Term

Definition

analysis

A systematic examination of a problem that provides new information. ArcGIS Runtime supports many types of analyses, from simple geometry-based analysis to advanced spatial analysis. You can also string analysis operations together to build models. Stringing operations together for modeling or for the automation of repetitive workflows (for example, batch processing) is known as geoprocessing.

annotation layer

Represents a layer used to visualize annotations, similar to the way a feature layer visualizes features. An annotation is a type of feature that consists of text with position, layout and style.

API

Stands for Application Programming Interface. It refers to the way a software program receives instructions to do something.

application configuration file

This is the main XML-based configuration file that defines the nature and behavior of an instance of EpochField Mobile when it is launched.

ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog is used to organize, work with, and manage geographic information in workspaces. Workspaces provide a way for organizing and sharing logical collections of GIS information. For more information, please see https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/get-started/introduction/a-quick-tour-of-arccatalog.htm

ArcGIS platform

Server technology (that can be hosted on premise or Esri), data, apps, APIs, and other elements designed to work together to provide anything from small-scale, focused GIS solutions (such as an app that allows you to collect data in the field and sync it to your database) to complex, enterprise-level solutions that model real-world scenarios and use analytical capabilities to solve complex problems.

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Pro is the essential application for creating and working with spatial data on your desktop. It provides tools to visualize, analyze, compile, and share your data. For more information see https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/main/welcome-to-the-arcgis-pro-app-help.htm

ArcMap

ArcMap represents geographic information as a collection of layers and other elements in a map view. For more information, please see https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/get-started/introduction/a-quick-tour-of-arcmap.htm

ArcObjects

ArcObjects is a software library of COM components that build up the foundation of the Esri's ArcGIS platform.

ArcPy

ArcPy (often referred to as the ArcPy site package) provides Python access for all geoprocessing tools, including extensions, as well as a wide variety of useful functions and classes for working with and interrogating GIS data. Using Python and ArcPy, you can develop an infinite number of useful programs that operate on geographic data. For more information, please see https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/arcpy/get-started/what-is-arcpy-.htm

ArcSDE (SDE)

ArcSDE (SDE for Spatial Database Engine) is a server-software sub-system from Ersi that aims to enable the usage of Relational Database Management Systems for spatial data. The spatial data may then be used as part of a geodatabase.

asynchronous

Within the context of discussing how ArcGIS APIs work, asynchronous is a concept by which code is executed on an available background thread in the application's thread pool. The results of this executed code (if any) are returned upon completion. This allows you to off-load execution of longer-running processes, freeing up the UI thread so the app remains responsive to user interaction.

attachment

 A file, such as a photograph (for example, a .png file) or a document, that's associated with a feature in the geodatabase.

basemaps

A map depicting background reference information such as landforms, roads, landmarks, and political boundaries, onto which other thematic information is placed.

coordinate

A value that denotes the location of a vertex. Coordinates can represent 2D (x,y) or 3D (x,y,z) space. The meaning of the x,y,z coordinates is determined by a coordinate system. The vertices and coordinate system together allow your app to translate a real-world object from its location on the earth to its location on your map.

coordinate system

A reference framework consisting of a set of points, lines, or surfaces, and a set of rules, used to define the positions of points in space in two or three dimensions.

Data Prep

Data Prep is the process of running all of the data preparation tasks for making offline data and analysis available to the EpochField Mobile users in the field. The EpochField Data Prep Server product contains all of the configurable scripts and resources for gathering and packaging the updated mapping and asset data and copying it to a web server.

delta record

Delta records are those rows in a database that were deleted or contain old values versus new values of individual rows.

dynamic layer

A layer, from a map published through a map service, whose appearance—such as labeling, layer order, and symbology—can be changed by the client.

dynamic map service

A map that is drawn by the server each time the user zooms or pans. This differs from a tiled service in that it does not work with a cache of precooked tiles.

