1. Keep it simple –
Web Apps for Non Developers
Oliver Penman , Liz Irvine – Glasgow City Council GIS
ESRI Scottish Conference
Perth 4th October 2016

2. Glasgow City Council GIS
• GIS since late 80s, ESRI seat since 1993
• GIS in all services governed by corporate user group
• Approximately 250 desktop users (floating)
• Web mapping applications first launched in 2003
utilising ArcIMS
• Currently at ArcGIS 10.2.2, ArcSDE 10.1, ArcGIS for
Server 10.1

3. • 2015 upgrade to ArcGIS 10 and retirement of
ArcIMS requires existing web apps to be
developed in a relatively short space of time
• Phasing out of LocalView Fusion and IT
infrastructure influence decision to create new apps
using ArcGIS Online (AGOL)
• Previous experience of sharing data with partners
using AGOL during 2014 Commonwealth Games

4. Pre application development
• Data owner and user involvement
• Familiarisation with AGOL and ArcGIS Server
Manager consisting of an initial mentoring day
with ESRI (another would follow after a few
weeks)
• Opened dialogue with council web team. Advised
that over 65% of public use a phone device to
access apps and ours should be designed to suit –
responsive web design

5. • Original remit of project to replace existing
web mapping applications ‘as-is’
• Main criteria to keep applications as simple and
user friendly as possible i.e.
• Internal versions of apps replacing AtOM
(access to online mapping) and external public
facing apps replacing e-Citizen

6. App your Gran could use!
Even the more IT
challenged users!

7. Infrastructure
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS for
Server
ArcMap
MXD
Web Adaptor
Glasgow City Council
Public Mapping Applications
Ad-hoc web
mapping
applications /
embedded maps
AtOM
Internal Mapping
Applications
Central GIS Server
(SDE)
WMS/WFS
Data
Create and
host maps and
applications
Responsive
web design

8. • Initial stage is to create web map services
(WMS) and web feature services (WFS)
• MXD created for each WMS and WFS , decision
to be made which layers can be grouped and
which require a unique service
• Symbology, thresholds and field properties
were managed at this stage . Alternative to
carrying this out in AGOL

9. Infrastructure
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS for
Server
AtOM
Internal Mapping
Applications
Glasgow City Council
Public Mapping Applications
Ad-hoc web
mapping
applications /
embedded maps
ArcMap
MXD
Web Adaptor
Central GIS Server
(SDE)

10. • The WMS or WFS is published from the MXD to
ArcGIS for Server using the ‘Share as Service’
dialogue / wizard. Data source must be
registered with ArcGIS for Server
• Important to have a ‘naming system; for
services and enter as much description and
tags as possible
• Once the service is published the REST URL is
noted for upload to AGOL

11. Infrastructure
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS for
Server
AtOM
Internal Mapping
Applications
Glasgow City Council
Public Mapping Applications
Ad-hoc web
mapping
applications /
embedded maps
ArcMap
MXD
Web Adaptor
Central GIS Server
(SDE)

12. • A folder to host layers should be set up under
‘My Content’ in your AGOL Organization
• The services are then added to AGOL from the
web using the REST URL from ArcGIS for Server
taking steps to make the service ‘secure’

13. WMS / WFS shared publically

14. • GCC took the decision to create individual apps
each covering an area of council business e.g.
Parking , as opposed to a single generic app
containing all layers
• The applications can be displayed in a
customisable gallery template available in
AGOL
• Two galleries – one for internal applications
and one for public facing

15. Initially an attempt was made to use a selection of
default templates available in AGOL each selected
to suit the nature of the content

16. This was abandoned in favour of using Web App Builder for the majority of
applications for several reasons
• It proved difficult to create a consistent look and feel for all apps using
different templates
• Functionality and widgets available to each template is not consistent
• Using functionality for purposes it was not intended for
• Became evident we were trying to squeeze apps into customised
templates
Decision made after some trial and error to use Web App Builder for the majority
of applications creating a consistent look and feel. Further influenced by
enhancements made to web app builder around this time

17. Approach taken to create a template using Web App Builder and simply using the
‘save as’ function to create applications for each desired council operation

18. Take time to plan these e.g. which fields should be included? Should links open in
a new page
Pop-up configuration
Pop-up
configuration can
be carried out at
• MXD level i.e.
‘hiding fields’
• Map stage in
AGOL
• Layer stage in
AGOL (If layer
is able to have
a default pop-
up for each
app it is
included in)

19. Not all proposed apps were suitable for the functionality available in web app
builder. The MyNearest Builder was purchased from ArcGIS Marketplace to
create the minority of apps requiring a ‘Find my nearest …….’ function.

20. AtOM – Internal version,
includes 21 applications
including a generic
application with all layers
available
Gallery template (several
available in AGOL) used to
display applications, can be
changed to icons

21. Typical standard application

22. Public facing version
• No generic app
• Less datasets
• Less attribution
available in pop-ups
• Less widgets and
functionality

23. Basemapping
Although there are various basemaps available in AGOL it was decided to create a
WMS consisting of the core OS products with thresholds at suitable scales. This
can be made default for all applications within your organization’s settings

24. Gazetteer
Although there are various gazetteers available in AGOL it was decided to use
GCC Corporate Address Gazetteer utilising LocatorHub. This can be made default
for all applications within your organization’s settings

25. Usage functionality in AGOL

26. Lessons learned
• Data clean and up-to-date
• Stakeholder involvement
• Regular testing of applications by proposed users during development
• Keep up-to-date with ESRI updates via newsletter etc. and be aware that
changes to templates can affect your applications
• Keep applications as simple as possible
• Document your work
• Test your applications in a variety of browsers and versions
• If possible arrange mentoring day with ESRI

27. Future Applications
• City Plan
• Nature and Biodiversity
• Street Cleansing and Litter Bins
• Water Safety Features
• Structures
• Roads Inspections
• Cemetery Inventory
• Street Furniture
• …………………………

28. Glasgow.gov.uk
Links also available
from relevant pages