ArcPad Notes

Mark's ArcPad Notes

By Mark Silver

ArcPad is a registered trademark of ESRI. You can checkout ESRI at www.esri.com and you can checkout ArcPad at http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcpad/index.html

ArcPad 8.0 Notes: A new major revision of ArcPad was released in April 2009. This version will not run under Windows CE.Net. Thus the MobileMapper CX won't run the latest version. As of May, the CX is still available with ArcPad 7.1.

MobileMapper 6 receivers are shipping with ArcPad 8.0. Post-processing for the MM6 is now available for both ArcPad 8.0 and the MobileMapping application.

ArcPad is the best mobile GIS data tool I have ever used. Hands down.

ArcPad has the best mobile support for raster images
ArcPad has the best support for vector images
ArcPad is fast and allows easily attributed data.
ArcPad has the best support for rangefinders, digital cameras and other external devices
ArcPad has great support for datum and projections
ArcPad is constantly evolving into an even better product through new revisions [ see ArcPadTeamBlog ]
There is an incredible, full featured RAD (Rapid Application Development tool: ArcPad Application Builder)
ArcPad has the best User and Technical documentation I have ever seen, hands-down!

However, if you are not a current ArcGIS user or don’t have a good Arc-Support and Training-Network you should NOT purchase a MobileMapper CX, MobileMapper 6 (or MMCE) for use with ArcPad before you figure out how to use ArcPad! (Keep reading...)

If you have never created a shapefile, are not comfortable with using a point and a poly-line shapefile you will have a very difficult learning curve with ArcPad. But trust me, ArcPad is definitely worth effort! If you are a current ArcGIS user, you won’t have any problems with ArcPad and you will love its functionality and operation. If you have a good GIS support network, you will be just fine. But if ArcPad is your first experience with the ArcWorld, you are going to have a reality-check when you first run ArcPad!

Luckily, you can figure out how to use ArcPad without spending a penny. You can try out ArcPad by downloading the fully functional ArcPad tool from ESRI:

http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcpad/download.html

This PC tool will run for 20 minutes at a time in demo mode and includes all of the documentation and functionality of the full mobile version.

In addition, ESRI offers great training courses [ click here for training details ]. There are instructor led sessions, self-study web courses, live online seminars, recorded training sessions, podcasts and third-party training books. I highly recommend the free Working with ArcPad and Working with ArcPad7 courses. They don't cost a penny and are excellent.

Clearly no other mobile GIS product has the traning resources that ArcPad offers.

In addition, there are lots of ESRI Strategic Partners who specialize in helping you with ArcPad deployment! You can get a list of these valuable resources [ here ].

But please know this: you will not receive much complementary ArcPad training or sympathy from any dealer unless you pay for it. Dealers barely make enough margin on ArcPad to provide you with 5 minutes of training. You should expect to pay separately for ArcPad support.

But do expect your dealer to pre-install, configure and activate ArcPad if you purchase ArcPad bundled.

Bundled ArcPad

When you purchase bundled ArcPad all you are going to get is a serial number! There is no disk, no manuals, no quick start guide, no nothing. You are expected to go to the ESRI website and install the latest ArcPad software on your computer.

Make sure your ArcPad serial number is written inside the battery compartment door of your receiver. Most dealers won't even track the number that was shipped with your receiver. (In other words: "Don't loose the ArcPad serial number!")

Make sure you (the end user) register ArcPad with the dealer. We don't automatically register ArcPad when we sell a bundled receiver because we NEVER know who the end user will be. (We don't want to register your Purchasing Agent as the end user.) We include a registration form that you can fax back to a toll-free fax number. The form has your serial number stickered, so all you need to do is enter your name, address, email and phone number and fax the sheet back.

If you don't return the registration sheet, you will not get registered and you will not be eligible for ArcPad updates in the future.

Why Bundle?

Purchasing ArcPad with a receiver will save you $100-$200! ArcPad is more expensive if purchased separately!

GPS Differential for ArcPad

GPS Differential for ArcPad adds a software tool to the ArcPad environment (you can read all about it here: [ GPS Differential for ArcPad ] ).

This tool records carrier phase data for each satellite visible to your receiver, every second, to a RAW datafile on the SD card in your GPS receiver. After you collect data and return to your office (and wait until the next day) you use the 'MobileMapper Office' program (downloadable from the Magellan FTP site at no charge or included on a disk with GPS Differential) to compare the carrier phase data you collected with data collected at a known reference station (a CORS site).

MobileMapper Office computes new positions for the data you collected and updates the collected data. Finally you save the enhanced positions to new shape files (Post-Processed Data).

There are some great advantages to Post-Processing:

you choose the data reference frame (WAAS is ITRF200)
you get higher accuracy if data is collected under optimum conditions

there are some disadvantages too:

it is a pain
you (usually) have to wait until the next day to post-process

If you choose to post-process, I highly recommend an external antenna (either a precision antenna on a range pole or a puck antenna on your ball cap).

Luckily you can add post-processing at anytime with no price penalty!

Summary

Yes, do buy ArcPad. It is an EXCELLENT tool. I love it! Take advantage of the free on-line training. Purchase ArcPad bundled with your receiver. Read the excellent manuals, and if you are new to the ArcWorld expect to have a steep but worthwhile learning curve.

Good luck and happy mapping!

Mark