EpochField Product Suite

This term refers to the collection of products that comprises EpochField:

·         EpochField Mobile

·         Work Management Server and API

·         EpochField Administrator

·         EpochField Work Scheduler

·         EpochField Workflow Builder

·         EpochField Data Preparation Server

EpochField Schema

The set of database components specifically designed for the Work Management and Map Markup modules of the EpochField Suite of products. This database schema contains all the tables, views, procedures, and functions for supporting the EpochField Mobile Work Management and Map Markup Tools, and the Work Management Server itself.

feature

A representation of a real-world object on a map, such as a building, a utility system asset, a river, or a county. A feature is persisted in a feature table in a data store (such as a database or service) or in a map. Features in the same data store or feature layer have a common attribute schema.

feature class

Feature classes are homogeneous collections of common features, each having the same spatial representation, such as points, lines, or polygons, and a common set of attribute columns, for example, a line feature class for representing road centerlines.

feature layer

A layer that references a set of feature data. Feature data represents geographic entities as points, lines, and polygons.

feature service

A service that streams features. The server bundles feature data and streams it to the requesting client. There are a number of modes that client APIs can use to fetch data from the server and cache features locally if and when necessary.

feature service table

A data structure representing feature data retrieved from a feature service.

feature table

A database table of a single geometry type, such as point, line, or polygon, that stores features that conform to the schema of the table.

geocode

The process of transforming a description of a location—such as a pair of coordinates, an address, or a name of a place—to a location on the earth's surface. The resulting locations are output as geographic features with attributes, which can be used for mapping or spatial analysis. This is also known as address matching.

geodatabase

A collection of geographic datasets of various types held in a common file system folder, a Microsoft Access database, or a multiuser relational DBMS (such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Informix, or IBM DB2). Geodatabases come in many sizes, have varying numbers of users, and can scale from small, single-user databases built on files up to larger workgroup, department, and enterprise geodatabases accessed by many users.

geodatabase feature

A representation of a real-world object persisted in a geodatabase. When displayed, it's displayed in a feature layer. A feature is associated with a feature table with which it shares a common schema. Common types of feature tables and schemas are point, line, and polygon.

geometric network

Geometric networks are Esri databases that model common networks and infrastructures found in the real world. Electrical lines, gas pipelines, Water distribution, telephone services are all examples of resource flows that can be modeled and analyzed using a geometric network dataset. Epoch uses these datasets to generate "Zones" (See 'Zone Manager') to be used for disconnected tracing of electric and gas networks.

geometry

The combination of location and shape for a real-world object or a geometric construct such as an area of interest or a buffer area around an object. Geometry is a fundamental element for performing spatial analysis.

geoprocessing

A GIS operation used to manipulate data. A typical geoprocessing operation takes an input dataset, performs an operation on that dataset, and returns the result of the operation as an output dataset. Common geoprocessing operations include geographic feature overlay, feature selection and analysis, topology processing, raster processing, and data conversion. Geoprocessing allows for definition, management, and analysis of information used to form decisions.  You can use geoprocessing tools to create a sequence of operations, feeding the output of one tool into another tool; automate your work (for example, overnight processing); or solve complex problems using models. Your ArcGIS Runtime app can consume online geoprocessing services.

graphic

A representation of a real-world object stored in memory. When you want to display graphics, you use a graphics overlay. Graphics exist while the app is running and, therefore, are used often for temporary features. Graphics can have geometry and attributes. Graphics are not associated with a feature table.

graphics overlay

An item you use in your map, typically when you have graphics that change location regularly, and you want optimal animation of the graphics when zooming in and out on the map. It differs from a layer because its graphics are temporary (held in device memory) instead of being persisted in the map.

group layer

A container for other layers and group layers. It is used to represent datasets that are composed of multiple layers to be managed as a single layer with respect to display and some other operations.

identify

To display, on a map, attribute data of a feature, graphic, or raster cell.

image service

A web service that serves raster and image data.

Incremental update

Indicates that only incremental (delta) data will be downloaded instead of the entire regional Geodatabase for this data package.

IWA

IWA stands for Integrated Windows Authentication. It is the security protocol that enables an automatic or single-log-in experience for users of a site through web-tier authentication. These user accounts are stored in an organization's Active Directory.

JSON

JavaScript Object Notation. It is a lightweight format for storing and transporting data. JSON is often used when data is sent from a server to a web page. JSON is "self-describing" and easy to understand.

label

Text displayed with and associated with a graphic or feature.

layer

An item used to display geographic data in a map. In general, a layer's data comes from a single source, such as a map service URL or geodatabase table. A layer uses an associated renderer to symbolize data and, in some cases, define properties for the display of things such as labels and pop-ups. This decoupling of the layer's data and how it's rendered gives you the flexibility to present the same data in a variety of ways. As the name indicates, layers are stacked, or layered, in the map and drawn from bottom to top. As a developer, you can control the order of the layer in the map as well as its visibility. For more information on layers and how they're used in ArcGIS Runtime

layer definition

A SQL WHERE clause that selects a subset of features from a layer.

