Creating a Data Collection Form with Survey123
Survey123 for ArcGIS is an application for collecting data in the field using forms that are simple, powerful, and intuitive. You can create a survey in a browser and share it with your project group (or anyone at Clemson University) to use for creating data for your project. You can also download an app to your iOS or Android device and use it to download your survey for working in areas without internet (or in airplane mode to conserve battery). Survey123 is integrated with ArcGIS Online, so you can quickly map your data and use it in your ArcGIS Online web maps and apps.
We will use it to create a survey form for mapping trees on campus, similar to the previous exercise. However, we will try using the form and compare it to using Collector. Finally, you will add it to the web map you previously created to enable it's use in Collector.
The trees data set should have the following attribute fields:
Tree type decidious or coniferous
Species text entry
Diameter in cm numeric
Tree condition good condition or poor condition
Notes text entry
Mapped by text entry
Accessing Survey123
You can log into Survey123 (as well as ArcGIS Online) using your standard Clemson credentials.
To begin, go to www.survey123.arcgis.com
Click the Sign In button at the upper right.
In the pop up window, click the button on the bottom to Sign In with Enterprise Account.
Type clemson in the box and click Continue.
Click the box to sign in Using Your Clemson University Account.
Enter your Clemson username and password and click Login.
Creating a New Survey
It only takes a few steps to create a survey. You'll need to set the title, add tags and a description, and then you can start adding questions and designing the survey!
Once you are logged in to Survey123, click on +Create New Survey in the upper-left corner.
In the drop-down menu, click on Get Started under Using the web designer.
For the survey name, enter Trees_Survey123_by_*yourinitials*.
For the tags, enter trees, field data collection.
For the summary, enter A survey for mapping trees and tree characteristics at Clemson.
Click Create to generate the blank survey form.
You will then see the interface designing the survey with four tabs: Add, Edit, Appearance, and Settings. To design the survey, you drag and drop questions from the panel on the right into the center of the window. You can reorganize the order of the questions and modify their parameters at any time.
Your goal is to replicate the attributes for the trees as in the previous exercise. Spend a few minutes thinking about the available questions and the organization of the survey. You need to include the GeoPoint question type to place this on a map.
To create the survey:
Drag the Single Choice question to the form. Click in the area of the question to open the Edit tab.
Change the Label to Type of Tree.
Rename Choice 1 to Decidious and Choice 2 to Evergreen.
Click the minus sign next to Choice 3 to remove it.
Check to box to say This is a required question
This question has now been set up in the form. Next we will add questions for the species and tree diameter.
Click the Add tab and drag the Singleline Text question to the form and click on it to open the Edit tab.
Enter Species for the label and make this question required.
Click the Add tab and drag the Number question to the form and click on it to open the Edit tab.
Type in Diameter (cm) in the label.
Type in a user hint: Diameter of the tree at chest height.
Make the question required.
Using what you know, create questions for the Tree Condition, Mapped By, and Notes fields. Leave the Notes field as optional.
Add the Image question to the form and give it an appropriate title.
Drag the GeoPoint question to the form and open the editor. Give it the title Mark the tree location on the map.
Set the default map to Imagery with labels. Zoom in in the map to Clemson University's location. Make this a required question.
The form is now ready!
Preview it's appearance by clicking Preview. You can see how it will appear in a computer screen, phone, or tablet. Click the X to close the window when finished.
Click the Save button in the lower right corner.
Click Publish to finish creating the survey. A URL is generated for the survey. You can get the URL by clicking the Share button in the upper right, as well as a QR code. Both of these can be used to distribute your survey.
Click on your survey URL and make a few entries. Place them at an arbitrary location.
Go back to your form tab and click the Data button to see the entries. You will see both a table with the attributes an their location on the map.
Let's go back to the Content section of ArcGIS Online.
Click on the browser tab for ArcGIS Online and go to your Content. You should see three new items: Two feature layers and a form with the name of your survey.
You can add these feature layers to your ArcGIS Online maps just like the last data set. You can continue modifying the data using Survey123, or enable them to be used in Collector, depending on the needs of your mapping project.
