Chapter 3
- ArcGIS Experience Builder is designed for users who need more functionality than any single configurable app can provide. It allows creators to combine, customize, and remix multiple tools through an extensive library of widgets—such as maps, tables, filters, queries, charts, and reports—without any programming. As a more flexible successor to ArcGIS Web App Builder, Experience Builder introduces adaptable layouts, mobile-first design, integrated 2D/3D views, triggers, actions, and enhanced customization options.
- The platform enables users to create “web experiences,” which are web apps built from templates, themes, data sources, and widgets. Users can begin with mobile-adaptive templates or design layouts from scratch. Themes control appearance, while widgets—categorized as basic (functional) or layout (organizational)—control tools and structure. Each widget has configurable content, style, and actions. Actions allow widgets to interact; for example, one map can respond automatically when another map’s extent changes. Dynamic content features allow widgets like text, images, and lists to display live data or statistics pulled directly from connected datasets.
- Experience Builder supports a multi-step workflow: selecting a template, choosing a theme, adding 2D/3D maps or feature layers, configuring widgets, adjusting layouts for different screen sizes, and finally previewing, publishing, and sharing the experience. Web experiences can contain multiple pages and windows, with outline views that help users organize and navigate widgets more easily.
- The platform exists in three editions: ArcGIS Online, Portal for ArcGIS, and a developer edition. All share similar core functionality, though updates are released first to the Online edition. Support for custom widgets varies: ArcGIS Online does not allow them, Portal allows deployment, and the developer edition allows full creation and customization. The developer edition must be downloaded and registered with an ArcGIS instance before use, offering developers the ability to design new widgets, themes, and advanced app capabilities.
- A real world application using this chapter could look like a slideshow comparing world trade routes and overlaying factors that delay or even speed up trade along trade routes.
Chapter 4
- We now live in a post-PC era in which smartphones, tablets, and wearables dominate computing, making Mobile GIS essential for both everyday life and organizational operations. Mobile GIS leverages mobility, location awareness, and real-time connectivity to extend GIS capabilities to the field. Its advantages include easier data collection, large user reach, versatile communication tools, and access to multiple positioning technologies such as GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and indoor location systems. Despite limitations like smaller screens or lower processing power, mobile devices enable widespread GIS applications ranging from navigation and asset inspection to incident reporting and parcel delivery.
- Mobile GIS development follows three main approaches. Browser-based apps use HTML, JavaScript, and CSS and are easy to deploy but limited in access to device features. Native apps offer the best performance and full hardware access but require platform-specific development. Hybrid apps blend both approaches to balance performance and flexibility. ArcGIS supports all three strategies through ArcGIS API for JavaScript and various Runtime SDKs.
- Esri’s mobile ecosystem includes several specialized apps. ArcGIS Field Maps unifies mapping, data collection, workforce coordination, offline use, and location tracking in one app. Survey123 enables smart, form-based data collection through web or desktop form builders. Quick Capture supports rapid, button-based data recording from moving vehicles. ArcGIS Indoors provides indoor routing, wayfinding, and workplace navigation, while ArcGIS Companion assists with content and user management. App Studio allows developers to build cross-platform native GIS apps using templates or custom code.
- Key concepts tied to Mobile GIS include Location-Based Services (LBS), which deliver information triggered by a user’s location; Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), crowdsourced from the public; and immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). AR in particular enhances real-world views with GIS data, supported by Esri tools like AuGeo and Runtime toolkits. Combining AR with computer vision and deep learning further improves field data collection by enabling automated object recognition.
- A real-world GIS application using these Mobile GIS concepts is a city infrastructure inspection app that lets field workers navigate to assets, collect GPS-accurate data, and view augmented-reality overlays of underground utilities.