Field Notes

In this episode we talk with Emily Cochran from the Georgia Historic Preservation division and Eric McRae from the University of Georgia to discuss how mobile GIS is used to conserve historic sites and structures in the state of Georgia. Check out the following resources to learn more about the information mentioned in this episode: Georgia Historic Preservation DivisionInstitute of GovernmentGNAHRGIS

Alexandre Chailloux is a senior research associate with Sightsavers, an international organization dedicated to treating and preventing eye diseases. In this episode we talk with Alex about how Sightsavers leverages Esri field apps to assist communities impacted by eye disease. Since this podcast was recorded, two countries have eliminated trachoma. The number of affected countries has fallen from 40 to 38. We hope this figure continues to decrease thanks to the ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease.

The City of Johns Creek, Georgia implements GIS into many of their workflows. In this episode, we sit down with Catherine Cronlund, a GIS Analyst for Johns Creek, to learn how her team uses their “Esri toolbox” to improve the city’s fire inspection program.

Ramblers Scotland's mission is for “everyone to enjoy the pleasure of walking”. To help achieve this mission, they have created a Scottish Paths map that helps citizens discover over 42,000 miles of trails across the country. On this episode, we sit down with the project manager for this initiative, Luke Phillips, to learn how his team of volunteers use field apps to map trails throughout Scotland.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Rob Ward, the Senior Data and GIS Officer for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation trust (ARC). We learn how his organization uses Esri Field Apps and citizen science to monitor and protect wildlife throughout the United Kingdom.

California produces half of the nation's fruits and vegetables, so agricultural protection is a key pillar for the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner's office. In this episode, we sit down with Anna Norton and Andre Napolitano, two Deputy Commissioners for Napa County, to learn how they use GIS to manage pests that threaten the country's produce. Listen to the episode as they share their story and top tips for improving your own GIS workflows.

Welcome to the Field Notes podcast, where we engage with customers and Esri staff to understand mobile GIS, share stories from the field, and explore all things Field Operations. On this season, we’re focusing on designing better field workflows—so get ready for exciting stories and top tips to help improve your own work.

The Fieldwork Handbook is a new book from Esri Press that includes tips, best practices, and activities for creating successful and productive field workflows. The author, Marika Vertzonis, is a long-time friend (and former guest) of the Field Notes podcast. In our latest field snack episode, we sit down with Marika once again to talk all about this new book which releases on March 5th, 2024. Additional resources The Fieldwork HandbookIntroducing the Fieldwork HandbookCensus, cola, and crocodiles, oh my!

Aryn Musgrave does just about everything related to GIS for the Desert Botanical Garden located in Phoenix, AZ. Maintaining land that contains over 4000 plant species is no small feat, especially since the garden doubles as a museum for researchers across the country. With ArcGIS paired with high-accuracy data collection, Aryn and her team maintain a variety of maps that include horticulture, irrigation, and other critical information related to the garden’s operations. Highlights of this episode include the following:

In this episode of Field Notes, we chat with Andrea Pecharich and Andrew Bartshire, who work with the Russian River Salmon and Steelhead Monitoring program. The data they collect with Esri Field Apps helps conservationists monitor fish populations, analyze patterns, and ultimately recover California's endangered fish species. Highlights from this episode include:

African People & Wildlife is an organization dedicated to creating a world where Africa’s people and wildlife coexist and thrive in vibrant, healthy landscapes. In this episode, we sit down with two folks who help achieve this vision in Tanzania. Elizabeth Naro and Ramadhani Omary use GIS in all aspects of their work—from managing business operations to monitoring rangelands and resources with local communities in the field. In this episode, learn how GIS helps them accomplish their goals.

Shane Bradt is an extension professor at the University of New Hampshire and a member of the team responsible for creating the bloomWatch app. The app allows community members to report cases of cyanobacteria, a form of algae that’s harmful to human health, in their local lakes. In this episode of Field Notes, we talk with Shane about the importance of monitoring cyanobacteria, considerations for designing the app, and where his team will take it next. For more information about Shane’s UC presentation, check out the Crowdsourcing Cyanobacteria with bloomWatch presentation slides.

Atlanta, Georgia is often called the city of trees, however increased development over the past several years has threatened the natural landscape the city is known for. Trees Atlanta is one organization working to restore the city's tree population by raising awareness and developing a variety of initiatives to plant trees across the city. One of these initiatives is the Front Yard Tree Program, which allows Atlanta residents to request that trees be planted right outside of their home. In this episode, we talk with Angela McTigue and James Moy, members of Trees Atlanta who use surveys and mobile maps to drive their conservation efforts.

Amber Kuehn is the director of the Sea Turtle Patrol on Hilton Head Island. During nesting season, her and her team of volunteers wake up before the sun to look for one thing: sea turtle nests. On this episode of Field Notes, learn how ArcGIS Field Maps and EOS receivers are used to map sea turtle nests, listen to first-hand accounts of sea turtle encounters, and understand the importance of protecting this endangered species.

Welcome to the Field Notes podcast, where we engage with customers and Esri staff to understand mobile GIS, share stories from the field, and explore all things Field Operations. On this season, we're focusing on how field apps are used across a variety of environmental efforts.

Another year flies by and with it another season of the Field Notes podcast. On this short, final episode, Josh and D’Maia reflect on the past year of podcasting about Esri Field Apps and mobile GIS. We hope you have a happy holiday season and a fantastic new year! We have so many exciting things in store for season three of Field Notes, and can’t wait to see you then. In the meantime, be sure to fill out the feedback survey so we create the content you want to listen to.

Kenny Ratliff is the GIS Manager at the Oldham County Water District, where they manage 370 miles of water main and treat 1.2 billion gallons of water annually. On this episode of Field Notes, Kenny discusses how Esri Field Apps and EOS Positioning Systems helped transform their mobile operations from paper mapping to robust, high-accuracy data management. Check out the full episode announcement blog post. Oldham County Water District would like to dedicate this episode to Board Commissioner Mel Milburn. A Surveyor and Professional Engineer, he was a strong advocate for GIS use by the utility. His unexpected passing just prior to this release is a loss for the organization. Additional resources EOS Positioning SystemsPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionUse a high-accuracy receiverPrepare for high-accuracy data collection

On this episode, we’re joined by Dan Colbert and Jeff Ryan from Trimble. They talk about the value of high-accuracy data collection and share best practices for using GNSS receivers—covering everything from preparing a data collection project to practical tips while working with receivers in the field. Timestamps Additional resources Trimble PositioningTrimble CatalystPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionUse a high-accuracy receiverPrepare for high-accuracy data collection

High-accuracy data collection is often a requirement when adding and inspecting assets on a map. While your phone can provide a location accuracy of a few meters, high-accuracy GNSS receivers can ensure submeter, or even centimeter level accuracy when collecting data. On this Field Snack, we break down the basics of high-accuracy data collection—covering basic definitions and terminology, the ArcGIS data model for GPS metadata, and how GNSS receivers can be paired with Esri field apps. Additional resources To the Sea, SafelyPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionPrepare for high-accuracy data collectionUse a high-accuracy receiverPrepare for high-accuracy data collection

David Webb is a GIS Solutions Developer for the engineering firm, Meshek & Associates. We first met David at the User Conference, where he stopped by our booth every day to discuss the latest features and capabilities of Esri Field Apps. In David’s role, he is tasked with developing mobile solutions for clients that help integrate modern GIS capabilities into their city workflows. It was a pleasure to sit down with him and talk about his experiences and passion for GIS. Check out the announcement blog post: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/field-notes/from-the-ground-level-streamlining-city-workflows-with-field-apps/