH, as the provider of service, and the population.” > > **Mihai Iepure, University of Cluj-Napoca** This project also has the potential to be further utilized for **district heating monitoring and maintenance**. It could be used for an overview of the infrastructure and technical parameters required for different types of operations like: - number of blocks or flats assigned to the power plant - technical info (working temperatures, pressures, fuel type, modernization date) - contact info in case of emergency [![District heating network management interactive map 2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-heating-management-interactive-map-1024x400.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/District-heating-management-interactive-map.png) Mihai Iepure said that this project highlighted all the benefits of **implementing GIS Cloud technology**, such as: - facilitating access to information of public interest for citizens or access to project’s data to clients - online-based platforms support having a large number of simultaneous users in applications - system implementation costs are relatively low - the introduction, maintenance and updating of data is centralised and in real-time If you are interested in utilising GIS Cloud as a solution for your project, [Sign up for the free 14-day trial!](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) You can also contact our [Solution Consultants ](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/)to help you set up a desirable, customised GIS Cloud solution for your specific needs and workflow! Related content: Engaging Citizens with the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing App Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) Landfill Maintenance and Management: A Remediation Project Case Study Data Management in Viticulture Using Online GIS (Case study – Croatia) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Case Study, Cluj-Napoca, collaboration, consulting, district heating, geospatial, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS heating, Heating, Heating Plant, local government, local governments, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping, maps, Mihai Iepure, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, online GIS, Power Plant, project, Publisher for Arc GIS --- ### [GIS Day Contest 2020 - Apply Now](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-day-contest-2020-apply-now/) **Published:** November 17, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GIS-Day-Contest-2020-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GIS-Day-Contest-2020-cover.png) While the Geoawareness week is in the full swing, thousands of Geogeeks worldwide focus on the importance of geography and celebrate the **International GIS Day!** Like every year we are joining the celebration by launching yet another **GIS Day Contest** to promote initiatives and project ideas that influence advancement and sustainability in local communities around the world. Win an **award for the best mapping project** idea by entering our **GIS Day Contest 2020**, open from **November 18th to November 27th.** The main goal of the contest is to promote the initiative in creating meaningful mapping projects that contribute to communities around the world. Also, to motivate **non-profit organizations, citizens, college students, academic staff, and start-ups** to engage in the development of their local communities using modern GIS technologies. GIS Cloud team will select the best project ideas and help winners in the project’s realization. Just like last year, the **contest has a theme.** We have noticed an increasing need for sustainable projects dealing with **vegetation management, forestry, tree/plants maintenance and inspection, and other environmental issues** around the world. We are giving **three awards to** projects in the **vegetation and environmental sector.** To qualify for this category, apply your project with a suggested or similar theme from our list below. We are also giving **one additional award** if you wish to apply for **any other type of mapping project** which is not related to the given vegetation management topic. **Recommended themes**: - Vegetation Management Database and/or Inventory - Urban Tree Management Programs - Vegetation and/or Tree Inspections and Maintenance - Vegetation and/or Tree Care - Vegetation Management in Utility Infrastructure - Tracking Tree Incidents and Fires - Tree Management - Mapping Vegetation Diseases and Tree Infections - Vegetation Survey Programs - Vegetation Sustainability Programs - Reforestation Projects - Forestry and Vegetation Management Impacting Climate Change - Improving Forest Management - Predictive Vegetation Analysis If you have a project or idea on any of these or similar themes, be sure to apply for the GIS Day Contest. ## **What Do We Offer?** We will award the top **3 + 1 project** ideas with: - **Support in conducting the project idea (GIS Cloud Premium subscriptions for free, including storage and full user support)** - **Project promotion** - **GIS Cloud acknowledgement and certification of participation** ## **Who Can Apply?** Citizens, non-profit organizations and companies all around the world! Suppose you are a college/university student or attending school, part of the academic staff, an activist, start-up company, an organization or a person who wants to make a valuable contribution to a local community. In that case, you can apply for the 2020 GIS Day Contest. One of the main criteria for selecting the best project ideas is that it has social relevance. ## **Examples Of Project Ideas** Find out a bit about some awesome projects that won GIS Day contests in the previous years, successfully completed their goals and helped their communities. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-cover-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Landslides-cover-s.png) Landslides in the Kivu region caused significant socio-economic destruction where people lost their homes and family. These events have deeply impacted the population. African NGO from the Democratic Republic of Congo integrated desktop and online GIS workflow to create a heatmap that would emphasise the hotspots of the landslides and help predict the future development risks of this region. [Read their case study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/landslide-prediction-mapping-for-safe-housing-and-construction-planning-using-gis/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kumba-cover.png) Another excellent example is an African NGO that mapped water taps for the entire population of Kumba in Cameroon to ensure safe water and decrease the risk of WASH-related diseases. They plan to continue their efforts throughout Cameroon and introduce new data collection approaches and provide visual and secure access to clean drinking water. [Read their case study](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-water-taps-to-ensure-wash-infrastructure-and-safe-drinking-water-for-the-entire-population-of-kumba-cameroon/) [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mobility-map-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mobility-map-cover.jpg) Students from Zagreb, Croatia applied for GIS Cloud contest last year, and their project idea was recognised as a valuable endeavour, winning free licenses to execute their plan. They envisioned this project to collect all relevant data in the city, which facilitates the daily activities of people with disabilities. [Read their report](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-handicap-parking-and-other-assets-to-improve-the-mobility-of-people-with-disabilities-case-study/) ### Contest Guidelines Contest submissions will be judged on the following criteria: - **Community impact** - **Realisation potential (is it realistic that the project will be accomplished within one year)** - **The originality of the idea and innovative application of geo-technology** **Note:** You don’t have to worry about presenting a detailed project plan. We are rewarding an idea, not the fully elaborated project. GIS Cloud will assist with project elaboration and technical support for setting up the project. \* **Non-profit organizations** can compete with their existing projects in the **special awards category.** ### Contest Entry Requirement At least one member of your team must possess the English skills necessary for correspondence with the GIS Cloud team and filling in the submission form. ### Deadline For Applications November 27th, 2020 (00:00 in your timezone) ### Results Winners will be announced within two weeks of the application deadline. If you have any questions about the GIS Day contest, [contact us here](mailto:marketing@giscloud.com). ### **Apply For GIS Day Contest By Filling In The Submission Form:** Your Name Contact Email City ZIP code Country Name of organization Type of organization —IndividualGroup of peopleNonprofit organization/NGOAssociationsStartupOther Project Name Project Description (max 500 words) How will your project contribute to the local community or the society in general? (max 250 words) Describe which resources you will need to conduct the project. Do you have the technological means to execute the project as per the project description? (Computers and/or mobile phones, Internet connection, additional software or hardware if needed) Do you need support from governmental and non-governmental institutions to conduct the project or can you collect all your data by yourself? Describe how you will ensure the availability of data in case you need support from external organizations. Number of Participants Names of the Participants Project timeframe Project location Related content: Top 10 Most Read Articles And The 2020 Review GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS For Vegetation Management Beekeeping and Reforestation in Response to Climate Change – WeForest (Case Study) Webinar Recording – GIS Cloud Solution for Vegetation Management **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** climate change, Cloud GIS, collaboration, crowdsourcing, data collection, data visualisation, environment, environmental monitoring, field data collection, Forest Preservation, forestry, Geo Awareness Week, Geography Awareness Week, GIS, GIS Cloud, GIS Day Contest, Map Portal, mapping, Mapping Trees, Mobile Data Collection, NGO, nonprofit, Tree Maintenance, Tree Management, use case, vegetation, vegetation managment, vegetation utility --- ### [GIS Cloud Launches Learning Center!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-launches-learning-center/) **Published:** July 29, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Learning-Center-cover.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Learning-Center-cover.png) With the immense effort of our **Customer Success and Support team**, we have created a new and improved [**Learning Center** ](https://manual.giscloud.com/)that offers everything you need to know about **GIS Cloud applications and platform!** There are plenty of **new materials** that will guide you step by step in creating a unique **GIS Cloud workflow suited just for your business needs**. The purpose is to assist our clients on how to use the GIS Cloud platform more effective and improve their everyday task productivity. With this Learning Center, we wanted to create a better user experience through with a simple and intuitive structure. Here’s what you will find in our **Learning Center**: **1. Knowledge Base** - **Apps and Features** – Here, you can find articles and information about our apps and features explaining their functionality and purposes. - **User guides** – This is a base that will guide you through your GIS Cloud workflow step by step. You will learn how to set up your account, get advice on how to collect field data in real time, create amazing maps, collaborate and share them with your users, the public and much more! **2. Developers Center** Our Developer’s Center provides you with useful info on leveraging the GIS Cloud platform. It contains introductory texts, HOWTO’s, API documentation, and various other things valuable to developers. It will help you leverage the GIS Cloud platform, whether you’re taking advantage of the API’s integration with our applications or building your own. **3. Latest Webinars and Tutorials** In this section, you will find the latest webinars and video tutorials that explain in detail our products and services and how to implement them into your everyday workflow. **4. Blog** In our blog section, you can find news on our products, features, services and exciting case studies that will help you recognise specific GIS Cloud solutions and implement them into your business workflow. Since GIS Cloud started, we introduced the cloud approach and helped thousands of users get acquainted with the advantages and power of GIS. We aimed to help them **achieve** their **business goals, resolve crucial workflow issues** and get the **immediate, measurable results**. Now with this new Learning Center, both GIS and non-GIS experts alike can **quickly grasp** all the essential features, but also master advanced functionalities with just a couple of clicks on the screen. We will update and improve it daily, according to your feedback. Learn how to use GIS Cloud products to **lead and **organise** your **business**, **teams** and **projects**, **reducing workload** and **paperwork** – your essential **strategy for success**! For any additional information, please contact our [Support team](mailto:support@giscloud.com).** Related content: GIS Cloud Learning Center and Support GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply For New Series Of Learning Sessions! GIS Cloud Online In-Depth Certificate Program – Apply for new round of learning sessions! Using Crowdsourcing to Restore the Historical City Center of Mantova, Italy (Case Study) GIS Cloud is Launching Monthly Crash Courses!  **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Cloud GIS, consulting, developers center, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, gis learning sessions, learning center, manual, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, mapping apps, maps, Mobile Data Collection, user guides --- ### [Virtual Conference “Power-Ops Security Nigeria” presenting a case on: “Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud”](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/virtual-conference-power-ops-security-nigeria-presenting-a-case-on-fighting-electricity-theft-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** July 14, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Agora-Virtual-Conf-cover.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Agora-Virtual-Conf-cover.jpg) A virtual conference “Power – Ops Security Nigeria” held by [Agora Nexus ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/agoranexus/)in collaboration with GIS Cloud will be carried out on Wednesday 22nd July 12.00-13.30 (BST) / 13:00-14:30 (UTC) in Lagos. [Uche Anyalewechi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/uche-anyalewechi-89186544/), Manager of GIS Projects at [Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc](https://www.linkedin.com/company/enugudisco/) will be leading a session on **“Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud”.** If you wish to **register**, please contact: GIS software has been **empowering** the electric utility industry for decades. It provides a robust framework for asset and workforce management as well as tools for planning and analysis which are especially powerful for online collaboration. Electric utility companies across Nigeria struggle with [electricity theft](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/use-case-mapping-electricity-network-assets-with-customer-enumeration-in-real-time/). The **illegal connections** to the power grid generate **huge losses** and are a hazard for locals. GIS technology can help mitigate the problem by enabling real-time insights and proper **electric network visualization**. It is crucial to have an **accurate asset inventory** with electric poles, transformers, cable lines, substations, and other electric utility assets properly mapped. GIS allows you to manage the asset data a lot easier and enables you to take insight from the infrastructure. With a properly set up **GIS suite**, you can get amazing insights from infrastructure data by: - Analyzing usage patterns - Recognizing problems and risks like power outages - Having oversight about energy consumption - Finding potential threats to the power grid - Managing utility asset repairs [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MacBook-Mockup-Viewer-Electric-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MacBook-Mockup-Viewer-Electric-s.png) [Agora Nexus](https://www.agoranexus.com/) is a company whose initiative is to bring together key participants within **West Africas Oil and Energy industries** and address the security issues and challenges of the future and ongoing projects. In collaboration with GIS Cloud, Agora Nexus is organizing an online, virtual conference with a leading session from our partner in Nigeria **Uche Anyalewechi, Manager of GIS Projects** at [Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)](https://www.enugudisco.com/). Uche is going to talk about how utilizing [**GIS Cloud solution** into their business](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-recording-fighting-electricity-theft-with-gis-cloud/) helped efficiently map the electricity network improving the decision-making process in their company, and helped mitigate electricity theft. Implementing GIS Cloud into their everyday workflow proved to be the **best solution for their entire business**. Energy theft contributes significantly to the predominant high ATC & C losses recorded by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria. The GIS approach towards the mitigation of this escalating phenomenon is worth discussing. EEDC used the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) application to collect data on substations, transformers, and electric poles, as well as for customer indexing purposes. The collected data was instantly visualized in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) application, resulting in the **spatial model of the electric network assets and customers.** The feedback was easily communicated using the [Map Viewer app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/), which also enabled them to effortlessly **share data with the stakeholders** in Senior Management. The stakeholders were able to view the data in the cloud using a simple branded interface with custom options and access it anytime, from any location. Uche Anyalewechi has relevant Nigerian experiences on mitigating energy theft leveraging GIS Cloud Platform and will share the same during this session – “**Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud**”. In his 40 minute talk, he will discuss the **use of GIS** and how it can assist with energy theft prevention with his use case example and the work he has don inside EEDC. Agora Nexus will moderate the session and encourage a two-way conversation with questions to help participants understand their issues better and see the possible solutions with the help of GIS. There will also be an **official Q&A session** with Uche Anyalewechi after the presentation. Once more, if you wish to **register**, please contact: Related content: Fighting electricity theft in Nigeria with GIS technology (Case Study) Webinar Recording: Fighting Electricity Theft with GIS Cloud Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) UrbanGIS Presenting GIS Cloud Solutions at Kortdage Conference in Denmark FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, conference, consulting, data collection, field data collection, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Portal, Map Viewer, Mobile Data Collection, recording --- ### [Connect External ORACLE Database - New GIS Cloud Release!](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/connect-external-oracle-database-new-gis-cloud-release/) **Published:** June 9, 2020 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Oracle-Cover2.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Oracle-Cover3.png) We are happy to announce that our developers have implemented a new feature regarding external connections in our Database Manager. In the GIS Cloud [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) web application, it’s now possible to **connect and view the data** from your external [ORACLE](https://www.oracle.com/index.html) **database!** So far, it has been possible to connect only the [PostGIS database](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/real-estate-case-study-displaying-your-own-postgis-database-on-gis-cloud/) in GIS Cloud. However, many companies, especially public and government sectors, use **Oracle database software and technology solutions** as key-solutions to solving the problems of information management. Here at GIS Cloud, we continuously strive to provide an efficient, dedicated and innovative level of service and support to our clients. This is a big step towards the integration of **external GIS database solutions** and the consolidation of data management. At the moment, we offer a **read-only solution**, meaning you won’t be able to import or create new data. This means that users won’t be able to edit the table structure and existing attribute data inside the GIS Cloud web app. However, you can visually represent the data on a map, access all the connected information as well as perform classifications and primary selections. Follow these easy steps to connect to your External Oracle Database: 1\. Open Tools tab 2\. Open Database Manager 3\. In the Database Connection section, click “New” [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-Editor-New-Database-connection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Map-Editor-New-Database-connection.png) A new window will open where you can choose from the dropdown menu list **“Oracle Spatial”**. Please fill in the connection information and press “Save” to connect to your external Oracle database. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Database-connection.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Database-connection.png) **Note**: Feel **free to test** your connection before saving the database parameters to make sure everything is in the right order. You can always **edit** your database connection parameters **afterward.** ## **Database Connection** You need to enter the following information to connect to Oracle Database connection: **Host** – this is presumably your IP address. This has to be a public IP address, reachable from the Internet, not a private one (if your address is 10.x.y.z, 192.168.x.y, **that won’t work**). **Port** – keep the default **port 1521**, unless you have explicitly set the database differently. **Service name** – SID of your database. **Username** – this is the name of the **database user** that connects to the before-mentioned database. Please note that this option is case sensitive. **Password** – This is the **database password**. Please note that this option is case sensitive. Besides **Oracle Spatial,** we offer a connection to the external PostGIS database with **read/write** permissions. This gives you more control over your data within GIS Cloud apps. If you wish to try this new feature, please[ Log in](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-in/) or [Sign up.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) Related content: GIS For Real Estate – Display Your PostGIS Database In GIS Cloud Using GIS Cloud With External Databases Archive and Restore Maps – New GIS Cloud Release! Achieve Higher Precision in the Mobile Data Collection App with External GPS Receivers GIS Cloud at the MundoGEO#Connect Latin America 2017 **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** cloud, Cloud GIS, collaboration, data collection, Database, GIS, GIS Cloud, local government, local governments, Map Editor, Oracle --- ### [Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with GIS Cloud (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/monitoring-a-mosquito-infestation-with-gis-cloud-case-study/) **Published:** September 12, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** [![Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/feature_komarci_800X400.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/feature_komarci_800X400.png) The Invasive Species Center is trying to mitigate the mosquito infestation plaguing the Istrian peninsula. They are trying to **keep the infestation from spreading** and stop any new mosquito species from entering the ecosystem. To coordinate the vast amount of fieldwork and to monitor the mosquito sources, they utilized the GIS Cloud platform. Read on and learn how to use mobile apps and web-based GIS for ecological monitoring. ## About the Invasive Species Center (ISC) [Invasive species center (ISC)](http://civ.iptpo.hr/?lang=en) is situated in the small city of Poreč in the coastal region of Croatia. The main goals of ISC are actively performing scientific research and mapping of invasive plant and animal species. They also encourage all relevant institutions in Poreč and beyond, as well as children and citizens to get involved in the preservation of health and the unique natural heritage of Istria. Education is a big part of the ISC’s work, like citizen science projects and raising public awareness about the environmental impact of the invasive species. The typical workweek in ISC is a mix of mapping of invasive animals and plants at the field, scientific research and writing, creative thinking and brainstorming, planning new projects and providing educational workshops for local citizens and tourists. ## The Invasive Species Problem The Istria region has a combination of a mild Mediterranean climate and moderately continental climate. It is on a crossroad of many different habitats, which is why invasive species appear very often. In Istria, the last decade was marked with **significant changes in biodiversity** and spreading of invasive species such as marine *Mnemiopsis leidyi* or plant species *Ailanthus altissima*. So, out of necessity for a coordinated approach to determine and map the invasive species, the ISC started this project. [![Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation fieldwork](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/fotka_sjena.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/fotka_sjena.png)The ISC team collecting samples Currently, several invasive species are the greatest threat: - tiger mosquito species (*Aedes albopictus*) - sea grapes (*Caulerpa cylindracea*) - tree of heaven (*Ailanthus altissima*) The ISC is conducting ecological monitoring of the several mosquito species and the Mediterranean ponds as well as artificial sources. The project aims to prevent new species from entering the ecosystem as well as stopping the spread of current species. ## Fighting the Mosquito Infestation With GIS Cloud Apps The ISC started mapping the invasive species with Google Maps and simple free tracking apps. While working in the field, they struggled with data collection, GPS locations, data export, and data visualization. Only rough data was available, with no possibility to create or edit maps. They realized that GIS software was needed. [![Monitoring a Mosquito Infestation with field work](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/kolaz-5.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/kolaz-5.png)Monitoring mosquito sources > We needed a GIS tool suitable for fieldwork with options for visualizing the collected data. — Mirela Uzelac, Invasive Species Center They chose GIS Cloud because it provided a set of **user-friendly apps** for field data collection, map editing, and analysis. The GIS Cloud apps also helped them create an effective field workflow. The daily workflow starts in the ISC office where they create the data collection form. The form is used to evaluate and monitor mosquito sources like ponds, swamps and lakes. The form usually contains many entry fields: - photos, - location description, - infestation level of mosquitos, - the density of invasive species population, - date and time, - biodiversity assessment and - others. [![field data collection mosquitos](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mobiteli.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mobiteli.png)The collection form and map view in the Mobile Data Collection app When the form is completed, it’s time for fieldwork. The ISC field crew collects the field data with smartphones equipped with [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) apps. The field data populates an online map in Map Editor as soon as they fill out the form. It’s important to mention that they **use the apps in remote areas with no internet connection** and sync the data later. When the fieldwork is done, the ISC team creates a cartographic product in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for internal and public use. The Map Editor makes it easy to edit and publish maps with a lot of great options for map visualizations. These maps are usually posted on social networks, the ISC website, or forwarded to relevant local institutions and the press. [![mosquito infestation map](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/komarci_sjena.