Create a map for mobile workers to use in the Field Maps mobile app. The type of map you create depends on what your mobile workers need to do in the field and is defined by the layers it contains:
- Read-only maps—Mobile workers use read-only maps to view data in the field. A read-only map can either be a web map or a mobile map package (MMPK).
- Maps enabled for editing—Mobile workers use maps enabled for editing to collect data and perform inspections in the field. A map enabled for editing is a web map that includes editable layers and a form that mobile workers fill out while completing field workflows.
Following the steps below, you can create either a map enabled for editing or a read-only map focused on online use. To customize web maps for offline use or to create an MMPK, see Prepare maps for download.
Create a web map
You can work with the same maps in Field Maps as you do in a browser. Create your map in Map Viewer Classic or ArcGIS Pro using your ArcGIS account. If you haven't created a map for the web yet, see one of the following resources:
- Get started with maps in ArcGIS Online
- Get started with maps in ArcGIS Enterprise
- Get started with Map Viewer Classic Learn lesson
- Author a web map in ArcGIS Pro
Once you've made a web map, you are ready to prepare it for use in the field as either a read-only map or a map enabled for editing.
Create a read-only map
Read-only maps allow mobile workers access to the most current data while in the field. When working with read-only maps, mobile workers can view data, mark up the map, search for features, and get directions to assets. A read-only map can be either a web map or an MMPK. The type you create depends on the needs of your mobile workers.
- Web map—If your mobile workers always have an internet connection, even out in the field, provide a web map. When used with an internet connection, web maps allow mobile workers to access the same data used in the office. Web maps can also be configured for offline use if your mobile workers work in areas without a reliable internet connection. If you use ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise to create maps, you know how to create web maps for use in Field Maps—the maps are made the same way.
- MMPK—Create an MMPK if you need to include advanced data or symbology not supported in a web map or if you want to copy maps directly to a mobile device. MMPKs can be used offline, so mobile workers can use them when they are in an area without a reliable internet connection. To create MMPKs, see Prepare maps for download.
Note:
Your user type limits the maps you can create. The Creator and GIS Professional user types can create web maps. Creating MMPKs requires ArcGIS Pro, which is included with the GIS Professional user type.
Read-only maps cannot be edited by mobile workers. If you want mobile workers to capture information and perform inspections in the field by editing data, see Create a map enabled for editing.
Add noneditable reference layers
Add the noneditable reference layers to the map you want mobile workers to access in the field.
Tip:
If you are on the item page of a layer you are adding to your map, click Open in Map Viewer. Skip to step 3 (if you have additional layers to add) or step 4, and continue from there to customize your map.
- Open a web browser and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
- If you're using ArcGIS Online, go to https://www.arcgis.com/home.
- If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, go to your Enterprise portal home page. This often follows the format https://www.yourportalname.com/arcgis.
- At the top of the website, click Map to open Map Viewer Classic.
- Add noneditable reference layers to the map in the following ways:
- For hosted feature layers, click Layers, click + Add layer, then search for and add your layers. See Add layers to maps in ArcGIS Online or Search for layers in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- For ArcGIS Server feature services, click Add, click Web service, provide the URL to the layer, and add it. See Add layers from the web in ArcGIS Online or Add layers from the web in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
Data requirements
To include your data in a map, it must be available online. To make it available online, publish your data as hosted feature layers or as an ArcGIS Server service. See Publish hosted feature layers in ArcGIS Online, Publish hosted feature layers in ArcGIS Enterprise, or Approaches to publishing services for ArcGIS Server. When you create a map that includes your layer or service, the map can be opened in Field Maps.
For a list of supported reference data, see Basemap and other reference data.
Next steps
Once you've created a read-only map, choose the default basemap, customize the map for the field, and share it with mobile workers.
Create a map enabled for editing
Maps enabled for editing allow mobile workers to collect and edit data in the field. While you can have read-only layers in this type of map, it must have at least one layer enabled for editing.
Add layers enabled for editing
Add the editable layers to the map you want mobile workers to access in the field. If you don’t have an editable layer, see Design an editable layer and Prepare an editable layer to learn how to create one.
Tip:
If you are on the item page of a layer you are adding to your map, click Open in Map Viewer. Skip to step 3 (if you have additional layers to add) or step 4, and continue from there to customize your map.
- Open a web browser and sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
- If you're using ArcGIS Online, go to https://www.arcgis.com/home.
- If you're using ArcGIS Enterprise, go to your Enterprise portal home page. This often follows the format https://www.yourportalname.com/arcgis.
- At the top of the website, click Map to open Map Viewer Classic.
- Add the existing editable layers you have or that you created in the previous sections as follows:
- For hosted feature layers, click Layers, click + Add layer, then search for and add your layers. See Add layers to maps in ArcGIS Online or Search for layers in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- For ArcGIS Server feature services, click Add, click Web service, provide the URL to the layer, and add it. See Add layers from the web in ArcGIS Online or Add layers from the web in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
Configure feature templates
Use feature templates to categorize your assets or observations. You can set default values that are unique to each template. In Field Maps, the templates display as types of assets and observations you can create, giving mobile workers a head start on entering information in the form. Once you've created feature templates, you can configure them using the Field Maps web app. For more information, see Configure the map.
To learn how to create feature templates, see Create feature templates in ArcGIS Online, Create feature templates in ArcGIS Enterprise, or Create a feature template in ArcGIS Pro.