Local Server

In ArcGIS Runtime SDKs for Java, .NET (Desktop), and Qt, a miniserver for serving local services that don’t require an internet connection. The miniserver allows you to perform analysis and geoprocessing that's not natively supported in the Runtime core.

locator

A dataset that contains information including address attributes, indexes, and queries for geocoding. An address locator contains a snapshot of the reference data that is used for geocoding. In the process of geocoding, the reference data is no longer needed after the locator is created. A locator can be used to find addresses or x.y locations.

Map Document (.mxd)

Map Document (.mxd file): A map used in ArcMap that is stored as a file on disk. Each map document contains the specifications for the map layers, the page layout, and all other map properties. Map documents make it easy to save, reuse, and share your work in ArcMap. Double-clicking a map document opens it as a new ArcMap session.

MapServices

The map service is Web Service that makes maps available and accessible to mapping applications. Using ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap, you'll create a map, then publish the map as a service to an ArcGIS Server site. Internet or intranet users can then use the map service in web applications, ArcGIS for Desktop, ArcGIS Online, and other client applications.

mobile geodatabase

A geodatabase (.geodatabase) that uses SQLite and can be used in disconnected workflows in ArcGIS Runtime apps.

mobile map package

A mobile map package (.mmpk) allows you to transport and share maps, layers, and data across the ArcGIS platform. You can create mobile map packages using ArcGIS Pro, share them using your ArcGIS organization, or distribute directly by copying to a device, and consume them using ArcGIS Runtime apps. You can also create and download a mobile map package directly to your device using the preplanned or on-demand workflows provided by the Runtime API. Each mobile map package includes metadata about the package along with one or more maps and the data needed to display them. A mobile map package can be delivered as a single (.mmpk) file or as a directory structure. See the system requirements for details on what mobile map package versions are currently supported.

nonspatial table

In ArcGIS Runtime, a table with no geometry information. It can store descriptive information, but because it doesn't store a geographical component, its features cannot be drawn on a map. In some areas of the ArcGIS Platform, a nonspatial table is known as a table. You may also know this as a nonfeature table.

OAUth

OAuth 2.0 is a standard for handling authentication decisions among various web-enabled devices and servers.

offline

In ArcGIS Runtime, the state of having no network connection to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.

on-demand workflow

An offline workflow that allows an ArcGIS Runtime app to generate and download a mobile map package from an online map. The mobile map package content is determined by the ArcGIS Runtime app using parameters such as the area of interest, whether to include related tables, the max and min scale.

operational layer

A map layer with which users can interact. Typically, an operational layer is vector based and is editable by users. However, it can also be tiled data that can be queried against. See Layers for more information.

package

A set of items, such as a map and its referenced data, that ArcGIS Desktop bundles into a single file on your local machine so that the items can be easily transferred from user to user or provisioned onto a device. This is especially useful for disconnected apps.

portal

A term used to generically refer to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, or both. These are websites that provide a framework to manage, share, and secure geographic assets, such as data, maps, apps, and services.

portal item

A web map, layer (feature, map, and image service layers), app (web and mobile apps whose content is provided by web maps), tool, or data file that you add to a portal.

preplanned workflow

An offline workflow that allows an ArcGIS Runtime app to download a mobile map package for a map area as specified by the author of an online map.

project (.aprx)

A project file created using ArcGIS Pro. It can can contain maps, scenes, layouts, data, tools, and other items. It may contain connections to folders, databases, and servers.

projection

A projected coordinate system based on a map projection such as transverse Mercator, Albers equal area, or Robinson, all of which (along with numerous other map projection models) provide various mechanisms to project maps of the earth's spherical surface onto a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate plane. Projected coordinate systems are sometimes referred to as map projections.

Python

Python is an open-source programming language that was conceived in the late 1980s by Guido van Rossum and introduced in 1991. Python is supported by a growing and varied user community and provides easy readability, clean syntax, dynamic typing, and an extensive collection of standard and third-party libraries.

related feature

A feature in one table that has been associated with a feature in a different table using a key.

related table

A table that has a relationship to another table. The relationship, created using ArcGIS Desktop, is made possible by a key that is common to both tables. A related table can be either a spatial table or a nonspatial table.

renderer

An object that determines how features in a layer or graphics in an overlay should be drawn (rendered) on the display. The renderer then draws them using symbols.