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/komarci_sjena.png)Monitored mosquito sources (red dots). “The main benefits of GIS Cloud for ecological monitoring and analysis are: user-friendly apps that work online and offline, the possibility to import and export data and data visualization.” Mirela Uzelac, Invasive Species Center The science team from ISC also say that this kind of GIS technology could be used on a national level as a unique tool for ecological research. ## Project Results and Future Plans The ISC told us that there are direct and indirect results of using GIS Cloud tools in the project. Direct are extensive maps and databases, visualized in a simple, user-friendly way. Indirect would be the successfully established new collaborations and projects that are a product of the maps the ISC designed with Map Editor. You can explore the publicly available map [here](https://editor.giscloud.com/map/956700/monitoringkomaracaporec). The ISC plans to expand the field of research and increase the number of monitored invasive species and collect new data. The data will be used for analysis and preventing the introduction or spread of new invasive species. Also, to raise public awareness through workshops, citizen science actions, and social media. Interested in trying out the GIS Cloud apps? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and [schedule a live demo](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/). Related content: Monitoring Rainfall In Orange County, California with GIS Cloud (Case Study) Management and Monitoring of Green Spaces using GIS Cloud Solutions | Nestorio, Greece Vegetation Survey of Lake Gaston (Case Study) Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil Using GIS In Pest Control And Management – Tulare County CA (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases --- ### [GIS in Archaeology: Mapping Roman and Byzantine Ruins (Case Study)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-in-archaeology-mapping-roman-and-byzantine-ruins-case-study/) **Published:** March 26, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** Over the last ten years, using GIS in archaeology has become one of the essential practices. For archaeologists, GIS has changed not only the data collection and visualization but also the perception of space itself. It’s been said that the combination of GIS technologies and archaeology is something like a perfect match – acknowledging that archaeology is concerned with the temporal dimension of human behavior, for which the spatial dimension of research is essential. It especially concerns the fieldwork, where it is important to have precise documentation of the survey work. GIS capabilities are used as a decision-making tool to prevent loss of relevant information that could impact archaeological sites and studies. We are happy to present you a case study that demonstrates a successful collaboration between an archaeological survey and GIS applications in the field. ## **The Project** We got an insight into the project and its workflow from **Dr. Gugl** at The Institute for the Study of Ancient Culture in Austria. They have been using GIS Cloud in their research of Roman Military Camp – **Municipium** – Late Antique and Byzantine Fortification. > “GIS Cloud proved to be a solution that satisfied all the prerequisites for this project to be achieved effectively and accurately.” — Dr. Gugl [![GIS in Archaeology 1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GIS-in-Archaeology-1-1024x510.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GIS-in-Archaeology-1.png) The location of the survey is in Romania, close to the modern city of Tulcea, on the site of Troesmis. It was a Roman and Byzantine city located on the lower Danube. In 2011, the **Austrian Academy of Sciences** started an archaeological field project on the site, in close cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of the Romanian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Innsbruck (Austria). The project partners performed different tasks on this huge archaeological site which is one of the largest archaeological settlements in Romania, including a Roman legionary fortress (2nd century AD), a Roman town (2nd/3rd century AD) and two other fortifications dating from the 4th to the 13th century AD. ## **The Challenges** At this huge site, different kinds of information were collected by the project partners. Some of them were air photo and satellite photo interpretation material, airborne laser scanning, geophysical prospection, archaeological field surveys and the documentation of archaeological traces, still visible on the site using CAD-software and photogrammetry. The key challenge was to find a way to do the documentation work, using a survey technique called **line walking** (4 to 6 archaeologists arranged in a line were walking over the accessible fields) in a large area of approximately 35 km². Projects of this kind often don’t get sufficient funding for field surveys so one of the main challenges is to get as much field data for the **lowest cost**. Archaeologists had to deal with a remote area in which a desktop solution for GIS applications would be impractical, and also expensive because of costly GIS field computers. Having in mind that this remote archaeological site is not in range of wireless networks, using mobile devices for data collection as an alternative to desktop solutions, would also require being able to work in offline mode. Also, being located on the site consisting of a steppe-like landscape, it is important to determine your position in relation to known archaeological features, for instance, crop marks which are mostly not visible from the ground. So, the challenge was to find a way for archaeologists to have a good overview of the site together with an **orientation tool** for occasions in which field crew intends to map new features or artifacts. In brief, the challenges presented to us by The Institute for the Study of Ancient Culture were to: - lower the costs by replacing expensive desktop solutions - make the documentation process simple, and data collection more effective and accurate - find the best way for field crew to orient on the site - work in a remote area with no internet connection ## **GIS Solution for Archaeology Projects** There was a need for a **field data collection solution** that would enable data collection in remote areas with low or no internet connectivity. We offered [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app which is equipped with all the necessary features. It significantly **lowered the costs** of the survey because there was no need for expensive GIS desktop computers in the field. [![GIS in Archaeology](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GIS-in-Archaeology-2-1024x510.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GIS-in-Archaeology-2.png) Dr. Gugl shared some insights about the MDC application: - user-friendly application for **effective data collection** with the possibility to provide different teams with the same mapping tools > “GIS Cloud apps are easy to use. Most people are familiar with smartphones and within a short time, they can handle the device. The data collection app provides an elaborate functionality so that each team had a mapping device in their hands. (…) It is possible to provide both base maps and vector data to the different teams which are essential for evaluating archaeological features on the ground.” - great **orientation tool** for the field > “In an open scenery like in Troesmis where you are facing a steppe-like landscape, it is important to determine your position in relation to known archaeological features, for instance, crop marks which are mostly not visible from the ground. This additional information is made available via the GIS Cloud, which is extremely helpful if you intend to map new features or artifacts. - good use of **cloud** solutions even in the **remote areas** > “Even in a rural landscape like in this part of Romania, where you are in between the meandering watercourse of the Danube and the slopes of the Măcin Mountains, data acquisition via the internet worked surprisingly well. The GSM network coverage is mostly sufficient, and even if you are moving in a remote area, we had no problems because of the buffer storage of the devices.” Moreover, all the data collected with the help of Mobile Data Collection app was instantly visible on a web map. GIS Cloud Map Editor provided all the necessary GIS tools and symbology for marking the artifacts and having a good overview of the situation in the field. This way, archaeologists were able to map the Troesmis area in the shortest possible time frame, using effective and easy to use cloud-based GIS solution. Interested our GIS Cloud solution for archaeology projects? Try out the [30-day free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) or [contact our sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) and schedule a live demo. Related content: Preserving Archaeology in Rural Landscapes Using GIS Mapping Entire Liberia To Bring Clean Water to Everyone – GIS for NGOs (Case Study) Mapping Land Use With Drones To Help Build A Hospital In Tanzania (Case Study) GeoAid: Mapping Humanitarian Solidarity Network in Athens (Case Study) Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases --- ### [Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/increase-efficiency-in-tree-inventory-and-inspection-with-gis-cloud/) **Published:** March 22, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We bring you a 5-step workflow that can help you improve your tree inventory and increase tree inspection efficiency. [![Mapping solutions for Forestry and Arborists](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-Inspection-Inventory.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-Inspection-Inventory.jpg) Tree Inventory and Inspection is one of the most important tasks in the workflows of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry workers. While Arborists are more focused on the care of individual trees, those who work in Urban Forestry perceive forests as a system, frequently working on large scale projects that involve a lot of planning and different policies. Both of these fields rely on having good management systems, especially when it comes to tree inventory and inspection workflows. Data collection, visualization, analysis and publishing solutions can **significantly increase efficiency** in tree inventory and inspection. In forestry and arboriculture, a good overview of trees with pertaining data on a map is necessary for coordinating daily activities as well as for planning activities and maintenance on a broader scale. Most of the larger organizations that take care of trees and forests already have a GIS system set in place. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the existing processes can’t be improved further by software specially designed to provide real-time insight into the situation in the field. GIS in the cloud enables not just real-time insight into the situation on the field, but also provides a next step for the desktop-based workflows. Let’s see how cloud-based GIS can help in making tree Inventory and inspection process more straightforward and efficient. ## **1. Collecting field data with mobile forms** Instead of using paper reports for collecting data, the Mobile Data Collection app allows you to collect data such as tree height, diameter, trimming status, diseases and other variables. **Using smartphones and tablets**, you can collect different types of data including photos and audio recordings. The location of the inspected tree is instantly visible on a map. Mobile Data Collection also allows you to navigate to a particular point of interest directly from the app by using Google Maps. The mobile system saves you a lot of time as you don’t have to input data from paper maps and forms manually back in the office while allowing you to control the data quality by selecting required fields and options for data collection. My workflow is much more efficient when using the GIS Cloud as a basis for my quotes and work orders and collection of all field data. I can easily find the geographic data I need regardless of when it was collected and allows me to focus more on care for the trees themselves and less on keeping track of all of the data. – [Sean Grant, Vivaldi Arborists (Sweden)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/arborist-use-case-tree-inventory-and-inspection/) ## **2. Editing and analysing field data** After the data is collected, it is instantly visible on a map and can be accessed on any device both in the field and the office. Managers and coordinators, as well as other staff, can view the data and edit it in a way that suits the existing workflows. For example, trees from a particular area, diseased trees, or those that haven’t been trimmed can be marked with different colors and filtered on a map. You can choose different basemaps (Open Street Map, HERE maps, Satellite or Hybrid Maps), create polygons and use various GIS tools that can help you to visualize data in the best possible manner. Data visualization in [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/), as well as basic analysis such as heat maps or buffers, can be achieved in a short amount of time even by users who don’t have previous experience with GIS software. ## **3. Coordinating teams and sharing maps** [![Tree Inventory Solutions](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-Inspection-Inventory-2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tree-Inspection-Inventory-2.jpg) To make your tree inventory workflow more efficient use GIS Cloud for data sharing and coordination between the team members, both in the office and in the field. GIS Cloud allows you to **share data and maps** with your staff, adjusting the level of access depending on a member’s role (user can be allowed only to view, or edit data, make reports, etc.). It can be a very useful feature when you want to share data with the external stakeholders such as other organizations, local government bodies or simply having an overview of the work done by your contractors. When leaving quotes to customers, I find that a picture or map, in this case, speaks louder than words and with GIS Cloud I can produce maps quickly to be attached to a written quote, so there is no question about what is to be carried out. This map is also used as a base to work orders, so the correct work is carried out on the right trees (import when felling trees for obvious reasons.) – [Sean Grant, Vivaldi Arborists (Sweden)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/arborist-use-case-tree-inventory-and-inspection/) ## **4. Publishing your map** In case you are doing a community project, as it was the case in the Maple Grove Tree Inventory project, and want to open your data to the public, it’s best to use the [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). Map Portal allows you to create an interactive GIS portal, customized and branded, and published on a separate domain. If you are already using GIS Cloud and all of your tree data is already uploaded, setting up an interactive portal takes only a few minutes. ## **5. Reporting** One of the most important aspects of Tree Management, especially when it comes to tree inventory and inspection projects is creating reports from the field data. Instead of manually creating reports you can export a custom report with GIS Cloud and use it as a base for future maintenance plans. Interested in learning more about GIS Cloud tools for Tree Inventory And Inspection? Contact our [sales consultants](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or sign up to the GIS Cloud [free trial](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Webinar Recording: GIS for Tree Inventory and Inspection Improving Tree Inspections With Mobile Apps for Arborists (Case Study) GIS Cloud as a Solution for Urban Tree Management Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration Case Study: Using GIS Cloud for Efficient Inspection of Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Brazil **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** arborists, data collection, forestry, GIS, GIS Cloud, Tree Inventory and Inspection, Tree Maintenance --- ### [Combating Homelessness with GIS In St. Louis](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/using-mobile-data-collection-for-the-point-in-time-count-of-homelessness-in-st-louis/) **Published:** February 21, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** The City of St. Louis Point-in-Time committee collects data about the homeless population as a part of the Point-in-Time Count project. They survey the entire city to establish a continuity of care for people experiencing homelessness. The field survey is a great deal of work so the committee wanted to improve day to day field operations. They choose the GIS Cloud solutions for field data collection. [![Mapping Homelesssnes ](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Mobile-Data-Collection-St.-Louis.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Mobile-Data-Collection-St.-Louis.jpg) People who experience homelessness are at risk of suffering adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Effective programs and services exist to help people move into more secure housing, address the concerns that contributed to homelessness, and live more fulfilling lives. Street outreach can be an useful activity for connecting persons experiencing homelessness to evidence-based programs, especially those persons who are suffering from chronic mental health concerns. Moreover, street outreach can only be effective as far as outreach workers know where to engage the people they hope to serve. To this end, the[ **St. Louis City Continuum of Care (CoC)**](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/human-services/homeless-services/continuum-of-care/), an association of homeless service providers, used GIS Cloud in its most recent Point-in-Time Count to inform providers of the distribution of homelessness in the region. **The Point-in-Time Count** is federally mandated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for all CoCs across the country, to determine the prevalence and characteristics of persons experiencing homelessness. Occurring across the country at the end of January, the count helps to determine how much federal funding for homeless services will be distributed to each CoC. ## **Challenges of street outreach** In St. Louis City, several teams canvass the entire city to survey persons experiencing homelessness. While this process allows the CoC to obtain information on the demographics of homelessness in the city, it becomes more **difficult to follow-up with individuals,** to establish continuity of care — providing consistent access to quality, cost-effective care. Also, the usual paper-based data collection methods are **not as efficient** as the digital data collection process that enables **having all data in one place** and instantly syncs new information attaching it to a particular point on a map. Adding spatial dimension to the manually collected data that is later added to spreadsheets was yet another challenge, because better data visualization methods mean more efficiency, not just in data collection, but also in planning, prioritizing and coordinating actions that would improve the situation of the homeless people in St. Louis. ## **The GIS solution** The integration of [spatial data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) into Point-in-Time counts allows keeping the records about homeless persons in one place. It enables communities to devise data-driven approaches for creating homeless service initiatives in their areas. Moreover, spatial data collection addresses a common critique of Point-in-Time counts by **making counts so much more than just a means to meet a federal mandate.** In the words of Kyle Miller, the count itself becomes a solution-based endeavor to determine areas of high need, plan future outreach initiatives, and establish new homeless services. The City of St. Louis Point-in-Time committee used the [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and [Map Editor app](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) to make their data collection process more efficient while gaining an excellent tool for data visualization that enabled them to get more value from their field efforts and plan future actions. [![GIS Cloud Mapping Homeless Population in St. Louis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screenshot-Point-in-Time-1024x615.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Screenshot-Point-in-Time.png) Kyle Miller noted that after conducting a basic search of how other communities have integrated spatial data collection into their Point-in-Time count, the Point-in-Time committee discovered a past partnership between the GIS Cloud and[ another Midwestern city](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/city-of-milwaukee-case-study-using-mdc-to-identify-homeless-population/). Understanding the potential of the Mobile Data Collection application, it was clear that it could meet the needs of the CoC. > Through Mobile Data Collection, the City of St. Louis’s Point-in-Time committee will have a greater understanding of the spatial distribution of homelessness. The power of producing a snapshot of a transient phenomenon cannot be underestimated. The straight-forward design of the app made it accessible to most volunteers conducting the survey. As the committee continues to analyze the data, it is without a doubt that there will be future discoveries. > > – Kyle Miller ## **The results** The St. Louis City Continuum of Care conducted its data collection on Thursday, January 26th from 4 am to 9 am. Each team was given the opportunity to use the Mobile Data Collection application when encountering a person experiencing homelessness. Having completed the count, the committee hopes to finalize data by the end of February. Data will be made available to the public through the [St. Louis City Continuum of Care website](https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/human-services/homeless-services/continuum-of-care/). However, all the data will be presented in an aggregate form to protect the privacy of the persons interviewed. In the future, the committee intends to release a series of resources detailing the experience of organizing a Point-in-Time count, integrating spatial data collection into the count, and managing data once it has been collected. Interested in trying out Mobile Data Collection for your project? Sign up [here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Using Maps to Identify Homeless Population in Milwaukee (Case Study) Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) Online GIS In Road Work Inspections And Maintenance Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Live User Story: NGO Maps Out Entire Liberia and Brings Clean Water to Every Single Person (Webinar) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** GIS, GIS Cloud, Homelessness, Mobile Data Collection, Point-in-Time Counts, St. Louis, St. Louis City Continuum of Care --- ### [Mapping Advertising Assets on Trash Cans (Use Case)](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/mapping-advertising-assets-on-trash-cans-use-case/) **Published:** April 18, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Every organization, no matter public or private, should aim to build a precise **inventory of all its assets**, which includes location, condition, and a photo. Information is all around us and collecting that information is a big challenge, which can be easily overcome by using the right tools. Read a use case about the mapping project envisioned and created by **geography student, Martin Sinković**, who also wrote this text. ![mapping trash can assets mapping advertising space](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Mapping-Advertising-space-trash-cans-1024x681.jpg)Martin had a great idea on how to use mapping tools for managing assets in advertising. He created this project, mapped the Zagreb City center area, and styled the data to make analysis. Urban space, with all its segments, serves as a fertile ground for many types of outdoor advertising. One way, which is relatively new, is placing an advertising space on trash cans. Trash cans on their own will not lure potential customers and generate revenues and profits that are essential for the business. That is the reason why **asset management** is the key to maintaining a **high business operation level** and to have an **overview of all your assets in one place.** The goal of this use case was to collect information about trash cans with advertising space, including spatial data and some additional specifications. The area included in my survey was the “Lower Town” district in the City of Zagreb. The first step was to **collect and map assets**, for which I used [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-mobile-data-collection/) application. It enables you to easily create custom made unique forms, with **as many fields as your survey needs**. Immediately after the form was created, fieldwork has begun. **Using only my mobile phone** with preinstalled MDC application and GPS turned on, I was able to map locations of all trash cans with advertising space in a particular city center area. [Click here to explore the map.](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/842314/mdc-local-adveritsing) Besides the precise location (longitude and latitude), I filled in before determined form fields: - **street name** - **availability of advertising space** - **trash can condition** - **date of placement and removal** of an eventual advert - **name and business activity** of the company advertised on that trash can The collected **data was instantly available** in the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/getting-started-with-gis-cloud/) application and was visible on the map as soon as the form was submitted. Further corrections and analysis could be done using this application. You can use Map Editor for data visualization, classification, changing symbology, customizing colors and styles of icons, adding labels, designer basemaps, etc. **How to analyze data and make business decisions based on results** For a productive business environment, every organization which has some public assets should have all of those well-organized in one place. **Field crews** entrusted with data collection just need to have a mobile phone with installed [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) app to start their fieldwork. Having all your assets collected is the first step towards an efficient and organized working environment. Analysis and presentations are now within hand reach. Using [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/)**,** you can clearly **present the status of your assets,** for example, **the availability of advertising space** on a particular trash can, its condition, the date of removal, etc. Moreover, you can easily **delegate your crew, assign them tasks and monitor changes in real time**. More importantly, you can **control status of every trash can and act quickly** if some issue appears. The main goal is to [present your gathered information in the form of a visibly attractive map to the public](https://portal.giscloud.com/map/842314/mdc-local-adveritsing). By doing so, the goal is to attract potential customers who will have all needed information about their future advert in one place, using your[ Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). This application enables you to **customize interface** in terms of putting your company’s logo and changing colors to brand your application. Also, you can adjust ribbon and only put items which are suitable for your certain clientele. Map Portal provides you the possibility to **add more maps to your Portal**, for example, together with the map of advertising assets on trash cans I can also have a map of advertising assets on tram stations and billboards. After your Portal is edited and ready, you can **easily embed the map to your website** and present the work that you have done. All of this could just be an initial phase of a more complex process called *geomarketing*. In short, geomarketing describes any form of **marketing that incorporates location intelligence** to improve the odds of a particular message reaching the right consumer at the right time. This type of workflow can be used in managing various assets. Using GIS Cloud applications, you can get your business to operate smoothly, transparently, efficiently and maybe most importantly – with **higher profits**. Interested in utilizing GIS Cloud technologies for asset management? [Contact us](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) or [sign up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) here. Related content: Mapping handicap parking and other assets to improve the mobility of people with disabilities (Case Study) Critical Telecommunication Assets Supported with GIS Navigate To Feature: Map Your Way To Your Assets Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) Mapping The Most Popular Exhibits In Museums Across Europe (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** asset management, assets, Collaborative Mapping, geomarketing, mapping, use case --- ### [Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/webinar-crowdsourcing-solution-for-ngo-and-non-profits/) **Published:** February 7, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Register for a free webinar for nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations on **Wednesday, February 21** and learn how to use Crowdsourcing technology for different projects around the world. ![Mapping, NGO and NPO](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Crowdsourcing-for-NGO-Webinar.png)[](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) [Crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) can be a perfect tool for obtaining real-time data and **engaging your community** in various initiatives at the same time. For example, you can collect data on bike infrastructure directly from cyclists, get direct feedback from citizens about illegal landfills and other ecological