GeoSnaps Recap – A Year of Geospatial Tips and Tricks

To celebrate the first anniversary of the GeoSnaps video series, we’re highlighting your favourites, some honourable mentions and some of our most recent videos that should be on your watch list.

If this is your first time hearing about GeoSnaps, welcome to the party! GeoSnaps are a collection of bite-sized technical videos about all things in the ArcGIS universe put together by Esri Canada staff. This initiative launched in February 2023 and has accumulated 89 videos (and counting) in just over a year. To celebrate the one-year (and a bit) anniversary, we wanted to recap which videos caught your eye and which ones you should keep your eye on in the future. 

Your Favourites

To get us started, we’re counting down the videos that have gotten the most views over the past year. ArcGIS Pro and web applications are topic areas that we are always looking for tips and tricks to add to our workflows and the top 5 reflect that.

5. Create Data Views in ArcGIS Experience Builder 

Kicking off our top five is a GeoSnap demonstrating how you can handle large datasets using views in ArcGIS Experience Builder. By incorporating filters, sort fields, and record limitations, users can craft data views for supported feature layers and scene layers, controlling the content displayed in associated widgets. These settings impact the current view only and remain independent of other data views or the source data. This video provides a comprehensive guide on creating, modifying, and utilizing these data views.

4. Finding Routes with Network Analyst in ArcGIS Pro

Zooming into the fourth position, this GeoSnap illustrates how ArcGIS Pro can be used for pinpointing the fastest or most direct route along roadways to reach designated stops or points. These routes can be tailored as basic point-to-point trajectories, adhering to specified orders or optimizing for minimal travel time or distance. Routes are linked to a local network dataset or a network service hosted in either ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. This video demonstrates how you can use the Route workflow on a network dataset to determine the optimal route between two features within a network.

3. Install Deep Learning Libraries in ArcGIS Pro

In the middle of the pack, we have a GeoSnap highlighting the process of integrating deep learning libraries into ArcGIS Pro. Before embarking on your journey with deep learning tools in ArcGIS Pro, it's key that you install the corresponding frameworks tailored to your version of the software. Alongside the deep learning libraries, acquiring the image analyst or 3D analyst extensions is essential for accessing most of the tools. This video walks you through how to download the deep learning frameworks to ArcGIS Pro to get started with deep learning and GeoAI.

2. Duplicate Layouts in ArcGIS Pro

Securing the runner-up position, this GeoSnap sheds light on a key addition at ArcGIS Pro 3.1. The Duplicate Layout tool empowers users to swiftly generate a duplicate version of their existing layout while simultaneously resizing it. Check out this GeoSnap to see how you can use this in your workflows.

1. Using Selectors in ArcGIS Dashboards

In first place, we have the Queen of GeoSnaps, Maggie Samson, showing how to add and configure category selectors in your dashboards. Selectors are interactive elements that allow you to filter and highlight data in your dashboard, making it easier for users to explore and understand your spatial data.  Whether a GIS analyst, a data scientist, or a decision-maker, selectors can help users focus on the most relevant data and make informed decisions. So, watch this video and discover the power of selectors in ArcGIS Dashboards!

The Honourable Mentions

Dive deeper into customization with our Honourable Mentions! These are videos that have seen some popularity but we think could use a second look as we spotlight essential tips for elevating your workflows with ArcGIS Hub and Map Viewer.

Create a Custom Domain for ArcGIS Hub
Learn how to give your ArcGIS Hub site a personalized touch by assigning a custom domain in just a few simple steps! This GeoSnap walks through the process, from creating a CNAME record with your DNS provider to adding the custom domain to your ArcGIS Hub site settings. With patience and a little know-how, you'll soon be enjoying your Hub site with a memorable and professional URL of your choice.  

Overlay Images and Maps using Media Layers in ArcGIS Online
Unlock the power of visual storytelling with Media Layers! This GeoSnap dives into overlaying images and maps onto web maps. Follow along as we go from adding media layers to fine-tuning their placement and appearance. Learn how to achieve precision with side-by-side adjustments, like georeferencing in ArcGIS Pro. Watch now elevate your maps with historical imagery and detailed scans! 

Add a Custom Navigation Bar in ArcGIS Hub
Elevate your Hub sites with a custom navigation bar tailored to your style! This GeoSnap walks through the process of enhancing an ArcGIS Hub navigation bar with dropdown menus for improved user experience. Follow along to customize the header in ArcGIS Hub Editor, add custom HTML/CSS, and see the transformation in action. With a few tweaks, you'll have a sleek navigation bar that enhances navigation and complements your Hub's content. 

The New Kids on the Block

Rounding out our GeoSnap tour are the new kids on the block. These are some of the more recent GeoSnaps that our GIS gurus think should be on your watch list. Whether you're looking to streamline data presentation with Survey123 reports or automate alerts using webhooks in ArcGIS Survey123, these videos offer invaluable insights for optimizing your workflows. 

Creating Reports in Survey123
Discover how to create individual and summary reports in Survey123 to streamline your data presentation process. From setting up report templates to generating the final outputs, we’ll walk you through step-by-step. This GeoSnap will show you how to compile data efficiently and elevate your survey data presentation game! 

Create Custom Cards in ArcGIS Hub
Learn how to create custom cards on ArcGIS Hub in a breeze! Follow along as we guide you through the process step-by-step. From selecting layouts to editing HTML code, you'll see how easy it is to personalize your page. Watch as we add links to buttons for seamless navigation - by the end, you'll have your custom card ready to go. Check out this GeoSnap for all the details! 

Setup Webhooks in ArcGIS Survey123 using Microsoft Power Automate
Missed a Survey123 submission? Never again! Dive into this GeoSnap to learn how to set up automatic alerts using Microsoft Power Automate. From configuring webhooks in ArcGIS Survey123 Web Designer to creating automated cloud flows, discover the steps to ensure timely email notifications for every survey response.  

Looking for more GeoSnaps? Check out the playlist on YouTube! Our GIS gurus are hard at work crafting more GeoSnaps, so make sure to subscribe to stay up to date on new releases.