Runtime components

In ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Java, Qt, and .NET (Desktop), a collection of files containing various parts of ArcGIS Runtime functionality, installed and used on your development machine and deployed with the apps that you create. The full collection, which is installed to your development machine when you install an ArcGIS Runtime SDK, includes the required Runtime core components and optional components such as those for Local Server and advanced symbology. When you prepare an app for deployment, the Deployment Builder tool helps ensure you deploy only the parts of the collection that are required by the app you build.

SDE connection file

These are files that store database connection information. A connection to an SDE database can be saved to a .sde file and reused in ArcGIS to re-establish connectivity to an SDE database.

service feature table

A feature table created from a URL to an ArcGIS Feature service's layer or table. The service feature table has different request modes that affect how data is populated, queried, and cached on the client.

spatial reference

A coordinate-based local, regional, or global system used to precisely locate geographical entities. It defines the coordinate system used to relate map coordinates to locations in the real world. Spatial references ensure that spatial data from different layers or sources can be integrated for accurate viewing or analysis. To define a spatial reference, use either a well-known ID (WKID), which is also known as a spatial reference ID or SRID, or a full text definition (referred to as well-known text, WKT).

spatial table

A table with geometry information; its features can be displayed on a map.

StreetMap Premium

StreetMap Premium for ArcGIS Runtime provides enriched street data, which powers a high-quality cartographic maps and high-quality search, geocoding, and route analysis. StreetMap Premium delivers this data as a mobile map package (an .mmpk file) for apps to access and use locally on the mobile device. EpochField Mobile can be configured to download, consume, and use these StreetMap Premium Mobile Map Packages. For more information, please see Add StreetMap Premium data | ArcGIS Maps SDK for .NET | Esri Developer

sublayer

One of several layers that are part of a group layer. For example, a map service layer is a type of group layer that can contain one or more sub image layers.

symbol

A symbol defines all the nongeographic aspects of a graphic or feature's appearance, including color, size, border, and transparency. You can use symbols to create a renderer for graphics overlays or feature layers. You can also apply a symbol directly to individual graphics when you create them. For more information on using symbols in ArcGIS Runtime,

Sync

The term Sync is used for referring to the synchronization of work management and map markup data between the EpochField Mobile device and the centralized backend Feature Services it is configured with, when the device is connected to a network. For more information about using Sync-enabled Feature Services, please refer to this ArcGIS Rest API topic.

Vector tile package

A tiled layer that's been bundled into a single .vtpk/.vpkx file. The file contains a vector-based tile cache of the data and metadata about the layer, packaged into a single, portable file. You can add a tile package to an ArcGIS Runtime app using the local tiled layer class, allowing you to share tile layers via regular file sharing methods (email, FTP, and so on) and through ArcGIS Online. Tile packages are ideal in disconnected environments where access to local data is required, and are ideal for displaying basemaps.

tiled layer

A layer displayed by assembling tiles (rectangular sections) into a continuous layer. The tiles are either raster image tiles or vector tiles; they're generated into a tile cache before they're available for use. (Compare this to a dynamic layer, which renders itself on the fly.) Tiled layers are often used for basemaps. You may see the term tiled layer used to refer specifically to the raster tiled layer type because vector tiled layers are newer than raster tile layers. Also see vector tiled layer.

Token

An ArcGIS token is a string of encrypted information that contains the user's name, the token expiration time, and some proprietary information. To obtain a token, a user provides a valid user name and password. When ArcGIS Server services are secured using ArcGIS token-based authentication, every request to a resource must be accompanied by a valid token. Tokens can be acquired using the tokens endpoint (using steps below) or through an HTTP POST request using the ArcGIS REST API.

trace

An action that analyzes the paths in a gas, electric or water network and returns selected features based on connectivity or traversability from the specified starting points. For example, a trace can show every asset that is connected to a source or find all features upstream or downstream from a selected point.

transformation

The task of moving your data between different geographic coordinate systems. You may, for example, have some data in WGS84 that was collected from a GPS reading. However, your map may be in a different spatial reference, such as British National Grid, which is based on a different geographic coordinate system, OSGB 1936. To convert the data from WGS84 to British National Grid, you need to apply a transformation as well as a projection. Many transformations are available, depending on the geographic area your data comes from. In this SDK, transformations are performed using equation-based transformation methods or grid-based transformation methods.

XML

XML stands for eXtensible Markup Language. XML is a software- and hardware-independent tool for storing and transporting data.

Zone Manager

EpochField Zone Manager is an application used to create zones from geometric networks. This is the tool used in data prep that prepares and creates the zone data to be used in EpochField Mobile's Trace Tool.