problems, or track different initiatives such as cleanups, charity events or facilities. People can also **vote on various issues**, actively participating in the decision-making process related to anything from housing and their local park infrastructure, to locations for schools, playgrounds or community gardens. At the same time, Crowdsourcing data is a great tool for **supporting microvolunteering practices** and bettering your own organization and coordination of field teams in different cities or locations around the world. It is also a very efficient disaster relief tool that can help in saving lives by decreasing response time. Another side of this is cultivating not only new potential volunteers, but also donors, and reporting your project’s results while spreading the word to the rest of the world. With GIS Cloud, Crowdsourcing data is visualized on fully customizable interactive maps. Data is collected directly on a map and/or through fully customizable mobile apps. The best thing is – everything is set up very quickly. Join us for a webinar and learn how you can utilize Crowdsourcing solution for your projects and see how it is done by listening to first-hand experiences from successful projects. The webinar includes a Q&A session, so you can also get answers to any questions you might have in a live discussion. **Webinar time and date:** **Wednesday, February 21 at** **8 am PT 11 am ET 5 pm CET (4 pm UTC)** [**REGISTER HERE**](https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/187868442893963521) **These topics will be covered:** - The use and benefits of Crowdsourcing for NGO and NPOs - Successful project examples and first-hand experience - Q&A Session **Who should attend:** - Non-governmental and non-profit organizations that have a need for Crowdsourcing and visualizing a large amount of data - Anybody working on project involving community and citizens sending real-time feedback on various issues - Those who are interested in learning the benefits of GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution and how to use it for an effective workflow. Related content: Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow Crowdsourcing for NGOs and Nonprofits: Webinar Recording GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Webinar Recording: Crowdsourcing for Utilities **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** crowdsourcing, NGO, nonprofits, webinar --- ### [GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-pop-up-workshop-in-whangarei-new-zealand-on-december-15/) **Published:** December 11, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a response to a growing interest for GIS Cloud solutions from our community in New Zealand, you are invited to join us for yet another free workshop, held in **Whangarei** this Friday, as a **bonus pop-up event**. ![Learn web mapping for free in New Zeland](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/GC-Whangarei-workshop.png) Except for our local community there, the workshop in Whangarei is also a good opportunity for those who missed our[ events in Auckland and Wellington](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshops-in-new-zealand/) last week. GIS Cloud pop-up workshop will be held at the [The Orchard](https://www.google.co.nz/maps/place/The+Orchard+Business+and+Event+Hub/@-35.7265118,174.3195075,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d0b7ee54e463f15:0x9ec51b9634c17adc!8m2!3d-35.7265118!4d174.3216962), Level 1 (Corner of Walton and Cameron St.) on December 15, starting **10 am**. The workshop is free to attend, but the number of seats is limited, so **participants will need to register** by filling in the registration form below in order to attend. **Apply here:** Name Organization Email Phone **GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop Agenda:** **10 am – 10.10 am** – GIS Cloud and Spatial Vision Introduction **10.10 am – 11.10 am** – Mobile Data Collection and Map Editor Learn how to create projects and collect data using your smartphones and tablets. Also, you will learn what to do after the data is gathered. **11.10 am – 11.30 am** – City Portal and App Builder Learn how to create your own branded web app without coding. **11.30 am – 11.45 am** – Crowdsourcing solution Learn what’s needed to enable your communities to report from the field and what the benefits are of having a branded [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/). **11.45 am – 12.00 pm** – Introducing collaboration streams technology, and a Q&A session. Get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud collaborative streams technology which will revolutionize today’s known workflows on a map, and don’t miss a chance to ask us questions on site. Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th Attend GIS Cloud Workshop at FOSS4G 2017 in Boston **Categories:** Blog --- ### [Join Us For a GeoMeetup in Zagreb on October 4th](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/join-us-for-a-geomeetup-in-zagreb-on-october-4th/) **Published:** September 26, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** On **October 4th**, we are organizing GeoMeetup Zagreb, with a goal to bring together Croatian geo-community in order to meet and exchange ideas on a regular basis. [![geomeetup5-3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GeoMeetup5.3-1024x680.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GeoMeetup5.3.png) We are excited to kick off a new series of monthly geo meetups in Zagreb with the idea of getting together, hang out, share ideas & knowledge, and what we are all doing in geo. Also, this is a great opportunity to hear some thoughts on WebGL from our friends at Mapbox, as well as to learn about Geo data in R, or Legal regulations in GEO systems. One of the goals of GeoMeetup is to extend our community to new members, so we took the opportunity to co-locate the event with this year’s [WebCamp Zagreb](https://2017.webcampzg.org/), to whose organization we are thankful for support. GeoMeetup Zagreb will take place at the [Plaza Event Center](https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Slavonska+avenija+6,+Zagreb,+hr) (previously Hypo Expo XXI conference center), Slavonska avenija 6, Zagreb, Room Brac. The entrance is **free for everyone**, but in order to attend, **the participants have to register using the** [**Meetup platform**](https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Slavonska+avenija+6,+Zagreb,+hr)**.** **Schedule:** **6:00 PM: Mingle** **6:20 PM: Introduction** **6:30 PM: Lauren Budorick from Mapbox will talk about using WebGL for map rendering** **7:00 PM: Andreja Radović from University Computer Center (Sveučilišni računalski centar) will introduce us to Geo data in R** **7:30 PM: Danijel Petrović from HUBS will present Application of unmanned devices in GEO systems** **8:00PM: Beers, snacks, networking and exchanging ideas for a new GeoMeetup** [REGISTER HERE](https://www.meetup.com/GeoMeetup-Zagreb/events/243524739/) Related content: GeoMeetup Zagreb – Shaping the GEO Community in 2018 Mapping Public Transportation after the Earthquake in Zagreb (Croatia) GIS Cloud on CodeAcross and OpenDataDay in Zagreb Map of Business Structure and Activity in City Districts of Zagreb Mapping Illegal Landfills in the City of Zagreb (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Events, Geo Community, GeoMeetup Zagreb, Meetup --- ### [Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/free-gis-cloud-workshop-in-berlin-germany-on-september-28th/) **Published:** September 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Following our participation and exhibition at [INTERGEO 2017](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-exhibiting-at-the-intergeo-2017-in-berlin/) in Berlin, we will hold a comprehensive GIS Cloud workshop in Berlin. [![INTERGEO GIS Cloud live demo side event](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GC-Workshop-Berlin.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/GC-Workshop-Berlin.jpg) The workshop will take place at Rent24 coworking space, [Potsdamer Strasse 182 Berlin](https://www.google.hr/maps/dir/''/rent24+potsdamer+strasse/@52.4935593,13.2905705,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x47a85047e0dcd1db:0x6e88bcd6289e62c0!2m2!1d13.36061!2d52.49358) on **28 September, from 10 am – 3 pm (CET).** The number of seats is limited, so make sure to register as soon as possible. The workshop is free of charge, but you will need to **bring your devices (laptop & smartphone) to be able to fully participate in the workshop**. Workshop language is English. All attendees will receive trial access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution and a City Portal, as well as exclusive early access to the new GIS Cloud platform, and a GIS Cloud T-Shirt with a cool new design. After the workshop, participants will get a certificate of attendance. Program: **10.00 – 11.15: Mobile Data Collection – How to create projects and collect data with your smartphones and tablets** You will learn how to deploy various data collection projects like tree inspections, utility maintenance, city infrastructure monitoring, and more through existing use cases and live on-hand demos. Every attendee will end up with a data collection project of their own and will be able to set up new projects according to their needs. **11.15 – 12.00: Learn how to navigate through the powerful Map Editor** The GIS Cloud team will guide you through the process of creating a map in Map Editor and will introduce you to its editing capabilities, symbology, and analysis tools. You will also learn how to share your data with different permissions with your colleagues to easily collaborate on a map. **LUNCH BREAK 12:00 – 13:00** **13.00 – 13.30: An early preview of the new GIS Cloud Platform and innovative Collaboration Streams** Get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud Collaboration Streams, a technology that will change today’s existing map workflows, and learn about how to make use of collaborative mapping in different set-ups and use cases. All participants will receive a code for early access to the new GIS Cloud platform after the session. **13.35 – 14.05: Crowdsourcing Solution – Enable the public to send you information from the field through your own branded mobile app** Learn what’s needed to enable your communities to report from the field and what the benefits are of having a crowdsourcing solution. After the session, you will get a code for the complete Crowdsourcing Solution for testing purposes. **14.10 – 14.45: City Portal – Create your own branded web app without coding** Learn how to create a custom and branded app in just a few minutes, without having to write a single line of code. All participants will have their own branded City Portal ready for testing after the session. **14.45 – 15.00: Closing remarks and Q&A** [](#)Register for the workshop here: Name Organization Email Phone T-Shirt Size Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 Free GIS Cloud Workshops in New Zealand GIS Cloud Exhibiting at the INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Berlin, INTERGEO, live demo, workshop --- ### [New Member Joins GIS Cloud Team: Welcome Mario](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/new-member-joins-gis-cloud-team-welcome-mario/) **Published:** September 18, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are happy to announce that a new team member, **Mario Brkić**, has joined GIS Cloud. [![GIS Cloud Backend Developer](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Welcome-Mario.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Welcome-Mario.jpg) **Mario** has been excited about computers and technology since childhood, working in BASIC on an old Schneider CPC 464 while he was still in elementary school. Mario’s passion for computers and software development followed him throughout his education, so it wasn’t a surprise when he chose a career in software development, mainly focusing on backend systems. He started his career in the telecommunications industry, where he worked on the development and maintenance of in-house apps and services. There he gained significant experience in automating processes, building tools and implementing new systems. The skillset he built while working in telecom will be put to excellent use within the GIS Cloud platform. As a **backend developer at GIS Cloud**, his primary task will be to keep all the vehicles in check because in a fleet management system the main focus is data precision, keeping the data up to date and delivering real-time vehicle reports. Mario likes to spend his free time reading both fiction and non-fiction, playing badminton and working with electronics and microcontrollers (Arduino), always testing the endurance of circuit breakers. Besides that, he enjoys concerts, music festivals, socializing, playing board games, and cooking. We are excited to have Mario on our team and wish him a warm welcome on behalf of the whole GIS Cloud team. For more information on the GIS Cloud team, check out our [Careers](https://www.giscloud.com/careers/) and [Team](https://www.giscloud.com/team/) Pages. Related content: Meet Ana, a New Member of GIS Cloud Frontend Team GIS Cloud at FOSS4G in Bonn Fighting The Snow With A Fleet Management Solution in the Cloud (Case Study) Meet the People of GIS Cloud: An Interview with Antonija Netolicki, Sales Manager at GIS Cloud Use WFS and WMS to View and Edit GIS Cloud Data in Other Apps (New Release!) **Categories:** Blog --- ### [GIS Cloud Workshop in Syracuse, New York on 22nd of August](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-workshop-in-syracuse-new-york-on-22nd-of-august/) **Published:** August 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a part of our **East Coast US Tour**, we will hold a **GIS Cloud Workshop** in **Syracuse, New York**, on **Tuesday, 22nd of August at 10.00 am**. The workshop entrance is free for the first 25 registrants, so make sure to fill in the registration form as soon as possible. [![GIS Cloud East Coast Tour](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NY-State-Workshop-1024x625.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NY-State-Workshop.jpg) Attendees will get a trial access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution, a City Portal, an exclusive early access to the new GIS Cloud platform and a GIS Cloud T-Shirt with a cool new design. **GIS Cloud Workshop Sessions:** **10.00 – 11.15: Mobile Data Collection and beyond – Learn how to create projects and collect data with your smartphones and tablets, What after the data is gathered?** You will learn how to deploy various data collection projects like tree inspections, utility maintenance, city infrastructure monitoring, and more through existing use cases and live on-hand demos. You will also get an insight into all the possibilities of a powerful map editor after data is collected. Every attendee will end up with a data collection project of their own and will be able to setup new projects according to their needs. **11.15 – 12.00: City Portal – Create your own branded web app without coding** Learn how to create a custom and branded app without having to write a single line of code in just a few minutes. All participants will have their own branded City Portal ready for testing after the session. **LUNCH BREAK 12:00 – 13:00** **13.00 – 14.00: Crowdsourcing Solution – Enable the public to send information from the field through your own branded mobile app** Learn what’s needed to enable your communities to report from the field and what are the benefits of having a crowdsourcing solution. After the session, you will get a code for the complete crowdsourcing solution for testing purposes. **14.00 – 15.00: GIS Cloud vol. 2 – Get an early preview of the new GIS Cloud platform** Get an exclusive preview of GIS Cloud Collaborative Streams technology that will change today known workflows on a map, and learn about how to make the use of collaborative mapping in different set-ups and use cases. All participants will get a code for an early access to GIS Cloud 2 beta version after the session. **Register for the workshop here:** Name Company Email Phone Related content: Free GIS Cloud Workshop in Berlin, Germany on September 28th GIS Cloud Training Sessions On August 15th in Boston GIS Cloud Pop-up Workshop in Whangarei, New Zealand, on December 15 Free GIS Cloud Workshop for Local Governments in Greece GIS Cloud at FOSS4G 2017 and East Coast in August **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** East Coast Tour, New York State workshop --- ### [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Released](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-crowdsourcing-solution-released/) **Published:** June 7, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Dear GIS Cloud Community, We are happy to announce that [GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution ](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/)has been officially released. The Crowdsourcing solution will enable cities, local governments, and other organizations to easily and quickly get anonymous feedback and problem reports from their citizens. [![Anonymously collect spatial data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Crowdsourcing-Solution.png) The application will be **fully branded and personalized**, which means that you will be able to add your custom logo, colors, and design as well as the specific interface options. Unlike many other similar solutions, GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution will be **deployed faster than any other custom solution** on the market, with a **competitive pricing model.** Cities, local governments, and organizations around the world will be able to offer a simple app for reporting problems, give their feedback or map the areas of interest using mobile devices or a web browser. Citizens can select different options, add photos, write comments and mark locations. City or organization administrators will be able to **approve or decline submissions, view statistics and create reports**. GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution includes: - Branded **Mobile App** (Android and iOS – available on Google Play and App Store) - Branded and customized **Public Web Portal** - **Admin Web App** The organizations will get a chance to **test the solution** to ensure that everything is working before releasing applications to the wider public. The key benefit is **full integration of GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing with the GIS Cloud platform** which enables that collected data is used it the [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) for further customizations, reporting and data management as well as in [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) that enables easy inspections and other follow-on in-field activities once the data has been crowdsourced. [Contact GIS Cloud ](mailto:sales@giscloud.com)for early access to GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing solution and get started today! Related content: Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Webinar: Crowdsourcing Solution for NGO and Non-profits Webinar Recording: Extend Crowdsourcing Solution with a Custom Workflow Engaging Citizens with the GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing App GIS Cloud Map Viewer for Mobile Released **Categories:** Blog **Tags:** Crowsourcing solution, GIS, GIS Cloud --- ### [GIS Cloud Visualization in Planning of the New Administrative Boundaries for the Zadar County](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-visualization-in-planning-of-the-new-administrative-boundaries-for-the-zadar-county/) **Published:** May 17, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** This project was done by a geography student Branimir Bilandžić, who collected and visualized data with a goal to make a proposal on the topic how to rationalize local government structure in Croatia. As a result, map portal was created, showing a proposal for the new municipality structure. This project was done using the example of the Zadar county. The Zadar county occupies the central area of the Adriatic Sea in the south of the Republic of Croatia. Zadar is the center of the region, a 3 000-year-old city that was the capital of Dalmatia from the 7th century to the end of the Second World War. This area has a total population of around 170 000 people and a surface of 7276km² (3643 km² of land). The county is not equally developed in all its parts. For example, the continental part is less populated that the coastline which is heavily impacted by tourism together with its many islands. County itself is made of 28 municipalities and 6 cities. The biggest settlement is Zadar with around 75 000 inhabitants and is 7 times bigger than Benkovac, the second biggest city. [![Administrative Division of the Zadar County](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Image-Branimir.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Image-Branimir.jpg) The Zadar county occupies the central area of the Adriatic Sea in the south of the Republic of Croatia. Zadar is the center of the region, a 3 000-year-old city that was the capital of Dalmatia from the 7th century to the end of the Second World War. This area has a total population of around 170 000 people and a surface of 7276km² (3643 km² of land). The county is not equally developed in all its parts. For example, the continental part is less populated that the coastline which is heavily impacted by tourism together with its many islands. County itself is made of 28 municipalities and 6 cities. The biggest settlement is Zadar with around 75 000 inhabitants and is 7 times bigger than Benkovac, the second biggest city. As you can see on the picture above, there are a lot of small and non-logical local government units (cities & municipalities). The main goal was to find out if there was a way to improve existing structure according to relevant indicators. For example, in the new proposal, Novalja municipality was added from the Ličko-Senjska county to Zadar county because it is located in the north of the Pag island and it is the only municipality that is outside of the Zadar county. In a construction of this project, a simple yet intuitive tool to present results of the new proposal to the public was needed. Using GIS Cloud platform for visualization proved to be a perfect tool for the job considering a short period of time. The biggest advantage of using GIS Cloud platform in this project was a user-friendly interface, while the project can be easily scaled to include various stakeholders and public. This is the main benefit in using cloud solution compared to using a desktop software. **Methods** The methodology that was used is very simple. There were three stages in the process of determining whether the units should stay as they are, join with one another or maybe split into more units. The first stage was picking out indicators which would show us the best statistical picture of the region. The method itself consists of using 7 indicators. They were: population, inter-census changes (2001.-2011.), the number of workers, the share of workers in the municipality, share of commuters (in relation to the total population), existence of the central functions (post office, patient clinic, kindergarten…) and transport network coverage. Every city/municipality was awarded points depending on how many criteria were satisfied. Total maximum number of points was 35. At the end, municipalities which have 19 or more points would retain their status. [![Urban Planning and City Projects](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/cover-br-1024x535.png)](http://giszadarska.giscloud.com/)Click on the picture to view an interactive portal in GIS Cloud In the analysis, the results were as follows. Firstly, Gračac changed its status from a municipality to a city because the area needs a closer center as it is very underdeveloped and heavily depopulating. Secondly, Novalja municipality was created from Ličko-Senjska county. Furthermore, 13 municipalities were reorganized as they scored lower than 19 points. At the end, the total number of municipalities came down from 28 to 18 and number of cities raised from 7 to 8. The goal of the project was to find a visualization tool to point out that there exists a need to reorganize the county structure. The third step was to visualize the results using [GIS Cloud Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/). First, in just a few clicks shapefile was uploaded to the cloud. After that, a new map was created in the GIS Cloud Map Editor. The system allows choosing from a several different basemaps such as Bing Maps or Mapbox. Next step was to visualize data as a layer. The last thing to do was to use different visualization possibilities of the Map Editor such as colors and labels. **Next steps** The goal of this project was to demonstrate the value of GIS Cloud in the visualization of administrative boundaries according to different criteria. But this was only the first step in utilizing GIS Cloud. As this is a cloud-based platform it enables you to easily share a project with the public across devices. In case you want to share a project with the public and engage citizens to get their feedback, a map can further be customized in a branded [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/). You can enrich data even more by adding features such as pictures, concrete statistics with indicators, transportation network, pdf files etc. Map Portal also allows engaging citizens by allowing their feedback directly on a map. Secondly, the biggest benefit of having a cloud-based system is in the real-time collaboration. You can share data directly with various stakeholders including local governments, planning experts, municipality departments. They can simultaneously work on a project adding comments and making decisions, working on spatial data without having to meet in person. This saves a lot of time, reduces mistakes, reshapes working process that would take much longer with paper maps or desktop apps. Interested in trying out GIS Cloud solutions? Sign up [here](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/). Related content: Cutting Administrative Costs With Online Maps for Lewis County (Case Study) Spatial Visualization with Animated Graphs Using GIS Cloud Map Portal and D3.js Lewis County Case Study: Small Community Cloud Solution How To Create A Public GIS Portal – An Example from Lewis County, NY Mapping and Planning of Electricity Distribution Network (Use Case) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Administrative boundaries, polygons, urban planning, Zadar --- ### [Discover the world of Geo-Marketing: FiDA & Co. Studios](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/discover-the-world-of-geo-marketing-fida-co-studios/) **Published:** July 21, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** Geo-marketing is one of those cloud/web mapping applications utilized by businesses all across the digital sphere, usually by marketing managers and staff in organizations of all sizes and profiles. If you are doing anything marketing related, you know that **knowing a perfect location** for placing a billboard, pitching your tent or opening a new shop or company branch is one of the key factors contributing to your future success. ![Bussines---Location-Intelligence-3](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Bussines-Location-Intelligence-3.png) Apart from planning your advertisements and business expansion, location based knowledge can contribute to various aspects of your operations, such as logistics, delivery and distribution zones, determining Wi-Fi zones or dividing sales sectors. This exciting possibility of using latest cloud GIS technology for Geo-Marketing is also utilized by some of our most active users. That’s why we decided to talk with **Ahmed Amin**, Co-founder and Head of Commercial at FiDA & Co. Studios \[F&CS\] about his experience with GIS Cloud apps for his marketing activities. [**F&CS**](http://www.fidandco.com/) is a Media Intelligence and Out of Home (OOH) advertising agency based in Cairo, Egypt that provides customized solutions utilizing advanced technologies to assist their clients achieving their targets and ensure proper exposure, and to reach the marketing positioning through benchmarking their clients OOH advertising network vs competitors. Their focus is on strategic marketing, audit and compliance solutions for their clients based on an in-depth analysis of their activities. ![Geomarketing Use Case](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ahmed-amin.jpg)“The digital sphere is always challenging, evolving and a dynamic working environment. We encourage ideas, entrepreneurialism, and aspiration. Our pedigree is passion and commitment to excellence and with that, we transform our vision into reality.” – Ahmed Amin, FiDA & Co. Studios **Geolocation Tools in the Marketing Sphere** FiDA & Co. Studios **\[F&CS\]** have been working with GIS Cloud since May 2014, collecting, visualizing and analyzing their client’s assets in real time. Their data collection team covered the country nationwide to ensure and deliver a complete data visualization at high accuracy for their clients. [![Picture2](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Picture2.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Picture2.jpg) ***So, what were the main challenges in establishing a Geo-Marketing service?