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A GIS App for Every Need: Choosing the Right Web App – Part 2

Published Date
Author Alex Moore

Have you ever wondered whether you should use ArcGIS Dashboards to present your data? Did you know that dashboard inspired templates are available in ArcGIS Experience Builder? Isn’t it great that you can take an existing dashboard and embed it within an ArcGIS StoryMap? In part one of this series, we discussed four points of preparation that creators should consider before selecting their web application. Here in part two, we look at four ArcGIS applications and discuss how they could be used for your next web-based project.

In our recent webinar: A GIS App for Every Need: Choosing the Right App in the ArcGIS Web Ecosystem, we focused on four ArcGIS applications that are amazing tools for sharing your work and engaging your audience. Working with your data and configuring web apps can be a great experience, but it’s even better when you take the time to properly plan your project. In part one of this series, we looked at how having a clearly defined purpose, understanding your audience, assessing your own abilities and planning your time accordingly will help you create an effective project. Now, it’s time to apply those concepts and learn how ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS StoryMaps and ArcGIS Experience Builder could be used for your next web application!  

ArcGIS Instant Apps

ArcGIS Instant Apps offer users the quickest way to turn a web map into an app without the need of extensive programming knowledge. If you are looking for a way to create an application that automatically adapts to different sized screens, requires minimal customization and can be deployed rapidly, Instant Apps might be the right choice for you. Instant Apps are created using a growing selection of pre-configured templates that have different advantages for different types of projects and data.  

When creating a project in ArcGIS Instant Apps, these are some of the available templates to choose from when configuring your application.   A look at the available templates in ArcGIS Instant Apps

With such a large selection, choosing the right template can be a challenge. Thankfully, there are a few tools and tricks that users can take advantage of to help decide on a template before beginning the configuration stage. There are 5 methods you can use to learn more about the templates and get an idea about which one might be right for your project: 

  1. Preview templates with your web map  
  2. Use the search bar  
  3. Follow the search suggestions
  4. Read the template description
  5. Check out some real-world examples 

The real-world examples can be found here at the ArcGIS Instant App Gallery.  

Next, I’m going to walk through the process of taking a web map into ArcGIS Instant Apps and deciding which template to use for your project.  

  1. Ensure your web map is ready to go with your required data and base map. You can open ArcGIS Instant Apps from the app launcher in ArcGIS Online or directly from Map Viewer by selecting “Create App” from the menu.  

  1. In ArcGIS Instant Apps, choose “select map” at the top and select the web map you will be using for your instant app. From the template menu page, select “preview” on any of the templates to see how it looks with your data.  

  1. To help narrow in on templates that offer the functionality you need, try searching something like “directions,” “proximity” or “filter,” in the search bar. If you can’t think of anything, that’s OK! Have a look at the search suggestions and select one if it sounds like something that will work for you.  

  1. Once you have a few templates in mind, select the down arrow button next to the template name to see a more detailed description.  

  1. Below the description, check out some of the links to real-world examples. These are publicly available apps created with the template you are considering for your project.  

  1. Once you have decided upon a template, click ‘create app’ to begin the configuration stage.  

Configuring an Instant App is done with express mode turned on, by default. Try toggling it off and on to see what extra configuration options are available with the full setup mode. Once you’ve finished creating your app, you can update the sharing settings and publish your work!  

ArcGIS Dashboards 

ArcGIS Dashboards can help your organization share information and are easily understood because all relevant data is displayed on a single screen. Dashboards do not offer pre-configured templates, but they are created using read-to-use data visualization tools, including lists, charts, gauges and maps. Dashboards can be configured to have mobile views and once completed, they can be embedded in other ArcGIS applications.  

There are four categories of dashboards that can be useful when planning how you want to design your project:  

  1. Strategic

  • Help track key performance indicators and make decisions based on organization performance 

  • Example: Manage delivery warehouse locations 

  1. Tactical

  • Allow users to analyze historical data and visual trends  

  • Example: Analyze the housing market for a given city 

  1. Operational

  • Give operations staff a real-time view of events, projects or assets  

  • Example: Monitor active wildfires  

  1. Informational

  • Help organizations inform and engage the community 

  • Example: Flight departure / arrival information