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Deploy and configure beacons

Available for an ArcGIS organization licensed with the ArcGIS IPS extension.

After finalizing the beacon placement plan, configure and deploy the beacons within the facility. It is recommended that you populate the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table to reduce manual data entry during beacon deployment. This workflow is compatible with the ArcGIS IPS Setup app version 1.9 or later. However, beacons can also be deployed without using the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table. This approach involves updating the IPS_Beacons feature class directly, which is compatible with the IPS Setup app version 1.6 or later.

During beacon deployment, the IPS Setup app allows you to adjust beacon locations from the placement plan and update attribute values of the features directly on-site. Follow the installation and configuration instructions to ensure optimal results.

Configure the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table for beacon deployment

The IPS_Beacons_Inventory table is used by the IPS Setup app to simplify beacon deployment. The table stores information about beacons that are planned for deployment. During beacon deployment, the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table automatically populates the required fields once the beacon identifier, either BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS, is entered. The beacon identifier allows you to import the necessary attribute values into the IPS_Beacons feature class.

To populate the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table, ensure that you have a list that contains the configuration of all beacons to be deployed. This file is typically a CSV file and is provided by the beacon vendor. The beacon attributes must be populated in the following fields in the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table:

Field Value
UUID The unique identifier (UUID) of the beacon, as defined by the iBeacon protocol
MAJOR The group identifier assigned to the beacon
MINOR The identifier of the beacon within its group
RSSI_1M The signal strength (RSSI) at 1 meter from the beacon
Note:

Some beacon vendors may not provide the value for the RSSI_1M field. Instead, they may provide a simplified transmission power level and a separate document mapping power levels to RSSI at 1 meter. You can populate the RSSI_1M field using the Calculate Field tool in the Data Management toolbox.

Additionally, either the BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS field must be populated:

Field Value
BEACON_ID A short, alphanumeric string that uniquely identifies a Bluetooth beacon
MAC_ADDRESS A 48-bit identifier that uniquely identifies a Bluetooth beacon

To populate the beacon attributes in the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table, complete the following steps:

  1. Start ArcGIS Pro.

  2. Open the map that you created for IPS, or create a map.

  3. Add the beacon configuration file provided by the beacon vendor and the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table to the map.

  4. On the ribbon, click the Analysis tab, and click Tools .

    The Geoprocessing pane appears.

  5. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Toolboxes tab.

  6. In the search box, type Append.

    Tip:

    You can also expand Data Management Tools > General, and click Append.

    The tool appears in the Geoprocessing pane.

  7. Set the Append tool parameters as follows:

    • Target Dataset—Select the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table.

    • Input Datasets—Use the beacon CSV file obtained from the beacon vendor.

    • Field Matching Type—Specify Use the field map to reconcile field differences.

    • Field Map—Ensure that the following fields are mapped: UUID, MAJOR, MINOR, RSSI_1M, and either BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS.

      Note:

      Some beacon vendors may not provide all fields. Manually create the fields using Add Field option in the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table and ensure they follow the ArcGIS IPS Information Model schema.

  8. Click Run.

You can now use the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table in the beacon deployment process. After deployment, the beacon features can be used to generate a survey-less IPS positioning dataset.

Tip:

After beacon deployment, you can use the IPS Setup app 1.8 and later to conduct beacon maintenance to monitor and collect beacon health data.

Deploy and configure the beacons without the IPS_Beacons_Inventory table

If you are not using an IPS_Beacons_Inventory table, after scanning or typing the beacon identifier into the IPS Setup app during beacon deployment, you must populate the rest of the beacon attributes. This can be done by one of two methods:

  • Manually typing the attributes in the IPS Setup app.

  • Calculating fields in the IPS_Beacons feature class in ArcGIS Pro using the steps below.

The beacon attributes must be populated in the following fields for each beacon feature to create an IPS positioning dataset using the survey-less method. Refer to the IPS_Beacons feature class in the ArcGIS IPS model for more information.

Field Value
LEVEL_ID The identifier of the level where the beacon is deployed
RSSI_1M The signal strength (RSSI) at 1 meter from the beacon
UUID The unique identifier (UUID) of the beacon, as defined by the iBeacon protocol
MAJOR The group identifier assigned to the beacon
MINOR The identifier of the beacon within its group

Before finalizing the beacon attributes, ensure that you have a file that contains the latest configurations of the deployed beacons. This file is typically a CSV file and is provided by the beacon vendor.

At the end of the beacon deployment process, each beacon feature must have either the BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS field populated. These fields serve as keys for importing the remaining attribute values from the CSV file to the IPS_Beacons feature class. Additionally, the LEVEL_ID field must be populated, as it links the beacon to the correct level feature.

To finalize the beacon attributes, complete the following steps:

  1. Start ArcGIS Pro.

  2. Open the map that you created for IPS, or create a new map.

  3. Add the beacon configuration file provided by the beacon vendor and the IPS_Beacons feature class to the map.

  4. In the Contents pane, right-click the IPS_Beacons feature class and choose Add Join from Joins and Relates.

    • Set the Input Table as IPS_Beacons.

    • Set the Input Field as BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS, whichever was populated during beacon deployment.

    • Set the Join Table as the beacon configuration file provided by the beacon vendor.

    • Set the Join Field as BEACON_ID or MAC_ADDRESS.

  5. Click OK.

  6. On the ribbon, click the Analysis tab, and click Tools .

    The Geoprocessing pane appears.

  7. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Toolboxes tab.

  8. In the search box, type Calculate Fields (multiple).

    Tip:

    You can also expand Data Management Tools > Fields, and click Calculate Fields (multiple).

    The tool appears in the Geoprocessing pane.

  9. Set the Calculate Fields (multiple) tool parameters as follows:

    • Input Table—IPS_Beacons

    • Expression Type—Select an expression type.

    • Fields—For each of the following fields that is not yet populated, set an expression that matches the value from the corresponding joined field: BEACON_ID, MAC_ADDRESS, LEVEL_ID, RSSI_1M, UUID, MAJOR, MINOR.

      For example, if the Expression Type is Python, to copy all values from the joined MAJOR column to the MAJOR column in IPS_Beacons, type MAJOR for the Field Name (Existing or New) and !Major! for the Expression options.

      Note:

      Some beacon vendors may not provide the value for the RSSI_1M field. Instead, they may provide a simplified transmission power level and a separate document mapping power levels to RSSI at 1 meter. You can populate the RSSI_1M field using the Calculate Field tool in the Data Management toolbox.

  10. Click Run.

The beacon features can be used for generating a survey-less IPS positioning dataset.

Optionally, you can configure the TRANSMITTER_ID field. This is useful for comparing beacon features with the generated IPS positioning signals. Use the Calculate Field tool to define the value as the concatenation of the UUID, MAJOR, and MINOR fields, separated by periods.