*** Knowing that visualization and location awareness is the essential tool for planning marketing activities throughout the country, Ahmed Amin and his team wanted to create an easy-to-use visualization, analytics, and reporting tool. This tool would enable their clients to monitor the performance of their outdoor billboard campaigns or track and locate their retail, merchandising and events in real time. Considering rapidly changing environment conditioning the marketing activities and abundance of new technologies, they wanted to stay on top of their game making the most of the cutting-edge technologies in the cloud. What they needed was a real-time app suited for marketers of all profiles. Many people in digital business are easily turned off by a difficult onboarding process, additional and unexpected costs, as well as unintuitive user interface and unresponsive apps not suited for mobile that is unavoidable at the fast pace of the industry. **Real-time data collection** was an absolute requirement for a successful campaign that depends on a location. **So, what was the solution?** FiDA & Co. Studios **\[F&CS\]** have created[ TrackMe](http://www.fidandco.com/) **– Egypt,** the first and the only OOH (Out of Home) Geo based service provider within the region, built on GIS Cloud platform and integrated with additional analytics solution. This app was designed for geolocation and tracking of billboards, outdoor signages, retail, and other types of assets in real time. In the words of Ahmed Amin: > Whether our clients need to monitor the performance of their outdoor billboard campaigns or geo locate their retail, we help them to monitor all points in real-time so that they could be able to take prompt actions at ease, if required. F&CS solutions are available for different sectors such as telecoms, FCMG (Fast-moving consumer goods), real estate developers, banking, automotive, NGO’s and governments. Today, their daily operations are based on grid matrix system that enables their clients to plan their campaigns taking into account their budget, geographic distribution, and other relevant factors. This system was built on top of GIS Cloud[ data collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) and[ mapping](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) platform. [![Picture1](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Picture1.jpg)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Picture1.jpg) Cloud GIS technology provided an opportunity for F&CS to keep up with the speed of industry because it allows updating maps, working and collaborating with clients in real time. GIS Cloud solution works across all platforms and is perfect for dynamic mobile environment of marketing sphere. Visualization on a map combined with a smoothless data collection proved to be a perfect mix for **F&CS**. > **Efficiency is the key of our successful collaboration with GIS Cloud, providing customised forms, easily manageable apps and high accuracy of data collection.** The main benefits of GIS Cloud, in the words of Ahmed Amin, are a **technical support** that adds value to the integrated GIS solution, while it is a **great tool for non-professional GIS users** such as marketers, commercial users, and others. **Cost efficiency** is another important factor, due to a flexible pricing system and great value for money. For them, GIS Cloud was the optimal solution for creating customized geo-based apps while it provided additional benefits such as device tracking and monitoring capability for data collection field officers. Applications used: - [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) - [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) - [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) Interested in GIS Cloud solutions for geomarketing? Contact us [here](mailto:sales@giscloud.com). Related content: FIDA &CO. Studios presenting GIS Cloud at the Intelligent Cities Exhibition & Conference GIS is Radically Transforming Non-Profit Interventions Around The World Mapping World Kindness with GIS Cloud Crowdsourcing Solution Geomarketing and GIS for Real Estate: Finding Potential New Hotel Locations in Zagreb (Croatia) Improving Road Infrastructure in Australia with Online GIS (Case Study) **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** Ahmed Amin, Cloud GIS, Egypt, F&CS, fiDA&Co Studios, geomarketing, GIS, GIS Cloud, marketing, Mobile Data Collection, Track Me --- ### [Cloud GIS is a Key to Efficiency in Data Sharing and Collaboration](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/cloud-gis-is-a-key-to-efficiency-in-data-sharing-and-collaboration/) **Published:** May 17, 2016 **Author:** admin **Content:** One of the greatest advantages of cloud based GIS solution is its unmatched data sharing and collaboration potential for a wide variety of businesses, especially data and service providers. [![](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/consultants2-s.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/consultants2-s.png) When it comes to industries such as oil and gas, where maps are usually rich with land, infrastructure, wells and distribution data, cloud GIS solution is one of the necessities for creating a more efficient business environment. Cloud based GIS replaces expensive desktop solutions or paper-based workflows with intuitive, fast and easy to use web based software. We talked with **Xingwen Chen**, owner of a company providing GIS services for clients in a wide range of industries such as municipalities, environmental protection, energy and agriculture. He also works as a consultant for oil and gas, mapping pipelines, wells and providing other spatial data and analysis relevant for oil and gas companies. **Challenge** One of the main challenges Xingwen Chen faces in providing GIS services to clients is in sharing a large amount of spatial data. Creating many duplicates of the same data and sending it via e-mail took significant amount of time and wasn’t the optimal way of data distribution considering large file sizes. Moreover, updating maps with different information and changing data attributes was slow and inefficient when using desktop solutions. This was especially the case when sharing data with users who have no experience in GIS and are not equipped with expensive desktop solutions. Xingwen Chen wanted to make data sharing, updating and collaboration process easier, faster and more efficient. **What was the solution?** Cloud GIS proved to be the simplest and fastest answer for data sharing and collaboration challenge. > My work is so much more efficient with GIS Cloud for its great sharing and collaboration features. We don’t have to create so many duplicates of the same data, and email it back and forth. He used [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) as a powerful mapping tool that enabled him to upload spatial data in the cloud, add different layers and use GIS features such as polygons, points and lines, as well as for media integration (attaching photos and other media) and rich GIS symbology: “GIS Cloud is a miniature desktop GIS platform with some cool features desktop GIS doesn’t have. I use GIS Cloud to publish data that are pertinent to some of my users and update on weekdays. Some of my users use the Editor as their mapping platform to perform their daily work.” Map Editor is a perfect tool for updating maps that are easily shared with clients through [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) app. [![Spatial Data web GIS](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/business-in-the-cloud-graphic3.png)](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/business-in-the-cloud-graphic3.png) “*Collaboration among groups or departments in GIS mapping are the prime advantage of GIS Cloud. Easy to use and flexible data manipulation make it ideal for clients who are not normally GIS users.*” [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) proved to be optimal solution for sharing data updated in real time, from any location and using any device. This also improved collaboration with clients who are now enabled to access spatial data in a matter of seconds. > As a long time GIS practitioner, I found it’s convenient to share information with designated person or group using GIS Cloud. The incorporation of Google maps & Bing maps is definitely a plus. In abstract, **cloud based GIS platform is an optimal solution for data sharing and collaboration for businesses of all profiles, especially those who are in data business.** In the same manner in which paper-based workflows are slowly becoming a thing of the past, cloud GIS transform businesses that no longer have to rely on expensive desktop software, IT departments and GIS training to benefit from the spatial insight. At the same time, updating and accessing data in real time increases efficiency and accuracy and contributes to better decision making based on timely information. Interested in trying out the fastest online mapping platform in the world? [Sign up here.](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) If you want to learn more about GIS Cloud mapping platform and apps, join our free webinar scheduled for May 25th – [Beyond Fieldwork: What’s Next after Data is Collected?](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/beyond-fieldwork-whats-next-after-data-is-collected/) Related content: Easy Information Sharing And Data Collaboration Through Entire Organization “Sharing Drone Data: Next Step – Collaboration” Video is Now Available Online Power Your Workflow With Online GIS Apps: From Data Collection To Collaboration And Sharing, Integrated With Desktop Solutions – Webinar Recording! Increase Efficiency In Tree Inventory And Inspection With GIS Cloud Watch the Sharing Large Raster Data with GIS Cloud Webinar Recording **Categories:** Blog, Use Cases **Tags:** collaboration, data business, data sharing, data sharing and collaboration, GIS, GIS Cloud, Map Editor, Map Viewer, mapping, oil and gas, online mapping platform, service provider, web GIS, Xingwen Chen --- ## Pages ### [Subprocessors](https://www.giscloud.com/subprocessors/) **Published:** May 25, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** To support the delivery of the Service, GIS Cloud, Ltd. (or one of its Affiliates listed below) uses service providers that may store and process personal data (each, a “Processor”). This page provides important information about the identity, location, and role of these Processors. ## Third Parties GIS Cloud currently uses third party Processors to provide infrastructure services and perform other functions related to the Service: **Entity Name****Processing Activities****Entity Country**Anthropic PBCArtificial Intelligence ProviderUnited StatesAmazon Web Services, Inc.Cloud Infrastructure ProviderUnited StatesAtlassian (Trello)Issue trackingUnited StatesGoogle, Inc.GSuite for business productivity inc. email.United StatesGladia SASAudio transcriptionFranceIntercom, IncUser support, event tracking, in-app and email messagingUnited States and EUStripe, Inc.Credit card paymentsUnited StatesWoopra, Inc.Event tracking for applications for service improvement and supportUnited StatesZoho, Inc.CRM and accountingUnited States, India## GIS Cloud Affiliates **Entity Name****Entity Country**GIS Cloud d.o.o.CroatiaGIS Cloud Inc.United States## Updates The Processors we work with may change. Please check here for updates. --- ### [Terms of Use](https://www.giscloud.com/terms-of-use/) **Published:** September 5, 2010 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last updated: July 1st 2026 ## WELCOME TO GIS CLOUD! Through the GIS Cloud application, platform, our website, mobile application(s), related content and services (collectively the “Service(s)”), GIS Cloud, Ltd. (“GIS Cloud”, “we”, “us”, ”our(s)”) seeks to create an environment where colleagues and GIS Cloud users (“Users”, ”you”, ”your(s)”) can easily access data from anywhere in the world and allow the quick and easy publishing and sharing of maps on the web and the use of the GIS platform to build geo and location-aware applications. PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE (“TERMS”), AND OUR PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY. THESE ARE LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENTS THAT CONTROL YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE GIS SERVICES AND MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. ## ACCEPTANCE In order to use the Services you must agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. You can accept these Terms by clicking to agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, where this option is made available to you in the User interface of the Services. Furthermore, by using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. By using the Services you represent that you have read and understand these Terms and our Privacy Policy and agree to be bound by the terms herein and therein. ## TRIAL ACCOUNTS GIS Cloud offers a free 14-day trial of the Service (the “Free Trial Period”). By creating your user account, you accept the 14-Day Free Trial Offer and acknowledge and agree to these Terms of Use. If you decide that you want to become a paying user of the Services upon the lapse of the Free Trial Period, you must contact GIS Cloud and enter into a monthly service contract (you may also do this at www.giscloud.com). You may only use this Free Trial Offer once. GIS Cloud reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to withdraw or to modify this Free Trial Offer at any time without prior notice and with no liability. ## LIMITED LICENSE ## GIS Cloud To You Upon Your acceptance of these Terms, you may access, download, view, copy, and print Services and content available on GIS Cloud site, for Your use subject to these Terms. As a condition of this grant of commercial and noncommercial license, you may not distribute any content obtained through GIS Cloud to any third party except as expressly provided for in these Terms of Use. For the purposes of these Terms “Commercial Use” means your authorized use of the Services wherein you provide the Services to third parties in order to generate income, promote the generation of income, or any other means of commercial advantage or private financial gain. ## Free Service Users You acknowledge and agree that GIS Cloud may impose or adjust the limit on the number of transactions you may send or receive through the Service or resources you use; such fixed upper limits may be set and/or changed by GIS Cloud at any time and at GIS Cloud’s sole discretion. Inquiries regarding additional uses not expressly provided for herein may be submitted to GIS Cloud through a Copyright information or Permissions request email. ## You to GIS Cloud GIS Cloud claims no ownership over any material that you create and/or upload to the Service (“Content”), and you retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in your Content. By submitting, posting or displaying your Content in the Service you grant to GIS Cloud a non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use your identifying features including without limitation your logo, name, trade name, and domain name (“Brand Features”) to advertise that you are using the Service. This license is granted on an opt-out basis: you may withdraw it at any time by written notice to GIS Cloud, and GIS Cloud will not use the Brand Features of government, public-sector, or enterprise customers to advertise without that customer’s prior written consent. ## License Requirements If you develop by use of GIS Cloud a project or solution for use by other users, you must: - display to the users of your project or solution the link to GIS Cloud’s Terms of Use as presented through the Service; explicitly state in the acceptance to your terms of use that your users are agreeing to be bound by GIS Cloud’s Terms of Use; and protect the privacy and legal rights of those users. ## License Restrictions Except as expressly permitted under these Terms, or unless you have received prior written authorization from GIS Cloud (or, as applicable, from the provider of particular Content), GIS Cloud’s licenses above are subject to your adherence to all of the restrictions below. Except as explicitly permitted you must not (nor may you permit anyone else to): - access or use the Service or any Content through any technology or means other than those provided in the Service, or through other explicitly authorized means GIS Cloud may designate; - copy, translate, modify, create a derivative work of, or publicly display any Content or any part thereof (for example, the following is prohibited: creating server-side modification of map tiles; - access Services or resources not made available to you through a standard web browser or GIS Cloud products; - reverse engineer, decompile or otherwise attempt to extract the source code of the Service or any part thereof, unless this is expressly permitted by GIS Cloud or required by applicable law; - use, edit or publish Content obtained through Service with any other Service or application besides GIS Cloud. - manually or systematically harvest information contained within the Service; - use the Service in a manner that gives you or any other person access to mass downloads or bulk feeds of any Content, including but not limited to numerical latitude or longitude coordinates, imagery, and visible map data; - use Services for illegal, improper, or inappropriate purposes (including but not limited to defamation or harassment of others; distribution of obscene or indecent material; stalking; or distribution of content in violation of the proprietary rights of others). - delete, obscure, or in any manner alter any warning, notice (including but not limited to any copyright or other proprietary rights notice), or link that appears in the Service or the Content; - use Services in such a manner as to adversely affect GIS Cloud’s and GIS Cloud’s commercial interests; - hide, alter or mask from GIS Cloud the identity of your service as it uses the Service, including by failing to follow the identification conventions listed AND any proprietary rights notices provided with the Services; or - violate these Terms of Use and other policies as GIS Cloud may develop from time to time, including but not limited to agreeing not to: - (i) defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others; - (ii) upload, post, transmit or otherwise make available any inappropriate, defamatory, obscene, or unlawful content; - (iii) upload, post, transmit or otherwise make available any content that infringes any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary right of any party, unless you are the owner of the rights, or have the permission of the owner or other legal justification to use such content; - (iv) upload, post, transmit or otherwise make available messages that promote pyramid schemes, chain letters, or disruptive commercial messages or advertisements; - (v) upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any other content, message, or communication prohibited by applicable law, the Terms or any applicable Service policies or guidelines; - (vi) download any file posted by another that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot legally be distributed in such manner; - (vii) impersonate another person or entity, or falsify or delete any author attributions or labels of the origin or source of Content, or other material; - (viii) restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Service or any other GIS Cloud and GIS Cloud Services; - (ix) delete, obscure, or fail to display the Terms of Use link as presented through the Service; - (x) delete, obscure, or in any manner alter any warning, notice (including but not limited to any copyright or other proprietary rights notice), or link that appears in the Service or the Content; - (xi) interfere with or disrupt the GIS Cloud Services, servers, or networks connected to the GIS Cloud Services, or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies, or regulations of networks connected to the GIS Cloud Services; - (xii) use any robot, spider, site search/retrieval application, or other device to retrieve or index any portion of the GIS Cloud Services or Content or collect information about users for any unauthorized purpose; - (xiii) display content that falsely expresses or implies that such content is sponsored or endorsed by GIS Cloud and GIS Cloud; - (xiv) create user accounts by automated means or under false or fraudulent pretenses, or obtain or attempt to obtain multiple keys for the same URL; - (xv) promote or provide instructional information about illegal activities; - (xvi) promote physical harm or injury against any group or individual; or - (xvii) transmit any viruses, worms, defects, Trojan horses, or any items of a destructive nature. Any of the foregoing, whether merely attempted or successfully executed, is a material breach of these Terms of Use. ## CHANGES TO TERMS AND SERVICES GIS reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to temporarily or in perpetuity, change, modify, update, alter and/or cancel the Services or any portion thereof, these Terms and/or all other GIS policies, without notice to you. GIS Cloud will not be liable for any kind of damage or loss to you or to any third party, stemming from any such changes, modifications, updates, alterations and/or cancellation of any of the Services or portion thereof, these Terms and/or all other GIS policies. Any Changes to these Terms and/or other GIS policies will be reflected on the Services and continued use of the Services thereafter will constitute acceptance of any such changes, modifications, updates, alterations and/or cancellation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for material changes to these Terms that adversely affect your rights, GIS Cloud will provide reasonable advance notice (for example, by email to the contact on your account or by prominent notice within the Service) before the change takes effect, and will obtain your consent where required by applicable law. If you do not agree to a material change, your remedy is to stop using and cancel the Services before the change takes effect. GIS Cloud is constantly innovating in order to provide the best possible experience for its users. At any time prior to discontinuing the current version of the Service or upgrading to a new version of the Service, GIS Cloud may, in its discretion as part of this continuing innovation, label certain features or functionality of the Service as “experimental” or “beta.” In such case these Terms and all other GIS Cloud policies will continue to apply until your relationship with GIS Cloud is terminated as provided for herein. ## YOUR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES You represent and warrant that your use of the Site will be in strict accordance with these Terms, and with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including without limitation all federal, state, local, provincial and international laws, rules and regulations applicable to your use of the Site and your Content, including all copyright, patent and trademark laws. By using the Site, you hereby represent that: - You will comply with all applicable laws and/or regulations. - You have full power, capacity and authority to accept these Terms. - You will not spam or harass others. - You will respect other Users’ privacy and as such you will not share private or personally identifiable information on the Services. - You will not use any of the Services or features to purposefully harm or disrupt another User’s business or reputation; targeted bullying will not be tolerated. - You will be respectful, posted Content must not promote, support or glorify hatred. ## ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FEATURES GIS Cloud offers features that use artificial intelligence and machine learning (“AI Features”), which may include in-product assistants (for example, Ask AI), AI-assisted data capture and form fill, AI-assisted application building, AI-generated draft records, and the ability to connect external AI clients and agents to the Services through GIS Cloud’s APIs and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. Your use of AI Features is part of the Services and is subject to these Terms and to any additional AI-specific terms or documentation GIS Cloud may publish. **AI Output Is Provided “As Is.”** AI Features generate output using probabilistic models and may produce information that is inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or otherwise unsuitable for your purposes. GIS Cloud does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, or fitness of any AI output. AI output does not constitute professional, legal, surveying, engineering, or geospatial advice. You are solely responsible for reviewing, validating, and independently verifying AI output before relying on it, and you must not rely on AI output as the sole basis for any decision that has legal, financial, safety, or regulatory significance, including official cadastral, mapping, or land-administration uses. **Your Content and AI Features.** GIS Cloud does not use your Content to train any artificial intelligence or machine-learning model, whether its own or a third party’s. GIS Cloud uses your inputs and the resulting output to provide, support, secure, and troubleshoot the AI Features, and it logs and reviews AI Feature interactions (such as conversations with in-product assistants) to assess usage and the quality of its AI Features and to improve them, for example the instructions (system prompts), the tools, and the APIs behind them. This review is carried out by GIS Cloud’s personnel; GIS Cloud does not process your Content using machine learning or AI, and does not use it to train any model, for these quality-assurance or improvement purposes. Some AI Features are powered by third-party AI providers that process your inputs and outputs on GIS Cloud’s behalf as subprocessors, under contractual confidentiality and data-protection obligations and on terms that prohibit using your Content to train their models. GIS Cloud’s AI providers may change over time; the current list of AI and other subprocessors is identified in the GIS Cloud Privacy Policy and subprocessor list. GIS Cloud’s third-party AI providers are intended third-party beneficiaries of the disclaimers and limitations of liability in these Terms as they apply to the AI Features. **Ownership of AI Output.** As between you and GIS Cloud, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and any applicable third-party provider terms, you retain the rights you hold in the inputs you submit to AI Features and in the output generated specifically for you from those inputs. You are responsible for ensuring that your inputs and your use of AI output do not infringe the rights of any third party or violate applicable law. Given the nature of AI, output may not be unique, and GIS Cloud may generate the same or similar output for other users. **Connecting External AI Clients and Agents.** The Services allow you, or an administrator acting for your organization, to authorize external AI clients, applications, and autonomous agents to access the Services and act on your data through GIS Cloud’s APIs and MCP server. Such access uses your credentials or tokens and is made only through the authorization and consent mechanisms GIS Cloud provides, which may require explicit, scoped, and revocable consent. You are responsible for the access you authorize and for all actions taken through it, including create, edit, bulk-edit, and delete operations that an external client or agent may perform, whether or not initiated directly by you. You should review the scope of access you grant, monitor agent activity, and revoke access you no longer require. GIS Cloud may limit, condition, suspend, or revoke such access to protect the security, integrity, or availability of the Services. Your use of any third-party AI client, application, or agent is subject to that third party’s own terms and policies, for which GIS Cloud is not responsible. **Acceptable Use of AI Features.** In addition to the License Restrictions above, you must not use AI Features to: generate unlawful, infringing, deceptive, or harmful content; attempt to reverse engineer, extract, or discover the underlying models, weights, or prompts; use the output to develop or train a competing AI model or service; circumvent any usage, rate, or safety limits; or submit personal or sensitive data that you are not authorized to process. Because GIS Cloud provides AI Features using third-party AI providers, you must also comply with those providers’ applicable usage and acceptable-use policies when using the AI Features; the current providers are identified in the GIS Cloud Privacy Policy and subprocessor list, and their policies are available on request. **Fair Use, Fees, and Availability.