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Enable GPS collection

To use Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers to collect data stored in a hosted feature layer, specific GPS metadata fields—such as receiver name, accuracy, and fix type—must exist on the layers in the hosted feature layer. If you did not include these fields when you created the hosted feature layer, you can add them.

Additional fields are required if you collect data using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers or laser rangefinders. You can add those fields to point layers.

When you add GPS metadata fields to an existing hosted feature layer, the fields are added to all qualifying layers in the hosted feature layer.

Requirements

The following requirements must be met to enable GPS collection on a hosted feature layer:

  • The hosted feature layer must contain at least one point, line, or polygon layer.

  • All line and polygon layers in the hosted feature layer must have attachments enabled.

  • The hosted feature layer cannot have functionality enabled that prevents the addition of fields.

  • To add fields for GNSS receivers or laser rangefinders, the hosted feature layer must contain at least one point layer and that layer must already contain GPS collection fields.

Add GPS metadata fields

To add the fields required for GPS receiver data collection, complete the following steps:

  1. Sign in to your organization.

    You must be the layer owner or a member of the default administrator role or a custom role assigned the set of privileges to manage all content owned by organization members.

  2. Open the item page for the hosted feature layer.

  3. Click the Settings tab.

  4. Scroll to the GPS metadata section.

  5. Click Add fields next to Enable GPS metadata fields.

  6. For a hosted feature layer that contains point layers, you can now additionally add receiver-specific fields if you require them. To do so, click Add fields next to the receiver type or types you will use: GNSS receiver (tilt compensation) or laser rangefinder.

    Tip:

    If any of the layers in the hosted feature layer already contain the generic GPS metadata fields, you can add the receiver-specific fields without needing to enable GPS metadata fields for all layers.