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Webinar Recap – Esri ArcGIS Application development for iOS

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Patrisha Wells and David Cardella, Esri, recently hosted a free, online training intro on developing with ArcGIS for iOS. Free, online training is a fabulous way to stay up on technology and hear/see first-hand from the development team – I highly suggest it!


Introduction to ArcGIS for iOS – Recall using your ArcGIS for the following: local, enterprise, and cloud. Now you can extend your enterprise GIS to the iOS environment.

About – The ArcGIS API for iOS enables you to build applications that utilize the powerful mapping, geocoding, geoprocessing, and custom capabilities provided by ArcGIS Server using Objective C and deploy them to Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices. The API includes native Objective C libraries, templates, and samples that can be used within the Xcode Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Source – http://resources.arcgis.com/content/arcgis-iphone/api

So, why consider mobile?

  • access to real time information
  • route and navigate using maps
  • get updated information faster
  • maintaining your operational data and wireless synch

The team offered up a sample Demo showing a mobile app on iPhone with a Tweets layer that shows location of real-time tweets nearby (this using an example of being at GeoInt 2010 event in N’orleans) – indeed a popular idea for a mobile data layer!

ArcGIS for iOS is for:

  • consumers of enterprise GIS
  • sonsumers of community mapping
  • GIS developers
  • Esri biz partners

ArcGIS for iOS is an application (access online content) and an API (enable you to build custom apps using native Objective-C API) – for touch, iPad, iPhone. The ArcGIS iOS app is the first iOS app and supports the 3 main devices – not sclaed to fit iPad but built specifically for the iPad device. Maps from ArcGIS.com or your ArcGIS Server (10+)

Esri iOS

Sample Map Layer using iOS App

What can the app do?

  • display and navigate maps
  • find places and address locations
  • identify features
  • query map features
  • new – data collection
  • collect points, lines and area features and edit these features

Using your data

  • Create a map service
  • publish as a service using ARcGIS server
  • create webmaps locally on your server or on ArcGIS.com
  • Access the map via ArcGIS for iOS
  • data is cached locally

NOTE: Android tools are coming soon as well as Windows Phone developer tools (in public Beta currently)

About The ArcGIS API for iOS:

  • Objective-C API for developers
  • develop map apps from scratch or embed existing functionality
  • you get: API package (via arcgis resource center), refernce help, community resources (code sharing), sample code.
  • API package – integrates in Xcode (MAC) includes templates and documentation
  • provided webmaps are provided in WGS84 – Web Mercator
  • map services – dynamic, cahced, Bing Maps, OSM

For ideas and tips on getting started it is suggested you research or search out the following resources:

  • Apple’s iOS SDK 4.0
  • ArcGIS API for iOS
  • technologies used – Objective-C, cocoa touch (API for finger-based gestures), iOS SDK (enable use of iOS GPS, camera, and other functionality)

The road to deploment:

  • Download ArcGIS API for iOS – Develop your app – deploy externally or internal.
  • External deployment involves submission to Apple iTunes or via enterprise agreement via Apple (to restrict to corporate users)
  • Note: Keep in mind that you must attribute Esri for the API, Data and use the Esri logo in your app

Esri iOS App

All apps must attribute Esri

Moving forward:

  • Look for incremental updates – 2-3 mo
  • Improved UI
  • full feature editing
  • offline use
  • routing
  • legend
  • bookmarks
  • more

Requirements:
Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices
Requires Apple iOS version 3.1.2 or later
Intel-based Macintosh running Leopard (OS X 10.5) or Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6).
An iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is recommended for testing the user experience/interface within your application.

Suggested Links & Resources:

 

About Editor

Glenn is a geographer and a GIS professional with over 20 years experience in the industry. He's the co-founder of GISuser and several other technology web publications.