** The AI Features are currently included in the Services at no additional charge. GIS Cloud may, on reasonable notice, introduce fees for some or all AI Features, make them available only in certain plans, or change the usage allowances that apply to them. Because AI Features rely on finite third-party computing capacity, they are subject to fair use: GIS Cloud may set, adjust, and enforce usage limits (for example request, volume, or feature quotas), and may throttle, queue, or temporarily or permanently restrict access to AI Features — for a specific account or organization, or generally — where usage is excessive or abusive, is automated beyond the intended use of the Services, degrades the experience of other users, or generates disproportionate cost. GIS Cloud may also modify, suspend, or discontinue any AI Feature (including any early-access or preview feature), in whole or in part, at any time. Where reasonably practicable, GIS Cloud will give notice of material limitations or discontinuation. Reaching a usage limit is not a breach of these Terms; attempting to circumvent limits is. ## PRIVACY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION By accepting these Terms of Use, you also agree to the terms of GIS Cloud’s Privacy Policy and all other applicable GIS Cloud policies, which are hereby incorporated into these Terms of Use. ## DATA PROCESSING AND DATA PROTECTION Where GIS Cloud processes personal data on your behalf in providing the Services, you act as the controller (or, where applicable, the processor) and GIS Cloud acts as your processor (or sub-processor) with respect to that personal data. Such processing is governed by the GIS Cloud Data Processing Agreement (the “DPA”), which is incorporated into these Terms by reference and is available from GIS Cloud on request. The DPA sets out the subject matter, duration, nature, and purpose of the processing; the types of personal data and categories of data subjects; the parties’ respective obligations under applicable data protection law (including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK GDPR, and the Croatian legislation implementing the GDPR); GIS Cloud’s use of sub-processors; the technical and organizational security measures; assistance with data-subject requests and personal-data-breach notification; and the safeguards relied upon for international transfers of personal data (including the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses and the UK International Data Transfer Addendum). In the event of a conflict between the DPA and these Terms with respect to the processing of personal data, the DPA prevails. ## CONTENT POLICY ## Account Information In order to access the Service, you must have a GIS Cloud Account. You agree that any information you give to GIS Cloud in connection with your GIS Cloud Account or your continued use of the Service will always be accurate, correct and up to date. You agree that you will be solely responsible to GIS Cloud for your use of the Service. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your password or your account you agree to notify GIS Cloud immediately. Sharing of Your Content.In the event You desire to make use of the GIS Cloud content sharing feature by uploading or publishing any of Your data and/or imagery to GIS Cloud, You hereby grant GIS Cloud a non exclusive, revocable, royalty free to insert a non invasive logo of GIS Cloud and to provide end users a hypertext reference link to GIS Cloud platform from Your content. ## THIRD PARTIES ## Third Party Content The Service may include hyperlinks to other websites or content or resources. GIS Cloud has no control over any websites or resources that are provided by companies or persons other than GIS Cloud. You acknowledge and agree that GIS Cloud is not responsible for the availability of any such external sites or resources, and does not endorse any advertising, products or other materials on or available from such websites or resources. You acknowledge and agree that GIS Cloud is not liable for any loss or damage that may be incurred by you as a result of the availability of those external sites or resources, or as a result of any reliance placed by you on the completeness, accuracy or existence of any advertising, products, or other materials on, or available from, such websites or resources. ## GIS Cloud’s Subsidiaries and Affiliates GIS Cloud has or will have subsidiaries and affiliated legal entities around the world (“Subsidiaries and Affiliates“). Sometimes, these companies will be providing the Service to you on behalf of GIS Cloud itself. You acknowledge and agree that Subsidiaries and Affiliates will be entitled to provide the Service to you. ## Third-Party Licensing Terms and Use Restrictions Services provided by GIS Cloud may contain third-party data and/or imagery. In addition, GIS Cloud provides the ability to view, access and incorporate maps and content that is provided by other software and content providers such as Google, Microsoft, ESRI, OpenStreetMap and others through the use of web services and interfaces, including but not limited to Web Map Service. Use of third-party data and/or imagery may be subject to such third party’s License Agreement or additional use restrictions. You are solely responsible for compliance with all applicable third party license agreement(s). Third party Use Restrictions may be provided with the data (such as with metadata). GIS Cloud may modify the third party license agreement and any applicable use restrictions from time to time and it is your responsibility to check for updates to these license agreements or use restrictions. If a modification any third party license agreement, or use restrictions is unacceptable, you may cancel your access upon written notice to GIS Cloud or discontinue use of the Service, as applicable. Continued use of the Service will be deemed acceptance of any modifications. ## INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ## Ownership You acknowledge and agree that GIS Cloud (or GIS Cloud’s licensors and their suppliers, as applicable) owns all legal right, title and interest in and to the Service, Content and Technology, including any intellectual property rights that subsist in the Service and Content (whether those rights happen to be registered or not, and wherever in the world those rights may exist). These Terms of Use do not transfer any rights to redistribute, prepare derivative works from, or acquire ownership interest in Services. ## Trademarks You acknowledge that the GIS Cloud logo, and other marks (including without limitation any trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and other distinctive brand features of GIS Cloud, GIS Cloud, its partners, or other third party rights holders of content indexed by GIS Cloud) used in the Services or otherwise, whether registered or unregistered are the sole property of GIS Cloud and/or its licensors or Affiliates. These marks may only be used where expressly authorized by GIS Cloud or the applicable licensor or Affiliate. You may not delete or in any manner alter these marks. Any use in violation of the foregoing shall be considered a material breach of these Terms of Use. ## CLAIMS OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT GIS Cloud’s copyright policy is to respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable international intellectual property law (including, in the United States, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act) and to take-down allegedly infringing materials and/or terminating the accounts of repeat infringers, as applicable. If you believe that anything made available via our Services infringes upon any copyright which you own or control, you may file a notification of such infringement by contacting us at info@giscloud.com. To be effective, the notification must be a written communication that includes the following: - A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; - Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online Site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that Site; - Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material; - Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number and, if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted; - A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law; and - A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. We may give notice of a claim of copyright infringement to our Users by means of a general notice on our website and/or mobile applications, via electronic mail to a User’s email address in our records, or by written communication sent by first-class mail to a User’s address in our records. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) and other applicable law, GIS Cloud has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, and at our sole discretion, the right to access and use the Services for those Users who are deemed to be repeat infringers. We may also, at our sole discretion, limit access to the Services and/or terminate the right of any Users to access and use the Services for the infringement of any intellectual property rights of others, whether or not there is any repeat infringement. ## TERMINATION These Terms will continue to apply to you until terminated by either you or GIS Cloud.GIS Cloud reserves the right in its discretion to cease providing all or any part of the Services for any or no reason. Additionally GIS Cloud reserves the right to terminate your access to and use of the Service immediately without any notice if: - you have breached any provision of the Terms (or have acted in manner that clearly shows that you do not intend to, or are unable to comply with the provisions of the Terms); - GIS Cloud is required to do so by law; - the Service relies on data or services provided by a third party partner and the relationship with such partner has expired or been terminated or requires GIS Cloud to change the way GIS Cloud provides the data or services through the Service; - providing the Services could create a substantial economic burden as determined by GIS Cloud in its reasonable good faith judgment; or - providing the Service could create a security risk or material technical burden as determined by GIS Cloud in its reasonable good faith judgment. ## PAYMENTS AND BILLING ## Premium Services Certain of our Services may be subject to payments now or in the future (the “Premium Services”). Please see our Premium Services page for a description of the currently available Premium Services and the payment amounts (“Fees”) and terms applicable to such Premium Services. Please note that any payment terms presented to you in the process of using or signing up for a Premium Services are deemed part of these Terms of Use. All amounts are stated in, and shall be paid in, U.S. dollars. We may revise the rates for Premium Services at any time, or impose additional fees or charges. If you are a subscriber to Premium Services, we will provide prior notice of any increase of fees, by a message to the contact person listed on your account, by posting on the Service or on our pricing page. We may also periodically review your usage and bill you for any overages or increased usage (e.g. additional map views) at our then-current rates. ## Taxes All Fees are exclusive of taxes, duties, levies, tariffs, and other governmental charges (including, without limitation, VAT) (collectively, “Taxes”). You shall be responsible for paying all Taxes associated with the Services (without any offset or deduction to the fees paid to GIS Cloud) other than U.S. taxes based on GIS Cloud’s net income. ## Billing We use a third-party payment processor (the “Payment Processor”) to bill you through a payment account linked to your Account on the Services (your “Billing Account”) for use of the Premium Services. The processing of payments will be subject to the terms, conditions, and privacy policies of the Payment Processor in addition to these Terms of Use. We are not responsible for error by the Payment Processor. We reserve the right to correct any errors or mistakes that the Payment Processor makes even if the Payment Processor has already requested or received payment. The terms of your payment will be based on your Payment Method and may be determined by agreements between you and the financial institution, credit card issuer, or other provider of your chosen Payment Method. If we, through the Payment Processor, do not receive payment from you, you agree to pay all amounts due on your Billing Account upon demand. ## Auto-Renewal Fees for certain Premium Services are automatically charged on a recurring basis, and when signing up for a Premium Service with a recurring payment obligation, you will be able to select a recurring billing level and renewal term that will apply to your receipt of such Premium Services (“Subscription”) (e.g. monthly, 6 month or annual payment). Unless you cancel or change your Subscription in accordance with these Terms of Use, any Subscriptions you have signed up for will be automatically extended for successive renewal periods of the same duration as the Subscription originally selected, at the then-current non-promotional rate. By signing up for a Subscription, you agree that we may submit the charges associated with such Subscription for payment on the applicable schedule and you will be responsible for such charges. Your charges may be payable in advance, in arrears, per usage, or as otherwise described when you initially selected to use the Premium Service and/or Subscription. BY SIGNING UP FOR A SUBSCRIPTION YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WE MAY SUBMIT PERIODIC CHARGES (E.G., MONTHLY) WITHOUT FURTHER AUTHORIZATION FROM YOU, UNTIL YOU PROVIDE PRIOR NOTICE (RECEIPT OF WHICH IS CONFIRMED BY US) THAT YOU HAVE TERMINATED THIS AUTHORIZATION OR WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PAYMENT METHOD. SUCH NOTICE WILL NOT AFFECT CHARGES SUBMITTED BEFORE WE REASONABLY COULD ACT. TO TERMINATE YOUR AUTHORIZATION OR CHANGE YOUR PAYMENT METHOD, GO TO THE BILLING SECTION OF THE SERVICE. PLEASE CONTACT US AT SUPPORT@GISCLOUD.COM IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE. This does not waive our right to seek payment directly from you. ## Current Information Required YOU MUST PROVIDE CURRENT, COMPLETE, AND ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR YOUR BILLING ACCOUNT. YOU MUST PROMPTLY UPDATE ALL INFORMATION TO KEEP YOUR BILLING ACCOUNT CURRENT, COMPLETE AND ACCURATE (SUCH AS A CHANGE IN BILLING ADDRESS, CREDIT CARD NUMBER, OR CREDIT CARD EXPIRATION DATE), AND YOU MUST PROMPTLY NOTIFY US OR OUR PAYMENT PROCESSOR IF YOUR PAYMENT METHOD IS CANCELED (E.G., FOR LOSS OR THEFT) OR IF YOU BECOME AWARE OF A POTENTIAL BREACH OF SECURITY, SUCH AS THE UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OR USE OF YOUR ACCOUNT CREDENTIALS OR PASSWORD. CHANGES TO SUCH INFORMATION CAN BE MADE DIRECTLY BY YOU USING THE SERVICE. PLEASE CONTACT US AT SUPPORT@GISCLOUD.COM IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE. IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE ANY OF THE FOREGOING INFORMATION, YOU AGREE THAT WE MAY CONTINUE CHARGING YOU FOR ANY USE OF PREMIUM SERVICES UNDER YOUR BILLING ACCOUNT UNLESS YOU HAVE TERMINATED YOUR PREMIUM SERVICES AS SET FORTH ABOVE. ## Change in Amount Authorized If the amount to be charged to your Billing Account varies from the amount you pre-authorized (other than due to the imposition or change in the amount of state sales taxes), you have the right to receive, and we shall provide, notice of the amount to be charged and the date of the charge before the scheduled date of the transaction. Any agreement you have with your payment provider will govern your use of your Payment Method. You agree that we may accumulate charges incurred and submit them as one or more aggregate charges during or at the end of each billing cycle. ## Refund Policy We are required to provide a refund only if we terminate our Services to you without cause before the end of a month for which you have paid. There is no other circumstance in which you will be entitled to a refund from GIS Cloud. We may, at our sole discretion, offer refunds in other situations subject to any User seeking such refund applying for the refund in accordance with the requirements we post on the website, which may be changed from time to time. ## Chargeback Policy; Disputes If you have a question about charges made to your Account, please contact us immediately. If the charges were made in error, we will credit your Billing Account or Payment Method for the appropriate amount. Please note that GIS Cloud has a zero tolerance policy for chargebacks. Any customer who disputes a credit card payment that is found to be valid will be permanently banned from use of any and all GIS Cloud Services. ## ACCOUNT CANCELLATION ## Free Service Users You may cancel your Free GIS Cloud account by discontinuing your use of the Service at any time, there is no need to contact GIS Cloud or take any further action. ## Premium Service Users In order to cancel your Premium GIS Cloud account you must notify GIS Cloud that you wish to cancel your subscription. Please note that any such cancellation will take effect on the day after the last day of the then current monthly subscription period. ## INDEMNIFICATION You hereby agree to indemnify, defend and hold GIS Cloud, its strategic partners, officers, directors, agents, affiliates, licensors and their suppliers (“the Indemnified Parties“) harmless from and against any claim or liability arising out of: - your use of the GIS Cloud platform in breach of the Terms or applicable policies; - any use by users of your projects realized through the GIS Cloud platform; - any claim that your GIS Cloud projects or Your Content violates any applicable law, including but not limited to any claim that infringes the rights of a third party. - You agree that you are solely responsible for (and that GIS Cloud has no responsibility to you or to any third party for) any breach of your obligations under the Terms and for the consequences (including any loss or damage which GIS Cloud may suffer) of any such breach. - You agree to cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any claim. GIS Cloud reserves the right, at its own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you. You acknowledge that damages for improper use of the GIS Cloud may be irreparable; therefore, GIS Cloud is entitled to seek equitable relief, including but not limited to preliminary injunction and injunction, in addition to all other remedies. ## WARRANTY DISCLAIMER / LIMITATION OF LIABILITY YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE AND THE CONTENT IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT THE SERVICE AND THE CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS.” IN PARTICULAR, GIS CLOUD, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES, AND ITS LICENSORS AND THEIR SUPPLIERS, DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT TO YOU THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR THAT ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED BY YOU AS A RESULT OF YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM GIS CLOUD, OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE OR CONTENT, WILL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE TERMS. GIS CLOUD, ITS LICENSORS, AFFILIATES AND THEIR SUPPLIERS FURTHER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT GIS CLOUD, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS AND THEIR SUPPLIERS, WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY YOU, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, ANY LOSS OF PROFIT (WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY), ANY LOSS OF GOODWILL OR BUSINESS REPUTATION, ANY LOSS OF DATA, COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSS); OR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF: - ANY RELIANCE PLACED BY YOU ON THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR EXISTENCE OF ANY ADVERTISING, OR AS A RESULT OF ANY RELATIONSHIP OR TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND ANY ADVERTISER OR SPONSOR WHOSE ADVERTISING APPEARS ON THE GIS CLOUD SERVICES; - (ANY CHANGES THAT GIS CLOUD MAY MAKE TO THE SERVICE, OR ANY PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY CESSATION IN THE PROVISION OF THE SERVICE (OR ANY FEATURES WITHIN THE SERVICE); - THE DELETION OF, CORRUPTION OF, OR FAILURE TO STORE, ANY CONTENT AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS DATA MAINTAINED OR TRANSMITTED BY OR THROUGH YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE; - YOUR FAILURE TO PROVIDE GIS CLOUD WITH ACCURATE ACCOUNT INFORMATION; OR - YOUR FAILURE TO KEEP YOUR PASSWORD OR ACCOUNT DETAILS SECURE AND CONFIDENTIAL. - THE LIMITATIONS ON GIS CLOUD’S LIABILITY TO YOU ABOVE WILL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT GIS CLOUD, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS OR THEIR SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH LOSSES OR DAMAGES. - AGGREGATE LIABILITY CAP. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY ABOVE, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF GIS CLOUD AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS AND SUPPLIERS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICES, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL FEES PAID OR PAYABLE BY YOU TO GIS CLOUD FOR THE SERVICES IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (USD 100). THIS CAP DOES NOT APPLY TO LIABILITY THAT CANNOT BE LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. NOTHING IN THESE TERMS WILL EXCLUDE OR LIMIT GIS CLOUD’S WARRANTY OR LIABILITY FOR LOSSES THAT MAY NOT BE LAWFULLY EXCLUDED OR LIMITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OR THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF LOSS OR DAMAGES. ACCORDINGLY, ONLY THE LIMITATIONS THAT ARE LAWFUL IN YOUR JURISDICTION WILL APPLY TO YOU, AND GIS CLOUD’S LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. ## NOTICES You agree that GIS Cloud is not obligated to but may provide you with notices, including those regarding changes to the Terms, by email, regular mail, or postings on the Service. ## FORCE MAJEURE Neither party will be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms (other than obligations to pay amounts due) to the extent that the failure or delay is caused by events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, epidemic or pandemic, war, terrorism, civil unrest, governmental action or embargo, labour disputes, and failures or interruptions of the internet, telecommunications, hosting, or power, or failures of third-party suppliers or service providers (a “Force Majeure Event”). The affected party will use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate the effect of the Force Majeure Event and to resume performance as soon as reasonably practicable. If a Force Majeure Event prevents performance of the affected Services for more than thirty (30) consecutive days, either party may terminate the affected Services on written notice, without liability for the affected performance. ## EXPORT CONTROL AND SANCTIONS The Services, and any related technology and data, may be subject to export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including those of the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, and other applicable jurisdictions (“Trade Laws”). You represent, warrant, and covenant that: (a) you are not located in, organized under the laws of, or ordinarily resident in any country or territory subject to comprehensive sanctions, and you are not otherwise a target of applicable sanctions; (b) you are not identified on any restricted-party or denied-party list maintained under applicable Trade Laws, and you are not owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, any such party; and (c) you will not access, use, export, re-export, or transfer the Services, or permit their use, in violation of any Trade Laws, including for any prohibited end use or by any prohibited end user. You are responsible for complying with all Trade Laws applicable to your use of the Services and your Content. GIS Cloud may suspend or terminate your access to the Services if GIS Cloud determines, in its reasonable judgment, that providing the Services to you would violate, or create a material risk of violating, any Trade Laws. ## NO WAIVER You agree that if GIS Cloud does not exercise or enforce any legal right or remedy contained in the Terms (or that GIS Cloud has the benefit of under any applicable law), this will not be taken to be a formal waiver of GIS Cloud’s rights and that those rights or remedies will still be available. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if GIS Cloud expressly states in a signed writing that it is waiving a specified Term. ## SEVERABILITY If any court of law that has jurisdiction rules that any provision of these Terms is invalid, then that provision will be removed from the Terms without affecting the rest of the Terms. The remaining provisions of the Terms will continue to be valid and enforceable. ## ASSIGNMENT You may not assign your rights and/or obligations under these Terms. GIS Cloud may assign its rights and obligations under these Terms and will inure to the benefit of GIS Cloud, its successors and assigns. ## GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION; INJUNCTIVE RELIEF The Terms, and your relationship with GIS Cloud under the Terms, will be governed by the English law without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. You and GIS Cloud agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in London, United Kingdom, to resolve any legal matter arising from the Terms. Notwithstanding this, you agree that GIS Cloud will be allowed to apply for injunctive remedies (or an equivalent type of urgent legal relief) in any jurisdiction. ## ENTIRE AGREEMENT The Terms constitute the whole legal agreement between you and GIS Cloud and govern your use of the Service and Content, and completely replace and supersede any prior agreements between you and GIS Cloud, written or oral, in relation to the Service and Content. --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://www.giscloud.com/privacy-policy/) **Published:** September 8, 2010 **Author:** admin **Content:** Last updated: July 1st 2026 GIS Cloud, we and us refers to GIS Cloud Ltd., GIS Cloud Inc., GIS Cloud d.o.o., considers the privacy and online security of our Users to be of utmost importance. This Privacy Policy is intended to help you to understand how and what personal information we collect, use and disclose when you use our Service. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy. By using the Services and accepting our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. Unless otherwise defined in this Privacy Policy, terms used in this Privacy Policy have the same meanings as in our Terms of Use. ## What Information We Collect ### Information you provide to us While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to, your email address, name, phone number, postal address, credit card information and other information (“Personal Information”). We collect this information for the purpose of providing the Services, identifying and communicating with you, responding to your requests/inquiries, servicing your purchase orders, and improving our services. #### **Information you provide by communicating with us** We may collect Personal Information from you such as email address, phone number or mailing address when you choose to request information about our Services, register for GIS Cloud’s newsletter or a program that we may offer from time to time, request to receive customer or technical support, or otherwise communicate with us. #### **Content you provide using our products** The Services include the GIS Cloud products you use, where we collect and store content that you post, send, receive and share. This content includes any information about you that you may choose to include. Examples of content we collect and store include: maps and layers that you create and setup, tables you create and populate in our database with your data, etc. Content also includes the files and links you upload to the Services. If you use on-premises version of the Services, we do not host, store, transmit, receive or collect information about you (including your content), except in limited cases, where permitted by your administrator. #### **Payment Information** We collect certain payment and billing information when you register for certain paid Services. You might also provide payment information, such as payment card details, which we collect via secure payment processing services. ### What we collect automatically when you use the Services We collect information about you when you use our Services, including browsing our websites and taking certain actions within the Services. #### **Your use of the Services** We keep track of certain information about you when you visit and interact with any of our Services. This information includes the features you use; the links you click on; the type, size and filenames of attachments you upload to the Services; and how you interact with others on the Services. We also collect information about organizations and people you work with and how you work with them, like who you collaborate with. #### **Device and Connection Information** We collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Service (“Log Data”). This Log Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages and other statistics. #### **Analytics** We may use third party services such as Google Analytics that collect, monitor and analyze this type of information in order to increase our Service’s functionality. These third party service providers have their own privacy policies addressing how they use such information. When you access the Services by or through a mobile device, we may collect certain information automatically, including, but not limited to, the type of mobile device you use, your mobile device’s unique device ID, the IP address of your mobile device, your mobile operating system, the type of mobile Internet browser you use, your location information and other statistics. Please see the section regarding Location Information below regarding the use of your location information and your options. #### **Location information** We may use and store information about your location depending on the permissions you have set on your device. We use this information to provide features of our Service, to improve and customize our Service. You can enable or disable location services when you use our Service at anytime, through your mobile device settings. #### **Unique Identifiers** We use unique identifiers such as cookies, e-mail or your pseudonymized customer ID to track individual usage behavior on our Service, such as the length of time spent on a particular page and the pages viewed during a particular log-in period. Unique identifiers collect information about a user’s use of our Service on an individual basis. #### **Mobile Device Identifiers** Mobile device identifiers are identifiers stored on your mobile device that track certain data and activities occurring on or through your device. Mobile device identifiers enable