Field Data
Introduction to Geospatial Data
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Competency 4. Field Data
Competency 4. Field Data
Use the field data collection workflow to acquire, assimilate, and produce geospatial and attribute data deliverables.
Begin this competency by expanding a Topic section to view its contents. For each topic, you will complete the following:
Learn about the topic by listening to and watching the lecture video.
Apply your knowledge and skills by completing the demos, exercises, and project summary tasks.
Assess your comprehension by completing the quiz.
Scroll to the bottom of this page and expand the competency-level project to access the project statement of work (SOW) with summary tasks, tasks, and step-by-step instructions along with accompanying project videos.
Topic 4.1. Location Data
Topic 4.1. Location Data
Explain how GPS and DGPS create location data.
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
4.1.1. Differentiate between triangulation and trilateration
4.1.2. Describe the space, control, and user segments of GPS
4.1.3. List types of GPS error that degrade your positional accuracy
4.1.4. Explain how differential GPS works
4.1.5. Differentiate between image data and a mosaic dataset
4.1.6. Configure GIS data for collecting GPS field data
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Lecture Videos: C4T1PC1a, C4T1PC1b, C4T1PC1c, C4T1PC2, C4T1PC3-4, C4T1PC5-6
Demonstration Videos & Data: C4T1D1a, C4T1D1b & Demo_4-1.csv
Exercise: ESRI Web Course - Map your community cleanup
Module 1: Prepare the map and form
Quiz: Location Data
Project: Tree Survey Summary Task 1
References
References
Landmark. Wikipedia. 10 Jan. 2025.
Dead reckoning. Wikipedia. 8 Mar. 2025.
Triangulation (surveying). Wikipedia. 29 Feb. 2024.
Zerman, John. Celestial Navigation Math. Tablet Class Math. 5. Sep. 2012.
True range multilateration. Wikipedia. 12 Feb. 2025.
MAPASYT. What is the difference between a recreational grade GPS, a mapping grade GPS, and a survey grade GPS? USDA Cooperative Extension. 21 Aug. 2019.
USGS Global Positioning Application and Practice. USGS. 6 Apr. 2017.
Topic 4.2. Field Data
Topic 4.2. Field Data
Collect GPS field data using the field data collection workflow to minimize errors.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
4.2.1. Describe the field data collection workflow
4.2.2. Explain how to plan and configure a mission
4.2.3. List types of feature-level metadata collected with GPS
4.2.4. Explain how to validate, assimilate, and backup field data
4.2.5. Collect spatial features and attribute values in the field
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Exercise: ESRI Web Course - Map your community cleanup
Module 2: Collect data
Module 3: Map your cleanup process
Quiz: Field Data
Project: Tree Survey Summary Task 2
References:
References:
GPS for GIS Workflow. National Park Service. 25 Nov. 2019.
ArcGIS Field Maps Help. ESRI. 26 Feb 2025.
ArcGIS Field Maps Quick reference. ESRI. 13 Feb. 2025.
Topic 4.3. Data Automation
Topic 4.3. Data Automation
Describe and demonstrate the benefits of using data automation in GIS.
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
By the end of this topic you should be able to:
4.3.1. List the benefits of automating work
4.3.2. Describe the types of data processes that can be automated
4.3.3. Differentiate desktop, enterprise, and cloud-based automation
4.3.4. Describe different GIS data automation processes
4.3.5. Automate a data process using GIS
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Watch the lecture, step through the demo, do the exercise, take the quiz, and complete the project task(s):
Demonstration Videos: C4T3D3
Exercise: ESRI Web Video - ArcGIS Pro Tasks: An Introduction
Quiz: Data Automation
Project: Tree Survey Summary Task 3-4
References:
References:
hibbert0604. What tasks do you automate in your daily GIS work? r/gis. reddit. 29 Sep. 2016.
Sterling Quinn, Jim Detwiler, Frank Hardisty, and James O'Brien. Welcome to GEOG 485 - Programming and Software Development. The Pennsylvania State University. 2 Apr. 2025.
Walsh, Nigel. Next Big Thing: Robotic Process Automation. Insurance Thought Leadership.com. 11 Jan. 2017.
Datta, Anusuya. How are digital technologies influencing geospatial technology trends? Geospatial World. 19 Nov. 2019
ArcGIS Pro Help. Introduction to Tasks. ESRI. 30 Sep. 2024.
Project 4. Tree Survey
Project 4. Tree Survey
Students will configure and publish a geodatabase, collect tree locations and attributes, and share your results in an interactive dashboard with a map.
A tree survey is an inventory of tree locations and attributes for a designated area of interest (AOI). Forestry professionals often use Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled tablets or smartphones to record a tree’s map coordinates along with species, measurements, age, and health. Completed surveys are valuable and can support a number of applications, including:
Tree clearing and preservation
Landscape design
Vegetation management
Timber inventory
Forest research
The urban forester in your city is looking for assistance performing tree surveys.
Step through the SOW, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Step through the SOW, watch the videos, and complete the project deliverables:
Statement of Work: Tree_Survey_Project_SOW.pdf
Project Videos: C4P4ST1a, C4P4ST1b, C4P4ST1c, C4P4ST2a, C4P4ST2b, C4P4ST3, C4P4ST4
ACC GISC 1479 Introduction to Geospatial Data Course © 2026 by Sean Moran, GISP is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. You are free to share (i.e. copy and redistribute) the material in any medium or format with attribution to Sean Moran, GISP and Austin Community College.
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