Capture polygon GPS data using ArcPad and GeoCollector units

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to capture polygon GPS data using ArcPad and GeoCollector units.

Before you begin
The GPS needs to be activated before any of the GPS buttons on the Edit toolbar are enabled. Furthermore, the GPS Point button is only enabled when a point layer is active for editing. The Add GPS Vertex and Add GPS Vertices Continuously buttons are only enabled with either the polyline or polygon feature type has been selected.

Before activating the GPS in ArcPad, ensure that the GPS receiver is correctly connected using a cable or Bluetooth wireless link to the mobile device and that the GPS protocol and communication parameters in ArcPad match the settings on the GPS receiver.

The GPS can only be activated if there is a projection defined for the current ArcPad map. The default projection in ArcPad is latitude-longitude using the WGS84 datum. The default projection can be changed by placing an arcpad.pfj file in your \My Documents folder.


Procedure

Creating a polygon feature using the incoming GPS coordinates involves the following steps:


1.Select a polygon layer for editing via the Start/Stop Editing dropdown list or the Table of Contents. Only one polygon layer at a time can be selected for editing. Tap the dropdown list again to select a different polygon layer for editing.

2.Tap the Polygon button on the Edit toolbar to create a polygon feature.

3.Tap the Add GPS Vertex button to capture a single vertex or tap the Add GPS vertices continuously button to capture streaming vertices. The GPS must be active.

4.The Geography page shows a progress bar, which counts down from the specified number of GPS positions to average to zero.

5.Tap the Proceed button on the Command bar to complete the capture of the polygon feature.

6.Type in attributes for the new polygon feature. Tap OK to store the polygon feature.

7.When finished working on the map, save and exit ArcPad. Save it as an ArcPad map file and store it on the computer or the mobile device. ArcPad automatically appends a file extension of .apm to the map document name when saved.


It is not necessary to save an ArcPad map to preserve the GPS field edits in ArcPad. Each time a feature is stored in ArcPad, the shapefile and shapefile table are automatically updated. Saving an ArcPad map preserves changes made in the appearance on the data such as symbology, labels, and background color.

8.Before turning off or suspending the mobile device, it is recommended GPS be de-activated and to exit ArcPad. Failing to do so may corrupt field data.

To de-activate GPS, tap the dropdown next to the GPS Position Window button and select GPS Active.

To exit ArcPad, tap the dropdown next to the Open button the Main toolbar, then select Exit. Tapping the X or Cancel button does not exit the ArcPad application; it only minimizes it.