collection of Personal Information (such as media access controls) as well as non-personally identifiable information (such as usage and traffic data). #### **Cookies, Web Beacons, and Other Tracking Tools** We and our third party service providers collect information about you, your device, and your use of the Service through cookies, clear gifs (a.k.a. web beacons/web bugs) (“Web Beacons”), and other tracking tools and technological methods (collectively, “Tracking Tools”). Tracking Tools collect information such as computer or device operating system type, IP address, browser type, browser language, mobile device ID, device hardware type, the website or application visited or used before or after accessing our Service, the parts of the Service accessed, the length of time spent on a page or using a feature, and access times for a web page or feature. These Tracking Tools help us learn more about our users and analyze how users use the Service, such as how often users visit our Service, what features they use, what pages they visit, what emails they open, and what other sites or applications they used prior to and after visiting the Service. #### **Cookies** Like many websites and mobile application operators, we collect certain information through the use of “cookies,” which are small text files that are saved by your browser when you access our Service. Cookies can either be “session cookies” or “persistent cookies”. Session cookies are temporary cookies that are stored on your device while you are visiting our Website or using our Service, whereas “persistent cookies” are stored on your device for a period of time after you leave our Website or Service. We use persistent cookies to store your preferences so that they are available for the next visit, and to keep a more accurate account of how often you visit our Service, and how your use of the Service varies over time. We also use persistent cookies to measure the effectiveness of advertising efforts. Through these cookies, we may collect information about your online activity after you leave our Service. For more information on cookies, including how to control your cookie settings and preferences, visit [http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics/legal/cookies/index\_en.htm](http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics/legal/cookies/index_en.htm), and . Where required by applicable law (including in the EEA, the United Kingdom, and Croatia), we ask for your prior consent before placing non-essential cookies and similar technologies, and you can withdraw or change your choices at any time through our cookie consent tool. The browser controls described below are in addition to, and not a substitute for, that consent. #### **Web Beacons** Web Beacons help us better manage content on our Service by informing us what content is effective. Web Beacons are embedded in, or otherwise associated with, certain emails or other communications that you receive from us or our partners. Web Beacons help us track your responses and interests and deliver relevant content and services to you. For example, they may let us know when you take actions based on the emails that we send. Web Beacons also allow us to enhance our Behavioral Advertising (defined below), which is further discussed below in the section titled “Online Behavioral Advertising” below. #### **Social Media Widgets** Some parts of our Service may include social media features, such as the Facebook “like” button, and widgets, such as the “share this” button. These social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our Service. When you use these tools, the party that provides the tool, the third party that operates the social media services, and/or we may receive Personal Information about you. By using these tools, you acknowledge that some information, including Personal Information, from your social media services will be transmitted to us, and that information is therefore is covered by this Privacy Policy, and some information, including Personal Information, may be shared with the third party services, and that information is therefore governed by their privacy policies. #### **Third Party Sources** We may use third-party services, such as open search tools and social networks, to obtain information about you (such as your name or company) and to enrich your personal information by obtaining publicly available information about you, such as your job title, employment history and contact information. #### **Online Behavioral Advertising** Some of our advertising (“Behavioral Advertising”) involves using Tracking Tools to collect information about a user’s online activities over time and across non-affiliated websites and applications and providing ads to the user based the user’s interests (as inferred from the user’s online activity) or use of our Service. Behavioral Advertising may appear on our Service or on other websites or services. We work with third parties to provide Behavioral Advertising, such as advertising networks, data exchanges, traffic measurement service providers, marketing analytics service providers, and other third-party service providers (collectively, “Advertising Service Providers”). Advertising Service Providers perform services such as facilitating targeting of advertisements and measuring and analyzing advertising effectiveness on the Service (collectively, all such services, “Targeting Services”). Targeting Services help us display Behavioral Advertising, prevent you from seeing repeated ads, and enable us to research the usefulness of ads. You have the option to opt out of Behavioral Advertising. Contact us at marketing@giscloud.com ### Information we receive from other sources We receive information about you from other Service users, from third-party services and from our business and channel partners. #### **Other users of the Services** Other users of our Services may provide information about you when they submit content through the Services. We receive your email address from other Service users when they provide it in the GIS Cloud Manager in case they are creating your account in their organization. #### **GIS Cloud Partners** We work with a global network of partners who provide consulting, implementation, training and other services around our products. Some of these partners also help us to market and promote our products, generate leads for us, and resell our products. We receive information from these partners, such as billing information, billing and technical contact information, company name, what GIS Cloud products you have purchased or may be interested in, evaluation information you have provided, what events you have attended, and what country you are in. #### **Other Partners** We receive information about you and your activities on and off the Services from third-party partners, such as advertising and market research partners who provide us with information about your interest in and engagement with, our Services and online advertisements. ## How we use Personal Information #### **To provide the Services to you** We acquire, hold, use and process information about you to provide the Services to you, including to process transactions with you, authenticate you when you log in, provide customer support, and operate and maintain the Services. #### **To communicate with you about the Services** We use your contact information to send transactional communications via email and within the Services, including confirming your purchases, reminding you of subscription expirations, responding to your comments, questions and requests, providing customer support, and sending you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and administrative messages. We also provide tailored communications based on your activity and interactions with us. For example, certain actions you take in the Services may automatically trigger a feature or third-party app suggestion within the Services that would make that task easier. We also send you communications as you onboard to a particular Service to help you become more proficient in using that Service. These communications are part of the Services and in most cases you cannot opt out of them. If an opt out is available, you will find that option within the communication itself or in your account settings. #### **To market, promote and drive engagement with the Services** We use your contact information and information about how you use the Services to send promotional communications that may be of specific interest to you, including by email and by displaying GIS Cloud ads on other companies’ websites and applications, as well as on platforms like Facebook and Google. These communications are aimed at driving engagement and maximizing what you get out of the Services, including information about new features, survey requests, newsletters, and events we think may be of interest to you. We also communicate with you about new product offers, promotions and contests. You can control whether you receive these communications. #### **Research and Development** We may use Personal Information to create non identifiable information that we may use alone or in the aggregate with information obtained from other sources, in order to help us to optimally deliver our existing products and Services or develop new products and Services. From time to time, GIS Cloud may perform research (online and offline) via surveys. We may engage third party service providers to conduct such surveys on our behalf. All survey responses are voluntary, and the information collected will be used for research and reporting purposes to help us better serve Individuals by learning more about their needs and the quality of the products and services we provide. The survey responses may be utilized to determine the effectiveness of our Services, various types of communications, advertising campaigns, and/or promotional activities. If an Individual participates in a survey, the information given will be used along with that of other study participants. We may share anonymous Individual and aggregate data for research and analysis purposes. #### **Customer support** We use your information to resolve technical issues you encounter, to respond to your requests for assistance, to analyze crash information, and to repair and improve the Services. #### **For safety and security** We use information about you and your Service use to verify accounts and activity, to monitor suspicious or fraudulent activity and to identify violations of Service policies. To protect our legitimate business interests and legal rights: Where required by law or where we believe it is necessary to protect our legal rights, interests and the interests of others, we use information about you in connection with legal claims, compliance, regulatory, and audit functions, and disclosures in connection with the acquisition, merger or sale of a business. #### **With your consent** We use information about you where you have given us consent to do so for a specific purpose not listed above. #### **Legal bases for processing (for EEA users):** Data protection law in Europe requires a “lawful basis” for collecting and retaining personal information from citizens or residents of the European Economic Area. Our lawful bases include: Performing the contract we have with you: In certain circumstances, we need your personal information to comply with our contractual obligation to deliver the Services and to provide the maps, data, applications, and collaboration features that you and your organization use. Legal compliance: Sometimes the law says we need to collect and use your data. For example, tax laws require us to retain records of transactions and payments made through our Service. Legitimate interests: This is a technical term in data protection law which essentially means we have a good and fair reason to use your data and we do so in ways which do not hurt your interests and rights. We sometimes require your data to pursue our legitimate interests in a way that might reasonably be expected as part of running our business and that does not materially impact your rights, freedom or interests. For example, we use identity, device, and location information to prevent fraud and abuse and to keep the Services secure. We may also send you promotional communications about our Services, subject to your right to control whether we do so. We analyze how users interact with our Service so we can understand better what elements of the design are working well and which are not working so well. This allows us to improve and develop the quality of the online experience we offer all our users. ## Artificial Intelligence Features and Automated Processing Some of our Services include features that use artificial intelligence and machine learning (“AI Features”), such as in-product assistants, AI-assisted form fill and data capture, AI-assisted application building, and the ability to connect external AI clients and agents through our APIs and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. When you use AI Features, we process the inputs you submit (which may include personal information and your Content) and the output generated, in order to provide, secure, and support those features. We do not use your personal information or your Content to train any artificial intelligence or machine-learning model, whether our own or a third party’s. Some AI Features are provided using third-party AI providers that process your inputs and outputs on our behalf as subprocessors, under data-protection terms that restrict their use of your data and do not permit training their models on it. These providers currently process this data in the United States; where this involves a transfer of personal data from the EEA, the UK, or Switzerland, we rely on the safeguards described in the “How we transfer information we collect internationally” section below. Our AI providers may change over time; the current list of subprocessors is at . Quality assurance and service improvement. We log and retain AI Feature interactions (your inputs and the generated output). Our team reviews and analyzes them to understand how the Services are used and to assess and improve the quality of our AI Features, for example to refine the instructions (system prompts) we give the AI, the tools and integrations it can use, and our APIs. We do not process this data using machine learning or AI for these purposes, and we do not use it to train any artificial intelligence or machine-learning model; this work is carried out by our personnel. Access to shared data through AI. Where you or your administrator authorize an external AI client or agent to access the Services, that access is governed by the permissions and consent settings you configure. AI Features and connected agents can access only data you are entitled to access, and we apply your organization’s permission settings to AI-driven access to shared maps, layers, and records. You can review and revoke these authorizations as described in “The choices we offer” below. Automated decision-making. We do not use AI Features to make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you without human involvement. If this changes, we will update this policy and, where required, obtain your consent and provide the information and rights required under applicable law (including Article 22 of the GDPR). ## Who we share Personal Information with ### Sharing with other Service users #### **Managed accounts and administrators** If you register or access the Services using an email address with a domain that is owned by your employer or organization, and such organization wishes to establish an account or site, certain information about you including your name, contact info, content and past use of your account may become accessible to that organization’s administrator and other Service users sharing the same domain. If you are an administrator for a particular site or group of users within the Services, we may share your contact information with current or past Service users, for the purpose of facilitating Service-related requests. #### **Sharing with third parties** We share information with third parties that help us operate, provide, improve, integrate, customize, support and market our Services. #### **Service Providers** We work with third-party service providers to provide website and application development, hosting, maintenance, backup, storage, virtual infrastructure, payment processing, analysis and other services for us, which may require them to access or use information about you. If a service provider needs to access information about you to perform services on our behalf, they do so under close instruction from us, including policies and procedures designed to protect your information. Service providers that we use are listed [here](https://www.giscloud.com/subprocessors/). #### **GIS Cloud Partners** We work with third parties who provide consulting, sales, and technical services to deliver and implement customer solutions around the Services. We may share your information with these third parties in connection with their services, such as to assist with billing and collections, to provide localized support, and to provide customizations. We may also share information with these third parties where you have agreed to that sharing. #### **Third Party Apps** You, your administrator or other Service users may choose to add new functionality or change the behavior of the Services by installing third party apps within the Services. Doing so may give third-party apps access to your account and information about you like your name and email address, and any content you choose to use in connection with those apps. If you are a technical or billing contact listed on an account, we share your details with the third-party app provider upon installation. Third-party app policies and procedures are not controlled by us, and this privacy policy does not cover how third-party apps use your information. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third parties before connecting to or using their applications or services to learn more about their privacy and information handling practices. If you object to information about you being shared with these third parties, please uninstall the app. Links to Third Party Sites: The Services may include links that direct you to other websites or services whose privacy practices may differ from ours. If you submit information to any of those third party sites, your information is governed by their privacy policies, not this one. We encourage you to carefully read the privacy policy of any website you visit. #### **Social Media Widgets** The Services may include links that direct you to other websites or services whose privacy practices may differ from ours. Your use of and any information you submit to any of those third-party sites is governed by their privacy policies, not this one. #### **Third-Party Widgets** Some of our Services contain widgets and social media features, such as the Twitter “tweet” button. These widgets and features collect your IP address, which page you are visiting on the Services, and may set a cookie to enable the feature to function properly. Widgets and social media features are either hosted by a third party or hosted directly on our Services. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of the company providing it. #### **Compliance with Enforcement Requests and Applicable Laws; Enforcement of Our Rights** In exceptional circumstances, we may share information about you with a third party if we believe that sharing is reasonably necessary to (a) comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request, including to meet national security requirements, (b) enforce our agreements, policies and terms of service, (c) protect the security or integrity of our products and services, (d) protect GIS Cloud, our customers or the public from harm or illegal activities, or (e) respond to an emergency which we believe in good faith requires us to disclose information to assist in preventing the death or serious bodily injury of any person. ### Sharing with affiliated companies We share information we collect with affiliated companies and, in some cases, with prospective affiliates. Affiliated companies are companies owned or operated by us. The protections of this privacy policy apply to the information we share in these circumstances. If GIS Cloud is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, your Personal Information may be transferred as a business asset. In such cases, we will provide notice before your Personal Information is transferred and/or becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy. ## How we store your data and secure it ### Data storage and security We use data hosting service providers in the United States to host the information we collect, and we use technical measures to secure your data. Optionally you can request your information to be stored on our servers in EU or Australia. GIS Cloud d.o.o., the GIS Cloud company whose teams develop and operate the Services, maintains an information security management system certified to ISO/IEC 27001. The security of your Personal Information is important to us, and we strive to implement and maintain reasonable, commercially acceptable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the information we store, in order to protect it from unauthorized access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and we are unable to guarantee the absolute security of the Personal Information we have collected from you. ### How long we keep your information How long we keep information we collect about you depends on the type of information, as described in further detail below. After such time, we will either delete or anonymize your information or, if this is not possible (for example, because the information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your information and isolate it from any further use until deletion is possible. We can delete your account if it remains inactive (i.e. not accessed) for 1 year or longer. #### **Account information** We will retain your information as long as your account is active, as necessary to provide you with the Services or as otherwise set forth in this Policy. We will also retain and use this information as necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy and to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements and protect GIS Cloud legal rights. #### **Managed accounts** If the Services are made available to you through an organization (e.g., your employer), we retain your information as long as required by the administrator of your account. #### **Marketing information** If you have elected to receive marketing emails from us, we retain information about your marketing preferences for a reasonable period of time from the date you last expressed interest in our Services, such as when you last opened an email from us or ceased using your GIS Cloud account. We retain information derived from cookies and other tracking technologies for a reasonable period of time from the date such information was created. ## The choices we offer You have certain choices available to you when it comes to your information. Below is a summary of those choices, how to exercise them and any limitations. Connected AI clients and agents: If you or your administrator have authorized an external AI client, application, or agent to access the Services (for example, through our APIs or MCP server), you can review and revoke that access at any time in your account or organization settings. Revoking access stops further access by that client or agent going forward. ### Your Choices You have the right to request a copy of your information, to object to our use of your information (including for marketing purposes), to request the deletion or restriction of your information, or to request your information in a structured, electronic format. Below, we describe the tools and processes for making these requests. You can exercise some of the choices by logging into the Services and using settings available within the Services or your account. Where the Services are administered for you by an administrator (see “Notice to End Users” below), you may need to contact your administrator to assist with your requests first. For all other requests, you may contact us as provided in the Contact Us section below to request assistance. Your request and choices may be limited in certain cases: for example, if fulfilling your request would reveal information about another person, or if you ask to delete information which we or your administrator are permitted by law or have compelling legitimate interests to keep. Where you have asked us to share data with third parties, for example, by installing third-party apps, you will need to contact those third-party service providers directly to have your information deleted or otherwise restricted. If you have unresolved concerns, you may have the right to complain to a data protection authority in the country where you live, where you work or where you feel your rights were infringed. #### **Access and update your information** Our Services give you the ability to access and update certain information about you from within the Service. For example, you can access your profile information from your account. You can update your profile information within your profile settings and modify content that contains information about you using the editing tools associated with that content. #### **Deactivate your account** If you no longer wish to use our Services, you or your administrator may be able to deactivate your Services account. If you can deactivate your own account, that setting is available to you in your account settings. Otherwise, please contact your administrator. If you are an administrator and are unable to deactivate an account through your administrator settings, please contact GIS Cloud support (support@giscloud.com). For more information on how to delete your information, see below. #### **Delete your information** Our Services give you the ability to delete certain information about you from within the Service. For example, you can remove content that contains information about you using editing tools associated with that content, and you can remove certain profile information within your profile settings. Please note, however, that we may need to retain certain information for record keeping purposes, to complete transactions or to comply with our legal obligations. #### **Request that we stop using your information** In some cases, you may ask us to stop accessing, storing, using and otherwise processing your information where you believe we don’t have the appropriate rights to do so. For example, if you believe a Services account was created for you without your permission or you are no longer an active user, you can request that we delete your account as provided in this policy. Where you gave us consent to use your information for a limited purpose, you can contact us to withdraw that consent, but this will not affect any processing that has already taken place at the time. You can also opt-out of our use of your information for marketing purposes by contacting us, as provided below. When you make such requests, we may need time to investigate and facilitate your request. If there is delay or dispute as to whether we have the right to continue using your information, we will restrict any further use of your information until the request is honored or the dispute is resolved, provided your administrator does not object (where applicable). If you object to information about you being shared with a third-party app, please disable the app or contact your administrator to do so. #### **Opt out of communications** You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us by using the unsubscribe link within each email, updating your email preferences within your Service account settings menu, or by contacting us as provided below to have your contact information removed from our promotional email list or registration database. Even after you opt out from receiving promotional messages from us, you will continue to receive transactional messages from us regarding our Services. You can opt out of some notification messages in your account settings. #### **Web Browser Controls** You can prevent the use of certain Tracking Tools, such as cookies, on a device-by-device basis using the controls in your web browser. These controls can be found in the Tools > Internet Options (or similar) menu for your browser, or as otherwise directed by your browser’s support feature. Through your web browser, you may be able to: - Delete existing Tracking Tools - Disable future Tracking Tools - Set your browser to provide you with a warning each time a cookie or certain other Tracking Tools are being set #### **Send “Do Not Track” Signals** Some browsers have incorporated “Do Not Track” (DNT) features that can send a signal to the websites you visit indicating you do not wish to be tracked. Because there is not yet a common understanding of how to interpret the DNT signal, our Services do not currently respond to browser DNT signals. You can use the range of other tools we provide to control data collection and use, including the ability to opt out of receiving marketing from us as described above. ## How we transfer information we collect internationally #### **International transfers of information we collect** We collect information globally and primarily store that information in the United States. Optionally you can request your information to be stored on our servers in Australia. We transfer, process and store your information outside of your country of residence, to wherever we or our third-party service providers operate for the purpose of providing you the Services. Whenever we transfer your information, we take steps to protect it. #### **International transfers within the GIS Cloud Companies** To facilitate our global operations, we transfer information to either United Kingdom, Croatia or the United States and allow access to that information from countries in which the GIS Cloud owned or operated companies have operations for the purposes described in this policy. These countries may not have equivalent privacy and data protection laws to the laws of many of the countries where our customers and users are based. When we share information about you within and among GIS Cloud corporate affiliates, we make use of standard contractual data protection clauses, which have been approved by the European Commission. #### **International transfers to third parties** Some of the third parties described in this privacy policy, which provide services to us under contract, are based in other countries that may not have equivalent privacy and data protection laws to the country in which you reside. When we share information of customers in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, we make use of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (where the recipient is certified), the current European Commission-approved Standard Contractual Clauses (2021), the UK International Data Transfer Addendum where applicable, and, where required, a transfer impact assessment, or another appropriate safeguard recognized under applicable law. ## Managing Privacy under Organization Many of our products are intended for use by organizations. Where the Services are made available to you through an organization, that organization is the administrator of the Services and is responsible for the accounts and/or Service sites over which it has control. If this is the case, please direct your data privacy questions to your administrator, as your use of the Services is subject to that organization’s policies. We are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of an administrator’s organization, which may be different than this policy. Administrators are able to: - reset your account password; - change the email address associated with your account; - restrict, suspend or terminate your access to the Services; - access information in and about your account; - access or retain information stored as part of your account; Please contact your organization or refer to your administrator’s organizational policies for more information. ## Links To Other Sites Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies or practices of any third party sites or services. ## Data Protection Officer To contact our Data Protection Officer, please email dpo@giscloud.com. ## Data Protection Authority Subject to applicable law, if you are a citizen or resident of the European Economic Area, you also have the right to (i) object to GIS Cloud’s use of your personal information and (ii) lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority or the CROATIAN PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION AGENCY, which is GIS Cloud’s lead supervisory authority in the European Union. CROATIAN PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION AGENCY Ulica Metela Ožegovića 16 HR – 10 000 Zagreb Tel. +385 (0)1 4609-000 Fax +385 (0)1 4609-099 E-mail: azop@azop.hr Web: ## Enforcement If you believe for any reason that GIS Cloud has not followed these principles, please contact us at info@giscloud.com, and GIS Cloud will act promptly to investigate, correct as appropriate, and advise you of the correction. Please identify the issue as a Privacy Policy concern in your communication to GIS Cloud. ## Children’s Privacy Only persons age 18 or older have permission to access our Service. Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 18 (“Children”). Where the European Economic Area digital-consent age applies (for example, 16 in Croatia), we do not knowingly provide the Services to, or collect personal information from, a child below that age without the consent of a parent or guardian. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you learn that your child has provided us with Personal Information, please contact us. While we are not obligated to police our Services for such activity, if we become aware that we have collected Personal Information from a child under that age without verification of parental consent, we will do our best to remove that information from our servers. ## Changes To This Privacy Policy This Privacy Policy is effective as of June 10th 2026 and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will provide notice before those changes take effect for existing users — for example, by email to the address associated with your account or by a prominent notice within the Service. We reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Services after we post any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy. ## Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at info@giscloud.com. --- ### [Industries - Telecommunications](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/telecommunications/) **Published:** June 30, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Contact](https://www.giscloud.com/contact/) **Published:** August 18, 2010 **Author:** admin **Content:** ## Contact Form Your Name (required) Your Email (required) Subject Your Message ## Contact Information Phone: +1-917-675-4856Email:[info@giscloud.com](mailto:info@giscloud.com "Email Us")Address:Cheapside 107, EC2V 6DNLondon, UKVurovčica 21, 10000Zagreb, Croatia --- ### [Book a demo](https://www.giscloud.com/book-a-demo/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Non-profit](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/non-profit/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Construction](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/construction/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Roadworks](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/roadworks/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/electric-utilities/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Water Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/water-utilities/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/vegetation-management/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Civil Engineering](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/civil-engineering/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Industries - Government](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/government/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Security](https://www.giscloud.com/security/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [AI](https://www.giscloud.com/ai/) **Published:** June 29, 2026 **Author:** admin --- ### [Pricing](https://www.giscloud.com/pricing/) **Published:** December 4, 2010 **Author:** admin --- ### [Team](https://www.giscloud.com/team/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin --- ### [Sign Up](https://www.giscloud.com/sign-up/) **Published:** August 18, 2010 **Author:** admin **Content:** - E-mail: - Telephone: +385 (0)1 2981 990 - Telephone: +385 (0)98 698 829 Your Name (required) Your Email (required) Subject Your Message --- ### [About Us](https://www.giscloud.com/about-us/) **Published:** June 11, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** GIS Cloud team is dedicated to building a **collaborative mapping platform** for users of all profiles. We strive to deliver a cutting-edge mapping technology accessible to a wide variety of users and companies, regardless of their expertize, position, industry or size. Namely, our mission is to create advanced technologies that are simple to use, bringing the benefits of GIS to every corner of the world. GIS Cloud offers a **complete location-based solution** for different workflows in a wide range of industries: roadworks, tree inventory and inspection, retail, smart cities, utilities such as water and pipeline management, natural resources, public city maps and many more. At the same time, GIS Cloud is a platform that allows you to **build your own web and mobile apps** on top of the **fastest vector map engine** technology available today. Our team is guided by a **collaborative approach**, building **awesome user experience**, allowing **multiple integrations** and working on all devices in **real-time**. Our mission is to help in creating more sustainable, smart and efficient environments by making latest technology accessible to people all around the world. We are one of the pioneers in bringing cloud-based GIS to the market, launching the initial product in 2010. Nowadays, we aim to bring together the passion for **innovation** with a **user-oriented approach based on collaboration**. --- ### [Partners](https://www.giscloud.com/partners/) **Published:** December 16, 2014 **Author:** admin **Content:** We are looking for partners to help us resell, integrate and customize GIS Cloud into local markets and industries. Seize the opportunity of our unique platform and join us in the Cloud by taking your GIS and mapping offerings to the next level. This is an opportunity to greatly increase your market competitiveness, while GIS Cloud guides you through the process of becoming a partner every step of the way. [Apply](http://form.jotformeu.com/form/50122951234344) Benefits of partnering with GIS Cloud: - delight your clients with user friendly apps - take advantage of the best and fastest cloud mapping platform out there - scalable and predictable business model – no hidden costs - deploy to small and large customers in hours not months - easily integrate with any existing environment (legacy GIS) - direct access to the GIS Cloud core team and help shape the new era of GIS - public and private (on premise) installations What you get: - access to the GIS Cloud distribution channel - early access to new GIS Cloud features - business support in marketing and (pre)sales activities - technical support to help you build a custom app and solution - discount on GIS Cloud licenses for your internal use - complementary demo licenses --- ### [Services](https://www.giscloud.com/services/) **Published:** July 8, 2021 **Author:** admin --- ## Apps ### [Map Viewer](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-viewer/) **Published:** June 26, 2012 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** GIS Cloud’s Map Viewer is an easy collaboration tool to view and access maps and data. **Content:** GIS Cloud’s Map Viewer is an easy way to view and access maps and data. Optimized for non-professionals, Map Viewer enables you to access shared or public maps on any device in real time. Use this app as a collaboration tool by giving different levels of access to your clients by defining permissions. ### Map Viewing ![Map viewing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Viewermain2-e1408981492333.png) #### Secure private access manage data/maps accessibility through different permissions #### View and access shared or public maps define what maps are public/private #### White Label your Viewer make this app your recognizable tool for your users ### Information Retrieval #### Table View display your data in a tabular form within the map #### Identify tool identify different features and attributes #### Pop-up view open different media (video, JPEG…) attached to your data within the app ![Get information](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Capture5-e1408976309691.png) --- ### [Map Editor](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-editor/) **Published:** June 26, 2012 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** GIS Cloud’s Map Editor is a powerful cloud based map tool for building and sharing your maps. **Content:** GIS Cloud’s Map Editor supports a number of **vector and raster formats**, rich **GIS symbology** and it has built-in **collaboration capabilities** which allow **real-time editing** and **sharing**. Developed on the latest **HTML5** technologies, it is the first of its kind application with full vector-based editing and real-time updates to the geo database. ### Map Authoring ![Map editing](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Snapping.png) #### Create and edit maps, layers and features create points, lines and polygons, edit spatial and non-spatial data #### Rich GIS symbology with customizable rules (expressions), thematic map wizards and powerful label management. #### Supports multiple vector and raster formats .shp, .kml, .gpx, .tif, .sid… ### Data Sources & Management #### Data Managing upload and sync data (files, DB, API) #### Supporting multiple sources vectors, rasters, WMS, ESRI ArcMap, Basemaps (Bing, MapBox…), Mobile devices, PostgreSQL, Excel, CSV… #### File and database manager upload, arrange, edit and analyze your data ![Datasource management](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/data-source-and-management4.png) ### Sharing & Integrating ![Share maps](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Share-permissions.png) #### Share one-click map, layers and data sharing with other GIS Cloud users #### Manage permissions share with view, edit or export capabilities #### Integrate with Map Viewer and MDCP share your private maps with Map Viewer and edit your projects and data collected from MDCP and MDC in Map Editor ### Publishing & Exporting #### Map publishing easily publish your maps through the embed code, WMS and Google Maps #### Map exporting and printing Export maps to high resolution raster images and print them out #### Data exporting export vector layers to spatial vector formats (.shp, .mif, .kml…) ![Map export](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/exportdata.png) ### Analysis & Tools ![Map analysis](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/analyze1.png) #### Data analysis hotspot, buffer, area & radius coverage analysis #### Spatial selection write spatial selection expressions using spatial selection wizard #### Tools join wizard, spatial filter, projection wizard, merge wizard --- ### [Map Portal](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/map-portal/) **Published:** January 28, 2014 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** GIS Cloud's Map Portal is a customizable cloud based tool for visualizing, exporting and publishing geospatial data. **Content:** Map Portal is a simple and easy application that gives you an overview of your mapping effort, and is a friendly way of displaying data to the public. It is an affordable solution as it reduces time, effort, paperwork and support costs. Publish interactive maps and allow your viewers to search, visualize and explore media enriched data with just one click. ### Simple Web & Mobile access! ![Mobile access](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Simple-Web-Mobile-Access2-e1409064072502.jpg) #### Desktop, Tablet and Smartphone access access your maps on any device #### Fast and responsive maps fastest mapping technology available today #### Vector and Raster map tiles create maps with millions of features #### No IT & servers are needed access your data from any place, device at any time ### White label the app! #### Enable public access make your maps publicly available #### Personal logo and domain make your portal recognizable to your audience #### Custom user interface and tools custom color, search, switch maps tool and many more ![Custom interface](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/OC1-e1417185319790.png) ### Bring in your data! ![Bring your data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BringInyourdata4-e1409064656532.png) #### Click to watch watch videos & images, link URL’s and view PDF directly in the app #### Upload vector and raster data .shp, .kml, .gpx, .tif, .sid… #### OGC data support WMS, TMS, WFS, WMTS --- ### [Mobile Data Collection](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/mobile-data-collection/) **Published:** June 26, 2012 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** GIS Cloud’s Mobile Data Collection is a simple and easy solution for real-time field location, multimedia and attribute data collection. **Content:** **New feature! Collect points, lines or polygons, all within one data collection app.** GIS Cloud **Mobile Data Collection** enables you to have media enriched location information from any place, any time and on any device. With only a few taps of your finger, you are populating data into a map layer in **real time**. All data is synced across devices automatically, so you can track project progress in the field from your office and make informed decisions faster. **Analyze, share and publish** your newly collected data or review and update your previous data. Make **reports**. Make your workflow and decision making effective by creating accurate and timely information in a fast and user-friendly way. ### Collect Location ![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Place_to_7-25-2014-9-25-30-AM-e1408543729341.jpg) #### Real-time GPS location collect data from the field in real time #### Collect accurate data precision depending on the mobile/tablet device #### Offline data capture collect data in areas with low or no internet connectivity #### View and explore maps and projects in the field access your maps and projects instantly from the field ### Collect Multimedia #### Media (image & audio) enriched location information collect multiple photos and audio files associated to your data from the field #### Review data attributes directly in the app make edits of your collected data instantly from the field #### Listen to audio and view images in the field make edits of your collected data instantly from the field ![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Place_to_8-20-2014-2-36-56-PM-e1408547042515.jpg) ### Custom Forms ![](/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/form3.png) #### Choose your fields Dropdowns & Lists, location info, media, device and user info #### Input boxes define your fields as persistent or required #### Comments write comments directly from the field #### Info tool populate attribute information and access it within the app --- ### [GIS Cloud Track](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/track/) **Published:** February 3, 2022 **Author:** admin --- ### [GIS Cloud Publisher for QGIS](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis/) **Published:** November 1, 2022 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** **Content:** [Click here to learn more](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/gis-cloud-publisher-for-qgis-released/) --- ### [Publisher for ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/publisher-for-arcmap/) **Published:** June 26, 2012 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** A single click solution to get your maps and data from the most popular desktop GIS right into GIS Cloud! The extension is free and compatible with Esri ArcMap 9.x and 10.x **Content:** GIS Cloud Publisher for ArcMap extension enables you to publish your maps from ArcMap to GIS Cloud with only one click. It automatically uploads your data, symbology, layer structure and spatial references. The idea is that what you see in your desktop GIS is instantly replicated on your GIS Cloud account. Once your maps and data are on GIS Cloud, they are easily published to the public or embedded into your website/blog without a need for having your own servers. ### One click connect, export & upload… ![One click export from ArcMap](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/1-e1415273105201.png) #### Connect to GIS Cloud with a secure SSL connection #### Manage your export from ArcMap choose exactly which layers you want to export from ArcMap #### Manage your upload to GIS Cloud vector data can be uploaded, regardless of the data source ### …to GIS Cloud – supporting symbology & Labels #### Points support almost at 100% #### Lines simple line symbols – only solid lines #### Polygons simple fill symbols – only single color fills #### Categories & Labels unique values categories or graduated color symbology and labels ![ArcMap on GIS Cloud](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/arcmap-at-gc-e1415273417814.png) --- ### [Geocoder](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/geocoder/) **Published:** October 29, 2015 **Author:** admin **Excerpt:** Powerful cloud based tool, for easily translating the addresses into coordinates and displaying them on a map. **Content:** GIS Cloud Geocoder is a fast and simple, but effective tool that enables you to easily translate the addresses into coordinates and represent them on a map. Download your geocoding results in various formats or simply continue using the data in your further analysis. ### Define and prepare the data ![Prepare data](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/primjer2.png) #### Add data to columns First row needs to have column titles and all other columns need to contain data. #### Separate the addresses Each of your address field needs to have a special column. #### Export format Export your table either in XLS (1997-2003) or CSV format prior to upload. ### Geocode in 3 steps #### Drag&Drop Drag and drop file or select file from the File Manager. #### Match the fields Match the address fields from the file and in the App. #### Geocode Click geocoding button and get results instantly. ![Instant geocode](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/geocodingapp3.png) ### Geocoding results ![Get geocoding results](https://www.giscloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/15-e1429283422366.png) #### Export results Export the geocoded data in formats like .shp, .csv, .kml, MapInfo, .dxf… #### Open the results in Map Editor Open it directly in Map Editor and continue using it in further analysis #### Use the results even further Use the geocoding results in your desktop solution --- ### [Crowdsourcing](https://www.giscloud.com/apps/crowdsourcing/) **Published:** February 7, 2022 **Author:** admin --- ## Team ### [Marta Klarić Ravnić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/marta-klaric-ravnic/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** Marta leads product design and UX strategy at GIS Cloud, owning the design surface across the company’s full portfolio of web and mobile applications. Her work spans the complete product lifecycle — user research and discovery, interaction design, component architecture, design system work, and engineering handoff — with current focus on complex cross-application features that turn dense domain logic into clear, usable interfaces for both expert and non-expert users. She combines product design and UX research with product management, working closely with founders, engineers, and key client accounts to shape decisions that directly impact business outcomes and ROI. Her approach is research-driven and systematic: every design decision is grounded in user insight, validated against technical and commercial constraints, and documented for end-to-end execution. Marta has led platform-wide initiatives spanning nearly all of GIS Cloud’s applications — including projects that required coordinating an external design team alongside in-house engineering — as well as custom enterprise builds for industrial clients. Marta first joined GIS Cloud in 2015 and spent several years in design, product, and marketing roles, establishing the UX process at the company and leading its brand and marketing strategy. She returned to product design at GIS Cloud after years of work on other B2B SaaS products, including a media-monitoring platform serving clients across Europe and a multilingual content management system built for an international company in the automotive industry. Across these contexts, the common thread of her work has remained the same: turning complex requirements into interfaces that feel obvious to use, for both expert and non-expert audiences. --- ### [Igor Farkaš](https://www.giscloud.com/team/igor-farkas/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Igor is our Chief Revenue Officer, leading business development and the **GIS Cloud Partner Network**. Igor’s proactivity and agility provided a frame for the business expansion and further commercialization of the GIS Cloud platform. He also introduced many internal processes which allowed the company to evolve. Shortly after majoring in Geography at the University of Zagreb, Igor started working at GIS Cloud and soon discovered his talent for sales and business development. His energy and enthusiasm drive the whole Growth team, setting the bar high in reaching short and long-term goals. Igor also takes part in **outlining the product development**, providing feedback from GIS Cloud customers and partners. He established the GIS Cloud Partners network and always works on expanding on further partnerships, making GIS Cloud accessible to various stakeholders all around the world. Igor is the person anyone would like to have on their team – he’s a manager who leads by example, at the same time allowing his teammates to grow and evolve professionally. A great colleague, he is always goal-oriented, practical and ready to offer his help and expertise. This makes him an excellent mentor and manager. Being both sociable and sharp, Igor is an essential asset to the team and a natural negotiator who always manages to find the best way to handle projects and various daily responsibilities. Known for a strong dedication to personal and career growth, Igor constantly works on improving himself alongside the business processes. He loves good food, craft beer, rock concerts, karaoke and above all, he enjoys spending time with his family. --- ### [Ivan Šutija](https://www.giscloud.com/team/ivan-sutija/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a DevOps Engineer, Ivan is focused on building and maintaining the containerized infrastructure that powers GIS Cloud. From managing Docker-based deployments to designing and refining CI/CD pipelines in GitLab, he works to ensure that code moves from development to production reliably and efficiently. His background in Linux systems and containerization technologies allows him to identify and resolve issues across different layers of the infrastructure. He is always looking for ways to improve and simplify the systems he works with. --- ### [Andrija Jambrović](https://www.giscloud.com/team/andrija-jambrovic/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Andrija is a seasoned software developer with a strong foundation in computer science, having earned his degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb. Throughout his career, he has honed his skills in various programming languages and frameworks, with a current focus on developing Flutter mobile applications. In his role as a Senior Software Developer, Andrija has led and contributed to numerous projects, demonstrating expertise in software architecture, system design, and agile methodologies. His commitment to continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends ensures that he delivers innovative and efficient solutions. In his current role as Frontend Team Lead Andrija is driving technical decisions, mentoring developers, and ensuring the delivery of scalable and high-quality user experiences. Outside the realm of coding, Andrija is an avid reader, immersing himself in a diverse range of genres. He also enjoys gaming, sailing, and skiing, embracing both the thrill of virtual worlds and the exhilaration of outdoor adventures. --- ### [Melita Frey Maričić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/melita-frey-maricic/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Melita is the Office Manager and one of the most cheerful members of the GIS Cloud team. Being very energetic, enthusiastic and well organized, she is an excellent office manager, making sure that all things at the office are in order. She takes care of the **daily administration and finances**, taking pride in doing things on time, always anticipating everyone’s needs. Melita is a great fan of office pets due to her big heart, but she enjoys most when she can spend some free time with her two girls, family and friends. She also enjoys hanging out with the rest of the team. --- ### [Kira](https://www.giscloud.com/team/kira-2/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** Kira (not to be confused with Kira) is our adorable office diva. She has made it her mission to oversee every aspect of the office – be it monitoring meetings, supervising lunch breaks or screening guests. When she’s not busy keeping an eye on the office, Kira enjoys long walks, collecting treats, and making sure no one forgets to give her attention. As a certified cuddle enthusiast, she’ll happily glue herself to anyone willing to indulge her neediness – especially if there’s a snack involved. Whenever she’s off the clock from her part time job as a dog she enjoys human activities – sleeping during work hours, sitting in human chairs and fine dining. --- ### [Andrew Loveless](https://www.giscloud.com/team/andrew-loveless/) **Published:** May 14, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Andrew serves as Strategic Account Partner at GIS Cloud, focused on building long-term partnerships with enterprise clients and accelerating adoption across international markets. With over 20 years of experience in geospatial, SaaS, and digital transformation, he brings a deep understanding of how location-based technologies can drive value across industries. Prior to joining GIS Cloud, Andrew held senior commercial and executive roles at leading geospatial and data organisations including Ordnance Survey, GE Capital, Accenture and Gaist. He has a proven track record of scaling technology businesses and delivering solutions that unlock operational efficiency for clients across civil engineering, infrastructure, utilities, and public sector domains. At GIS Cloud, Andrew works closely with strategic accounts to align the