A GIS App for Every Need: Choosing the Right Web App – Part 2
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.
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:
- Preview templates with your web map
- Use the search bar
- Follow the search suggestions
- Read the template description
- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Once you have a few templates in mind, select the down arrow button next to the template name to see a more detailed description.
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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.
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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:
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Strategic
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Help track key performance indicators and make decisions based on organization performance
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Example: Manage delivery warehouse locations
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Tactical
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Allow users to analyze historical data and visual trends
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Example: Analyze the housing market for a given city
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Operational
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Give operations staff a real-time view of events, projects or assets
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Example: Monitor active wildfires
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Informational
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Help organizations inform and engage the community
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Example: Flight departure / arrival information
Four categories of ArcGIS Dashboards
A big consideration for ArcGIS Dashboards is the amount of interactivity and connectivity between the dashboard elements you need. Configuring actions can add to the user experience so that while they navigate the map, the other elements of the dashboard change based on where the map is focused or what data is available. Table elements can be filtered dynamically and graphs can be automatically redrawn to reference specific data sources.
Potentially the biggest reason to choose ArcGIS Dashboards for your project is the ability to include Arcade or HTML formatting. Unlike the other web applications featured in this blog, developers can use code to enhance the dashboard elements which add to the user experience. Take a list element for example, the entries on the list can be colored using HTML, based on attribute values in the data. A list of average house prices per city could be customized so that text for cities with prices greater than $500,000 appears in red.
In summary, dashboards provide a powerful tool for organizations looking to visualize and share data effectively. When selecting a web app for your data visualization needs, consider the unique advantages of ArcGIS Dashboards. By leveraging its capabilities, you can create compelling narratives that resonate with your audience and facilitate better understanding and action based on data insights. Unlock the full potential of your data and elevate your organization’s communication with ArcGIS Dashboards!
ArcGIS StoryMaps
ArcGIS StoryMaps provide an engaging way for organizations to tell their stories by combining maps, narrative text, images and multimedia content into an interactive format. The tools available enable users to create compelling narratives that can capture the attention of various audiences, making complex information more accessible and relatable. There are three types of story maps that can be used independently or together depending on the project needs.
Stories
Traditional story maps are called stories and are created on a single, scrolling page to create a flowing, interactive narrative. Preconfigured designs give you enough options to personalize your story without overwhelming you with too many choices. With story maps, no code is required to develop a polished project. However, users do have the ability to include code blocks to share their own work.
Several different types of media can be included and immersive tools are available that combine text, media and maps to create a unique user experience.
Briefings
If you are giving a formal presentation or think your project would be best portrayed with a slide-show format, then briefings might be perfect for you. Briefings offer preconfigured slide templates that can include different combinations of text and media like traditional stories.
You might find yourself asking this question: “what makes briefings different from other slide-show format applications,” and the answer here is the integration with the ArcGIS system. Briefings allow you to include instant apps, custom maps and dashboards directly in your slide-show presentation. If you don’t have custom maps created, you can always add an express map directly within ArcGIS StoryMaps.
Slide templates for briefings
Collections
Story map collections can be used if you want viewers to view a variety of ArcGIS applications separately but all under one item URL. If your project has a dashboard, a story map, a briefing presentation and even individual images or pdf documents, story map collections are a perfect way to group and share the work for your project.
In conclusion, ArcGIS Story Maps serve as a powerful and versatile platform for organizations to craft and share their narratives in a visually compelling manner. The ability to seamlessly integrate various media types, whether through interactive maps, rich multimedia content or slide presentations, ensures that information is delivered dynamically and thoughtfully. By transforming data into narratives, you can not only inform but also inspire action, creating a lasting impact through your projects.
ArcGIS Experience Builder
ArcGIS Experience Builder is a highly configurable solution where app creators can transform their data into compelling web apps using templates or by starting completely from a blank page. Apps can be a single page resembling a dashboard or a long scrolling page like a story map. Menu navigation or customized buttons also make creating a multi-page application simple and easy to use.
ArcGIS Experience Builder features a growing selection of widgets that allow the developer to position them anywhere on the page and fine tune things like font, size, color, background, border and animation. Widgets can interact with each other using actions and functionality can be quickly tested by switching to live view before publishing the application. Unlike ArcGIS Dashboards and ArcGIS Instant Apps, Experience Builder allows the developer to specify the resolution of the application. Resolution is best assessed by using the full preview button, which can still be done prior to fully publishing the application.
Experience Builder is often the best choice for developers who want to be able to customize every part of their project. Several other ArcGIS applications can be seamlessly integrated into an experience and with the new express mode released as part of the November 2024 ArcGIS Online update, users can jumpstart their project using an interface inspired by ArcGIS Web AppBuilder.
Click here to read about the new express mode in ArcGIS Experience Builder.
A selection of map-centric templates in ArcGIS Experience Builder
ArcGIS offers a diverse array of tools, from ArcGIS Instant Apps for quick deployment, to ArcGIS Dashboards for dynamic data visualization, ArcGIS Story Maps for compelling narrative presentations, and ArcGIS Experience Builder for extensive customization opportunities. Each of these applications has unique strengths that cater to different scenarios and user requirements.
Ultimately, the goal is to create an engaging and informative experience that resonates with your audience and effectively communicates your data insights. By leveraging the capabilities of these applications, you can transform your data into meaningful narratives that not only inform but also inspire action. As you embark on your next project, remember to reflect on these considerations to help choose the application that best fits your vision and objectives.