An imagery project can be opened from the imagery projects list. By default, the project opens in the canvas view. The project capabilities determines the available tools. The sections below describe the various project items you'll encounter based on the type of project you're opening and its corresponding resources.
Images from an image service
All imagery projects have an image, a set of images, or imagery layer from which the imagery project was created. The image or images may be available in the supported image focus view based on the type of imagery. If an editable collection layer exists in the project, it will use the metadata from the defined image or images to automatically populate the required attribute fields to associate any collected observations with the current image.
Project instructions
All imagery projects are required to have project instructions, which are directions to help guide you through your image-based task. The project instructions are defined when the project is created and can be viewed at any time while a project is open. To view the project instructions, complete the following steps:
- In an imagery project, click the more button in the upper right corner of the imagery exploitation canvas.
- Under Project Tools, click Project Instructions.
The tools panel dynamically loads with the project instructions.
- Click the close button, or choose a different tool, to close the project instructions.
Web map with reference layers
Any imagery project can be created to optionally include an existing web map that can contain geospatial reference layers to help provide context for your imagery project.
When you open a project that contains a web map, the web map appears in the map focus panel with the project-specific imagery overlaid on top. If the web map contains reference layers, the layers are overlaid on top of the image in both the map focus panel and the image focus panel. These layers can be toggled on or off, or you can interact with them, to view additional information.
To toggle the reference layers on and off in each view from the Context Layers section in the layer list, complete the following steps:
- In an imagery project, click Layer List.
- In the Context Layers section, click the view button to toggle individual map reference layers on or off.
- Optionally click a feature from the web map in the map focus panel.
A window appears with details about the corresponding feature.
- Click the upper right corner to expand or close the window.
Editable collection layers
When you open an imagery project with observation layers, a time slider and set of observation tools are included as part of the imagery project. The time slider and observation tools are directly associated with the editable collection layers that were defined when the project was created. If your observation layer is not time-enabled, you can manage your system fields to add the capability.
Note:
The editable collection layer must contain the fields required to create observations.
Time slider
When an imagery project with observation layers is opened, a time slider is available through the Time Slider tab and is tied directly to any observation layers in your project. Each observation layer has a time element that can be utilized to filter the layer using the interactive Time Slider. The initial time extent of the slider has a start date that is set to the oldest dated observation within your observation layers and an end date that goes through the current time you opened the project plus an additional six hours. This will allow you to collect and view observations you make during your current project session.
Note:
If your imagery project contains observation layers with no features, the initial extent of the slider is automatically set to the time you open the project as the start date and adds an additional six hours as the end time. This is common when opening a new observation imagery project that contains new observation layers
Use time intervals or a continuous time line
The time slider will have two handles representing start and end times and by default, will be set to the full extent of the time slider. These handles can be easily adjusted along set intervals to filter your view based on your desired time extent. These set intervals can also be disabled allowing you to move the handles continuously along the time slider. You can also use the date and time inputs to set a custom range. Whether you use time intervals or a continuous time-line, you can easily adjust the time.
To adjust the time:
- Click to grab the start time handle and drag it along the time-line to the desired start time. Additionally, you can manually enter a start date and time using the Date and Time inputs.
- Click to grab the end time handle and drag it along the time-line to the desired end time. Additionally, you can manually enter an end date and time using the Date and Time inputs.
- Click and drag in the middle of the time slider to manually move the desired time extent.
- To automatically loop through your desired time extent, click:
Play to loop through the time-line. You can also click Pause to stop at a desired point in time.
The observation layer will dynamically update based on the defined start and end time.
- To manually step through your desired time extent, click:
Previous to step back to the previous time interval
Next to move forward to the next time interval
The observation layer will dynamically update based on the defined start and end time.
Show muted effect
There may be times when you want to view all features in your observation layer(s) at one time, but only keep visual focus on the ones within your desired time range. Enabling the Show Muted Effect will fade any features outside your defined time extent and highlight only those features within the defined range.
Disable time filter
If a time filter on your observation layers is not desired, you can easily disable this filter. This will result in viewing all features within your observation layers regardless if they include time information.
Feature Table
The feature table provides an interactive tabular view of any context or observation layers in your imagery project. You can use the table to select or de-select a row and view the corresponding features highlighted on your map.
To use the Feature Table, complete the following steps:
- In an imagery project, click the Resize Panel to expand the Feature Table.
The table expands and displays the attributes and details of the selected layer. The total feature count and total selected feature count also display above the table.
- Use the Display Layer drop-down menu to select the layer you want to view.
The table dynamically updates with your selected layer.