Note:
Feature templates cannot be created in new Map Viewer Classic.
Filter visible data
If the mobile workers don't need to see all the data in the layer, filter what is shown. You can do this by creating a hosted feature layer view, or you can filter the layer that you've already added to your map.
- Create a hosted feature layer view—Restrict access to specific entries in the form and specific features in the data. To create a hosted feature layer view, see Limit the data available to mobile workers.
- Set a filter in the map—If you don't own the layer, you can set a filter in the map. The features included in the map are limited based on your requirements. To remove specific entries from the form, you'll need to set the filter when you configure the form.
Set a refresh interval
If the mobile workers or those in the office need to see data updates made while the mobile workers are in the field, set a refresh interval on the layers. See Set a refresh interval in ArcGIS Online or Set a refresh interval in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Disable editing on certain layers
If you are updating existing assets or observations with current status, keeping historical reports available, you can restrict mobile workers from editing the asset or observation and only allow them to edit the related report (for example, if you want historical reports). Disable editing on the layer of assets or observations, leaving it only enabled on the table of inspection reports. See Disable editing in ArcGIS Online or Disable editing in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Add noneditable reference data
You may have data that mobile workers don't need to edit, but that they do need to see on the map. For example, if mobile workers are creating proposed bike routes, having existing bike routes on the map helps them place their proposed routes.
For supported reference data, see Basemap and other reference data requirements. If your data isn't supported, import it into ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise as you did your editable data. When you publish, you do not need to make this data editable (as you did for the editable layer). See Hosted layers in ArcGIS Online or Hosted layers in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Next steps
Once you've created the map enabled for editing, choose the default basemap, customize the map for the field, and share it with mobile workers.
Choose the default basemap
Mobile workers can change the basemap in Field Maps. Your job as the map author is to provide the basemap the mobile workers need for most of their work. It is the basemap that is taken offline with your map by default, and only offline basemaps are available to mobile workers working offline. See Choose a basemap in ArcGIS Online or Choose a basemap in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Tip:
You can use a basemap other than the default basemap in offline maps. See Reference an on-device basemap for details.
Your mobile workers can use a basemap that isn't available to the map in your organization. If you have a basemap available as a tile package but not as a basemap in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, you can copy it to the mobile workers' devices for their use.
Customize the map for the field
When working in the field, mobile workers use maps under a variety of conditions. Customizing your map for the field allows mobile workers to better access and understand the data they need to complete field workflows. The following are some suggestions for customizing a map that performs well in the field:
- Customize symbology—Use symbology that is clear and easy to see in the field. See Apply styles in ArcGIS Online or Change style in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- Symbolize features based on related data—Use the Join Features tool to associate the field you want to symbolize on from your related record with the feature, save the result as a new hosted layer view (it updates as the original data changes), and use that hosted layer view in your map. See Join Features in ArcGIS Online or Join Features in ArcGIS Enterprise for more information. Hosted layer views created with the Join Features tool are read-only and can't be taken offline.
Note:
The Join Features tool is not available in new Map Viewer Classic.
- Set visible range—Set a scale dependency (making layers display at various zoom levels) to prevent clutter on the map. See Set transparency and visible range in ArcGIS Online or Set visible range in ArcGIS Enterprise.
- Configure labels—Mobile workers may need to see labels on the map. You can make these available to them by configuring labels for the feature layers. See Configure labels in ArcGIS Online or Create labels in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- Provide bookmarks—If there are areas commonly accessed by mobile workers, create bookmarks they can use to quickly go to those locations. See Bookmark places in ArcGIS Online or Bookmark places in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- Support feature search—By default, you can search for places, addresses, and coordinates on a map. Often, users of your map want to search for particular features they see on the map. When you create the map, enable finding locations by layer so your users can search for features. Provide hint text, enable search for each searchable layer, and specify the fields that can be searched.
For example, if you are creating a map of fire hydrants and your users want to search for hydrants by their IDs, include a fire hydrant layer in the map that contains the IDs. In the map's details in the browser, provide hint text, such as Hydrant ID, and specify that the hydrant layer should be searched using the field with the IDs. You can support exact matches, or match all hydrants with IDs containing the search string the mobile worker entered.
See Configure feature search in ArcGIS Online or Configure feature search in ArcGIS Enterprise for details.
- Provide useful pop-ups—When mobile workers view information about features on the map, they are viewing the pop-up you created for that feature. When creating your map, configure a pop-up with the information mobile workers need. See Configure pop-ups in ArcGIS Online or Configure pop-ups in ArcGIS Enterprise for details. You must accept your pop-up changes and save the map after editing the pop-up.
Note:
If features don't include pop-ups, mobile workers can't interact with them on the map.
Share the map
Once you've created a web map, you can keep it private, share it among your groups or with your organization, or make it public. See Share your map for use in Field Maps for more information.
Next steps
Now that you have created the map your mobile workers use in the field, you can configure it based on the needs of your organization.
- Configure the map using the Field Maps web app.
- Prepare your map for offline use if your mobile workers work in areas with low, unreliable, or no data connection.
- Prepare your map for high-accuracy data location and collection if your project requires better accuracy with reliable quality control.
- Prepare your map for indoor use if mobile workers need to filter features by floors within a building.
- Configure the form mobile workers will use to collect data in the field.
- Test and deploy your map so it’s ready for your mobile workers.