platform’s capabilities with their operational goals, ensuring customers get maximum value from real-time, collaborative mapping solutions. His work is instrumental in expanding GIS Cloud’s presence within the AEC sector and supporting global enterprises as they adopt the platform. Outside of GIS Cloud, Andrew is actively involved in UK geospatial innovation initiatives and serves on industry advisory boards. He is passionate about helping organisations transform how they manage data, people, and infrastructure through intuitive geospatial solutions. Finally, proud owner of two Flat-Coated Retrievers, and when time allows, can be found walking very early on the beach. --- ### [Vera Vragović](https://www.giscloud.com/team/vera-vragovic/) **Published:** October 29, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a former member of the Customer Support team, Vera worked closely with Customer Success Experts, Consultants, and Developers to resolve client issues, gaining a strong understanding of customer needs and the importance of reliable, user-focused solutions. She later advanced to QA Team Lead, where she collaborated with development teams to ensure product quality, identify improvements, and support stable platform releases. Today, as a Project Manager, Vera connects business and engineering by aligning priorities, coordinating teams, and driving smooth delivery of features and improvements. With a strong focus on communication, process optimization, and quality, she helps teams work efficiently while delivering value to customers. Vera holds a Master’s degree in Geography with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems from the Faculty of Science. GIS Cloud combines her passion for geography and mapping with the dynamic world of IT and product development. Around the office, Vera is known as the team DJ, bringing great music and positive energy. She enjoys traveling, discovering great food and drinks, and exploring new music, movies, and TV shows. --- ### [Ana Babić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/ana-babic/) **Published:** December 19, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Ana is the Engineering Manager at GIS Cloud, working with the engineering team to keep projects aligned, efficient, and moving forward. She holds a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Split and began her career in frontend development. Today, she focuses on improving how teams work, supporting engineers in their growth, and creating an environment where people can do their best work without unnecessary friction. She enjoys turning complex challenges into clear, actionable steps and believes that good processes should support teams—not slow them down. Ana values open communication, ownership, and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Outside of work, she enjoys movies, music, and playing the guitar. --- ### [Dino Ravnić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/dino-ravnic/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Dino is the Chief Executive Officer of GIS Cloud. It was his vision of GIS Cloud as “software as a service” that was disruptive for the market at the time, opening many opportunities in GIS for individuals and organizations across the world. **He is a co-architect of the initial GIS Cloud map engine based on vector tiles,** years before the industry discovered the potential of that approach. Dino also **created and implemented HTLM5 map engine**, its design, innovation and unparalleled speed to this day. It is one of the main GIS Cloud’s differentiators. Dino started with software development and business activities while he was still in high school when he created and commercialized his first app. Throughout the years, Dino grew his expertise in various aspects of business development. His vision and determination, paired with a friendly approach to the team resulted in creating an unmatched environment for growth that positioned GIS Cloud as one of the leaders in the industry. Although mostly focused on leading the business, he can’t resist giving an occasional contribution to software development, his first passion. Dino is the face of GIS Cloud at various events, presentations, and conferences. He is also an active member of the startup community where he mentors and helps start-ups to develop their businesses. He is occasionally seen hanging out with the GIS Cloud team outside of working hours, initiating gatherings and setting the bar high when it comes to playing pool. Dino’s optimism and energy drive the company forward uniting teams, providing harmonious diversity and an atmosphere of collaboration and excellence. When he wants to clear his mind and relax, he enjoys hiking and roaming through the woods with Henri, the dog. --- ### [Kira](https://www.giscloud.com/team/kira/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** Kira is a rescue dog of gloriously unknown origins — found as a puppy in a box in the woods with her whole litter, she came up the hard way and has been overachieving ever since. Black, tan, floppy-eared, and built like a sprinter, she arrives at every situation with the focused intensity of a seasoned hunting dog and the general energy of someone who just had too much coffee. Her core competencies include digging holes (a baby mole was once recovered at a dig site; details remain classified), chewing sticks, and rescuing rocks from the sea — a sisyphean effort the sea has so far refused to acknowledge. Her nose-to-ground approach to problem solving translates well to customer success: she’s thorough, relentless about getting to the bottom of things, and her product feedback — delivered via persistent eye contact and strategic whining — has yet to be ignored. Despite the intensity, she’s remarkably easy to get along with — friendly to everyone, human and animal alike, and always happy to run through her full trick repertoire for a slice of cheese. Out of the field, you’ll find her on the couch, four legs in the air, occupying approximately 90% of the available surface area. She supports the Customer Success team by maintaining high morale and knowing, always, when it’s time for a walk. --- ### [Martin Sinković](https://www.giscloud.com/team/martin-sinkovic/) **Published:** August 11, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** Martin leads the Quality Assurance team at GIS Cloud, responsible for test planning, process development, and release validation. He focuses on building structured QA processes and driving test automation to ensure the platform meets the expectations of users who depend on it every day. Working closely with the development team, he helps maintain quality across GIS Cloud’s full suite of web GIS applications. What sets Martin’s approach apart is his background. With a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and a Master’s in Geographic Information Systems from the Faculty of Science in Zagreb, he understands the product not just as a tester — but as someone who genuinely cares about maps, spatial data, and what good GIS software should feel like. That perspective has shaped how he thinks about quality since joining GIS Cloud in 2022. Outside of work, Martin is a passionate traveller with a love for exploring new histories and cultures. He plays Gaelic football and enjoys spending time with his teammates on and off the pitch. Most importantly, he cherishes time with his family and his young daughter, who has given a whole new meaning to the word “adventure.” --- ### [Petar Alilović](https://www.giscloud.com/team/petar-alilovic/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** Petar is part of the Quality Assurance team, mainly working on testing new and existing features, reporting bugs, and collaborating with developers to improve overall product stability. He is particularly interested in how products function beneath the surface—where edge cases appear, how workflows can break, and what can be improved. This mindset allows him to approach testing not just as validation, but as an ongoing process of refining quality and usability. Outside of work, Petar stays active through basketball, indoor climbing, and cycling. He also enjoys working on custom projects, combining problem-solving with curiosity and experimentation. In his free time, he likes digging through the internet for music and occasionally mixing. --- ### [Darko Maljković](https://www.giscloud.com/team/darko-maljkovic/) **Published:** May 8, 2026 **Author:** admin **Content:** With a professional background spanning the car service industry, graphic design, and sales, his work has always been driven by practical problem-solving, quality, and consistency. These experiences now shape his approach to QA, where attention to detail and a clear understanding of user and business needs are essential. He has always been interested in how systems work, where their limitations appear, and how they can be improved. QA gives him the opportunity to turn that curiosity into a structured process of validating expected behavior, identifying defects, and refining workflows to support a more stable and reliable product. In his free time, he enjoys building, fixing, and riding bicycles, combining hands-on problem-solving with personal interest. He also likes travel, movies, and exploring technology, especially how different tools and products are designed and where there is room for improvement. --- ### [Marija Pavić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/marija-pavic/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Marija is part of the GIS Cloud frontend team, focused on fixing issues and improving the functionality of our apps to create a seamless user experience. She enjoys solving complex challenges and refining UI interactions to make GIS Cloud’s platform even more intuitive. She holds a degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Technology in Osijek, where she first discovered her passion for frontend development. Drawn to the creativity and problem-solving aspects of building interfaces, she finds frontend work both fun and rewarding. Outside of coding, Marija loves spending time outdoors, whether it’s walking around Jarun or hiking on Sljeme. She also enjoys board games, great movies, and discovering new TV shows. --- ### [Luka Knežić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/luka-knezic/) **Published:** November 23, 2018 **Author:** admin **Content:** Luka is a part of the Backend team at GIS Cloud. His tasks range from tinkering with APIs to fiddling with database queries and weeding out pesky bugs. While still a student in CS, his curiosity and eagerness to learn more push him to do his best. He is determined to get to the bottom of every problem and is always ready for a challenge or looking for new ways to improve himself. From a young age, Luka enjoyed learning about technology and computers, something that shaped his experience later on in a high school where he worked with all kinds of platforms, from web to mobile. Luka enjoys pursuing his game dev hobby which stems from his passion for gaming. In his free time, he likes going for a good movie or visiting exciting new places. --- ### [Goran Radola](https://www.giscloud.com/team/goran-radola/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Goran focuses on exploring opportunities in public and private sector tenders, identifying projects where GIS solutions add value. His role involves market research, strategic planning, and stakeholder collaboration to expand the company’s reach through tenders and partnerships. He is co-founder and CEO of Smart Cloud, a key GIS Cloud partner, has been an early adopter and advocate of GIS Cloud technology. With over 12 years of experience in implementing GIS Cloud ecosystems, he has helped clients across Croatia leverage GIS solutions to optimize workflows and decision-making. His passion for GIS technology began over a decade ago when cloud-based solutions were emerging. Through Smart Cloud, he has worked with various industries, integrating GIS Cloud technology into their operations. Beyond work, Goran has a deep connection with nature and the sea. An avid winter swimmer, he finds inspiration and energy in cold-water swimming and enjoys hiking and exploring new landscapes. --- ### [Bojan Čelebićanin](https://www.giscloud.com/team/bojan-celebicanin/) **Published:** August 11, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a Customer Success Specialist, Bojan is the first point of contact for users and customers to support them with resolving any issues or help answer any questions about the GIS Cloud platform. To ensure every user is satisfied with the GIS Cloud experience, he also works closely with our Sales, QA and Development teams to stay up to date with the latest information about the platform and provide user feedback. He’s also preparing user guides for our Learning Center and making video tutorials for new and existing features. Bojan graduated from the Faculty of Science with a Master’s degree in Geography, majoring in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where he was most interested in spatial data analysis, visualization and remote sensing, and was among the first in Croatia to study light pollution from remotely sensed data using GIS software and tools from a geographical perspective. He says he was always fascinated by maps and the inner and outer workings of the world around him, which led him to study geography in the end. After graduating from university and working in data processing as a GIS technician, he quickly realized that the best way to utilize his knowledge of geography and GIS is to share it with others and help them achieve their goals through support and consulting. Bojan is someone who always likes to joke, laugh and lighten the mood. He used to practice martial arts but has since replaced the dojo with cycling and occasional hiking. He enjoys theatre, catching a good movie and watching TV shows (his current go-to is sci-fi), but his favourite pastime is hanging out with friends and sharing stories, preferably over a pint of craft beer. --- ### [Mario Brkić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/mario-brkic/) **Published:** September 14, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a Head of Information Security, Mario is responsible for keeping GIS Cloud safe and secure for our customers. With a background in the telecommunications industry, where he worked on the development and maintenance of in-house apps and services, as well as keeping Linux servers in check, he has significant experience in automating processes, building tools, and implementing new systems. Since he was young, he has enjoyed everything related to computers and technology, especially programming, which he got into during the lower grades of elementary school, working in BASIC on an old Schneider CPC 464. Mario likes to spend his free time reading both fiction and non-fiction, playing badminton, 3D printing, and working with electronics and microcontrollers (Arduino and Raspberry Pi), making his home smarter, and testing the endurance of circuit breakers in the process. Besides that, he enjoys concerts, music festivals, socializing, playing board games, and brewing his own beer. --- ### [Antonija Hasanović](https://www.giscloud.com/team/antonija-netolicki/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** Antonija is the Head of Sales at GIS Cloud, leading a team of consultant specialists. With a background in Key Account Management and Senior Solutions Consulting, Antonija has extensive experience working with clients and mentoring colleagues. As a team lead, she continues to support and guide her team, helping them to grow and develop their skills. Antonija’s approachable and optimistic personality has helped her to build strong business relationships and win the trust of GIS Cloud users. Her love for geography, mapping, and social skills make her a perfect fit for the GIS Cloud Sales team. Since joining the company, Antonija has worked directly with users and organizations, advising them on leveraging GIS Cloud to improve their businesses. She enjoys giving live demos and sharing her knowledge of geo technology with others. In addition to her role as Head of Sales, Antonija is also responsible for the GIS Cloud Learning Center. She oversaw a team of writers and content creators who developed resources to help users learn more about GIS Cloud’s apps and features. With easy access to the Learning Center, GIS Cloud users can quickly get up to speed on everything they need to know to make the most of the platform. Outside of work, Antonija is passionate about environmental protection and spends as much time camping and enjoying the outdoors as possible. She is a lifelong Scout with a special affinity for animals – especially her cat consultant, Milan. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and is known for her delicious cakes. Overall, Antonija brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion to her role as Head of Sales at GIS Cloud. She is a trusted advisor to her team and clients, and her commitment to environmental sustainability inspires us all. --- ### [Barbara Telebec](https://www.giscloud.com/team/barbara-telebec/) **Published:** October 29, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a Head of Customer Success, Barbara is at the forefront of educating prospects about the GIS Cloud platform, guiding them through all possible uses of our apps for their projects. She aims to empower professionals around the globe by answering their questions and suggesting innovative solutions for their business problems. Possessing an inquiring mind and at the same being a GIS expert, **she is able to dive deep into specific client use cases across many industries and help them to make the best use of our apps to obtain optimal workflow** for any short or long-term project. That is why she was entrusted to plan and lead GIS Cloud Education courses for our customers, who have nothing but high praises about her programs and teaching. Barbara was always enthusiastic about maps and keen on problem-solving so she pursued a master’s degree in Spatial planning and regional development. Getting acquainted with GIS, she realized its versatile application, enabling anyone to easily analyze, share and visualize spatial data for a wide range of uses. At this point, she wanted to further her knowledge of GIS and decided to go after a second master’s degree, in Geoinformatics, at the Faculty of Geodesy. Out of the office, Barbara enjoys cooking and baking, watching tv series (preferably sci-fi and fantasy), practicing yoga and participating in the occasional pub quiz with her friends (just for fun though, in her own words, they’re not very good). --- ### [Krunoslav Vukšić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/krunoslav-vuksic/) **Published:** December 19, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** As our DevOps Team Lead, Krunoslav is in charge of a large variety of processes that combine development and operations. To ensure stability and provide maximum functionality of the GIS Cloud infrastructure on any given day, Krunoslav is automating infrastructure and workflows, continuously measuring application performance, monitoring and maintaining existing systems. He is always working on improving existing infrastructure by implementing new systems, and he is also providing support for our customers, as well as tending to GIS Cloud internal needs. His passion for optimizing systems is reflected in past experiences and professional development from Webhosting and Microsoft system administrator to DevOps, and years of maintaining, monitoring and implementing systems. He believes in growing with the DevOps community, sharing and implementing the industry knowledge, as the best path to achieve a secure and highly maintainable infrastructure. That is why Krunoslav is continuously investing in learning and being up-to-date with industry trends and standards. As a result, he is a Red Hat Certified System Administrator and is currently in the process of obtaining Ansible and RHCE certificates. A possibility to use his previous experience while continuing to develop his expertise in new areas of responsibility, working with new technologies and dealing with challenging tasks, is what drove Krunoslav to GIS Cloud. However, it is much more than the expertise that he brings to the table. Krunoslav is a colleague you can always depend on, even during lavish team buildings when everyone is prone to let loose, he is the person you can count on to take care of the team (and the dishes!). To recharge his batteries, Krunoslav likes to check out from the busyness of the world and spend time in nature, cycling in silence with Sparky, the dog. He is a big football fan, but he also enjoys badminton, and he likes to play with Arduino, optimizing daily activities, or just having fun. --- ### [Ivan Mandić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/ivan-mandic/) **Published:** October 19, 2021 **Author:** admin **Content:** As a Backend Team Lead, Ivan is using his engineering and management skills to further develop and maintain the GIS Cloud backend platform. This includes implementing new features across multiple apps, finding and fixing bugs, and assisting other departments when in need of developer support. He previously worked in CARNET where he was maintaining the national e-Class Register application for teachers, students, and parents. After that, he moved to a small digital agency where he spent a short amount of time building custom web applications for clients and maintaining internal VPS’s and other collaboration tools. Ivan graduated from Zagreb University of Applied Sciences and obtained a Master’s degree in Information technologies. While still at the university, he attended a lecture held by GIS Cloud where he learned about GIS. This inspired him to write his Bachelor’s thesis about Spatial databases where he got the opportunity to work with maps and spatial data. Ivan loves developing and maintaining large-scale systems, optimizing and making code more efficient and organized. Also, he is a big fan of automating tasks and processes. Besides the backend, he is very interested in mobile development, especially hybrid mobile development. Even though he seemed quiet at first, his humorous remarks and witty comebacks quickly gained appreciation amongst his GIS Cloud colleagues. In his spare time he enjoys cycling and playing football two times a week, participating in pub quizzes, and playing board or online games with friends. --- ### [Grgur Valentić](https://www.giscloud.com/team/grgur-valentic/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Grgur (Grga) is a key member of the Backend team, ensuring GIS Cloud’s infrastructure runs smoothly and efficiently. His expertise lies in maintaining a robust and scalable codebase while keeping the database optimized for performance. Passionate about clean and consistent code, he’s always focused on improving stability and reliability behind the scenes. With a degree from the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Grga’s career path has taken him from mobile app development in Zagreb to university research and even the fast-paced world of stock market technology in London. His deep interest in mathematics and web development naturally led him to GIS Cloud, where he applies his analytical skills to solving complex backend challenges. Outside of work, Grga enjoys spending time with his kids, especially outdoors. A dedicated cyclist, he prefers two wheels for his daily commute and embraces train travel for longer journeys—both modes of transport he loves sharing with his family. --- ### [Betty](https://www.giscloud.com/team/betty/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Meet Betty, our four-legged guardian with an unmatched dedication to security. As GIS Cloud’s Junior Security Officer, she takes her job seriously—barking at anyone who dares approach unannounced (or just walks by too casually). With her Croatian Shepherd heritage, she’s naturally alert, energetic, and always ready to patrol the office for potential threats—especially the suspicious rustling of snack wrappers. When she’s not on duty, Betty is all about high-speed chases—whether it’s a bird outside the window or a ball kicked across the room. She’ll keep going until her legs say otherwise. Though she has a soft spot for cookies, nothing beats a well-timed game of fetch with a willing teammate. Her origins? A mystery. Her loyalty? Unquestionable. --- ### [Gala](https://www.giscloud.com/team/gala/) **Published:** February 13, 2025 **Author:** admin **Content:** Gala is a three-colored Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the undisputed champion of office joy. She takes her role as Junior Branch Manager very seriously, ensuring that every visitor is greeted with a big smile at the top of the stairs. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her presence alone makes every workday better. An expert dribbler, Gala dominates office football matches, showing impressive skills that could put professional players to shame. When she’s not busy with her athletic endeavors, she enjoys a good tug-of-war game or a well-earned belly rub session. Gala is also an essential member of the quality control team—whenever a chair creaks or a wheel wobbles, she rushes to the scene to conduct a thorough inspection. Additionally, she has mastered the art of persuasion: some colleagues find themselves offering her endless pets, while others end up with a corgi comfortably settled in their lap. Lunchtime is another key moment in Gala’s workday. With a strategic mix of patience and irresistible charm, she positions herself for the best chance of securing a bite of ham or roasted meat. After all, a dedicated Junior Branch Manager needs to stay well-fed! --- ### [Sparky](https://www.giscloud.com/team/sparky/) **Published:** August 11, 2022 **Author:** admin **Content:** Sparky, our Junior DevOps Consultant, is probably the friendliest four-legged GIS Cloud employee, which anyone who comes to the office can confirm as he’ll happily greet you as soon as he sees you! Previously considered a mystery dog, Sparky is actually an American Pit Bull Terrier/Collie/ German Shepherd Dog/English Cocker Spaniel/Siberian Husky mix. This wide range of breeds is also reflected in the wide variety of his favourite pastimes – as a true adventurer, he enjoys hiking, long walks, swimming, playing with other dogs (and cats!) but he’s happiest when he sees a hedgehog. What can you say, they’re just the best! When working, either at home or at the office, he’ll support the DevOps team with the best ideas when needed, but he’ll probably sleep throughout most of the day so if you need his advice, it’s best to bring treats – there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them. --- ### [Milan](https://www.giscloud.com/team/milan/) **Published:** January 16, 2019 **Author:** admin **Content:** Milan is the youngest member of the team, a tiger-like cat called Mackerel Tabby. Being very outgoing and skilled in climbing and jumping, he can often offer a new viewpoint to other teammates, always with a playful attitude. Milan likes to write interesting emails when no one is watching and browse the internet for new ideas to improve our daily routine in the office. Cuddly in nature, he is also making sure that all the plants in the office are cuddled and taken care of. That is why he makes his priority to jump into flowerpots and nibble on leaves each day. He also loves to jump on tables and see what others are working on, and sometimes make his own suggestions on how to do it better. In the office, he is known as someone who knows how to live his life fully, as he always finds time to relax on the balcony and look at the birds, but more than anything, he loves to take long naps. --- ### [Henri](https://www.giscloud.com/team/henri/) **Published:** January 24, 2017 **Author:** admin **Content:** **Henri**, a beautiful Gordon Setter contributes to software development and UX with occasional objections and requests for therapeutic cuddles. Even as a puppy, Henri maintained the posture of a British gentleman with Proustian qualities. That’s why, within the Marketing quarters, he goes by the nickname of “Marcel.” Regardless of the melancholic attitude, he always observes the world around him with a very serious approach. All of this, of course, becomes irrelevant at the exact moment he meets an eager playmate, transforming him once again in a playful and silly puppy. --- ## Categories ### [Blog](https://www.giscloud.com/blog/) **Description:** GIS Cloud Blog is the place where you can find news, information, updates, tutorials, articles and videos about GIS Cloud and generally GIS. --- ### [Use Cases](https://www.giscloud.com/use-cases/) --- ### [Industries](https://www.giscloud.com/industries-old/) --- ### [Government](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/government/) --- ### [Vegetation Management](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/vegetation-management/) --- ### [Civil Engineering](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/civil-engineering/) --- ### [Water Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/water-utilities/) --- ### [Roadworks](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/roadworks/) --- ### [Electric Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/electric-utilities/) --- ### [Utilities - Other](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/utilities-other/) --- ### [Non Profit](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/non-profit/) --- ### [Construction](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/construction/) --- ### [Utilities](https://www.giscloud.com/industries/utilities/) --- ### [New Feature Release](https://www.giscloud.com/category/new-feature-release/) --- ### [Case study](https://www.giscloud.com/category/case-study/) ---