Survey123

Introduction:

Survey123 is a powerful platform designed by ESRI from which one can create and share surveys to be completed on mobile and desktop web platforms, analyze collected data, and download data atatched to spatial information for mapping and presentation. This post goes over how to specifically use the software to do those things, using an arcgis.com tutorial to go about showing all of the substantial features (https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/get-started-with-survey123/lessons/create-a-survey.htm).

Methods:

To begin a survey, log into an ESRI account on survey123.arcgis.com. From here, click create a new survey, then web designer. On the resulting screen options for questions can be viewed on the right-hand side of the screen. You can choose options that will give you questions with a small or large box for typing, multiple choice, single choice, time, date, geopoint, email, and more. For the survey created we used many different kinds of questions. To customize the question and its options simply click on the question and fill in the parameters on the right side of the screen. One key feature to use is dependent questions. These questions only pop up when a certain selection has been made on a previous question. The example that is provided below (Figure 1) is when "Single family (house)" is selected from a single answer question, the question "How many levels does your home have?" pops up beneath it. These are created by clicking the "Set Rule" button in the bottom right of a questions after it is selected.

Figure 1

After all question and parameters are set the survey can be published. After publishing however, the survey cannot be edited again (Figure 2). Now the survey can be shared and taken. A link can be shared by clicking on the share button (circled in Figure 3), copying the URL, then spreading the link to those who you'd like to take it, or it can be opened to completion by everyone by editing settings in the collaborate tab.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Finally, after data is collected (via url or Survey123 app), data can be analyzed and mapped. The data can be viewed in a multitude of figures in the analysis tab of the specific survey's page (tab seen in top bar in Figure 3). To map this data, ArcGIS Map Viewer can be used to make a map (link seen in bottom left corner of Figure 3). From here a map can be created zoomed in on the data points. Clicking on the "surveypoint" layer, then more options, then zoom to, we are zoomed into the neighborhood where the mock neighborhood association surveys were taken. Clicking on the same more options button, the rename button can be clicked to give the information a more descriptive name. Next, under the more options button, the pop-ups button can be clicked in order to configure pop ups for the user of the map to view. The parameter, "A custom attribute display," can then be chosen and a custom list of attribute configured to give the user of the map only pertinent information. This map can then be saved, giving the map a title and other attributes of information. Lastly, a web app can be made by clicking "share", then "Create a web map".

Results:

The map created from the survey can be viewed at arcg.is/1Lqm8j, and a screenshot is shown below in Figure 4. This map shows the data points collected in the Eau Claire student housing area. Clicking on these points, data collected for the location can be viewed. 

Figure 4

Conclusion:

ESRI Survey123 is a great tool to use if information needs to be collected from a known group or groups of people. The real power of the tool come with the mobile app which was created for it, from which one can download the needed survey, then can stay in a stationary place collecting data from passers by, or go door to door having people take the survey. This would be great for recruitment, homeowners association (like in this specific tutorial/example, or other organizations collecting data, especially when one needs to collect and display spatial information with a web map or other type of map.

Sources:

https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/get-started-with-survey123/