- Click on each column or the Options menu to sort the field in an ascending or descending order.
- You can also click and drag the column headers to reorder the columns to your preferred order.
- Use the checkbox to select your desired features.
The corresponding features will highlight on the map. The total selected features dynamically updates every time a feature is selected or unselected.
- Click Clear to deselect all features.
Note:
If you open the Batch Edit Observations tool or Copy Observations tool and select any observations, the Observations Selected count will also reflect any selected observations in the layer.
Collect Observations tool
In ArcGIS Excalibur, the Collect Observations tool is available when there is at least one observation layer in an imagery project. The Collect Observations tool allows you to choose from a palette of defined icons and interact with the images to collect and record features.
Note:
The symbology and style of the icons in the palette are defined in the hosted feature layer.
To access the Collect Observations tool, in an imagery project, click the Tools menu. The tools appear in their own section in the Project Tools menu. You can expand and collapse each layer to make your list more manageable. The Collect Observations tool allows you to batch collect observations of the same type before submitting them to be written to the underlying editable collection layer, saving time during the collection workflow.
To use the Collect Observations tool, complete the following steps:
- In the Tools menu, click the Collect Observations tool under the Project Tools menu.
A palette of icons appears in the Tools panel.
Note:
A single icon may appear if the underlying editable collection layer is symbolized and styled by a single value.
- Choose an icon from the palette and click the image.
The icon appears in the visible focused views. The Tools panel changes from a palette of icons to a form where you can enter information based on the defined attributes of the editable collection layer.
The Number Added total displays 1 as the first observation collected.
- Click the image again.
The Number Added total displays 2 as the second observation of the same type collected.
- Click the image until all observations of the same type have been collected.
- Enter information based on the defined attributes of the editable collection layer.
- Click Submit when all
information has been entered.
Note:
A separate entry for each collected observation is written to the editable collection layer containing the same attribute information. The only difference is the created_date, lasted_edited_date, Observation Collection Time (Local), Observation_LatLon, and ICS_XY (if applicable). These attributes represent the proper information at the moment each observation was made on the image.A notification appears in the lower right corner that verifies that the observations were written to the underlying feature layer.
- Click Cancel to remove the current observation before writing it to the underlying feature layer.
Note:
If you collect an observation with a GeoEnrichment definition, attributes from the polygon layer will automatically populate in the point observation layer.
Batch Edit Observations tool
The Batch Edit Observations tool is available when there is at least one observation layer in your imagery project. The Batch Edit Observations tool allows you to select and edit multiple observations at once.
To access the Batch Edit Observations tool, in an imagery project, click the Tools menu. The tools appear in their own section in the Project Tools menu. The Batch Edit Observations tool allows you batch edit observations before submitting them to be written to the underlying editable collection layer. This saves time during the editing workflow.
To use the Batch Edit Observations tool, complete the following steps:
- In the Tools menu, click the Batch Edit Observations tool under the Project Tools menu.
- Under Choose Observation Layer to Edit, use the drop-down menu choose the observation layer you want to edit. If only one observation layer is present in the current imagery project, the layer will be pre-selected.
- Click in the view to select observations in the layer or use the sketch tools to draw an area to select observations.
Your selected observations are highlighted on the map. The Observations Selected displays and dynamically updates the total observations selected.
- Click Edit Selected Observations.
You have the option to re-sketch your selection or clear your selection by clicking Clear Selection.
- Update any fields that need changes.
- Click Update to save your changes. Additionally, click Delete to remove the observations. Click Cancel to return to the batch edit options.
A notification appears confirming your update.
Copy Observations tool
The Copy Observations tool is available when there is at least one observation layer in your imagery project. The Copy Observations tool allows you to select and copy multiple existing observations as new observations.
To access the Copy Observations tool, in an imagery project, click the Tools menu. The tools appear in their own section in the Project Tools menu. The Copy Observations tool copies existing observations as new observations that are submitted to the underlying editable collection layer.
To use the Copy Observations tool, complete the following steps:
- In the Tools menu, click the Copy Observations tool under the Project Tools menu
- Under Choose Observation Layer to Edit, use the drop-down menu choose the observation layer you want to copy. If only one observation layer is present in the current imagery project, the layer will be pre-selected.
- Click in the view to select observations in the layer or use the sketch tools to draw an area to select observations.
Your selected observations are highlighted on the map. The Observations Selected displays and dynamically updates the total observations selected.
- Click Copy Observations. You have the option to re-sketch your selection or clear your selection by clicking Clear Selection.
The Observations Selected count updates. A notification appears confirming your successful copy.