SWMBO has asked me to ask y'all how you keep track of your project locations??ÿ We have been using google earth but it's getting very cumbersome and awkward to input that many jobs!
I am sure that this has been discussed ad nauseum, but for the life of me I couldn't find any threads. Of course the subject name could have been just about anything.?ÿ?ÿ
The old method of plotting them on the assessors maps won't work for me, we need a digital, simple way, and one that doesn't cost $500/year!?ÿ ?ÿAre there any inexpensive options?
Thanks,
Don
No!
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We developed a plan using Open source GIS software and out Accounting/Bookkeeping software.?ÿ
Quick books lets you define user-defined fields for the customers. so we made fields for X and Y on our state plane system. Every time a job went into Quick books we keyed in state plane coordinates for the center of the job.?ÿ
We could then write this out as needed to a comma delimited file containing X, Y , Job number and type of job. We then imported this file into a GIS file with a base map of our state. Open the GIS file, zoom in to the proposed job and see if there is anything in the area.
Worked well .?ÿ
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You could probably do the same thing using a online tool like ArcGIS Earth.?ÿ
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How are you inputting them into google earth??ÿ I used an online geocoder to batch process a spreadsheet with years of data.?ÿ?ÿ
The office person is sticking pins in?ÿ Google Earth....
Spread sheet accounting program: Job#; Account #; Client name; Project Location by State, County, TRS/Subdivision-Block-Lot. Each is cross referenced to the other.?ÿ
As long as I know one of them I can track down the jobs attached to them. Do some other things but the Google tracking didn't work well at all. Nor did the TGO file.?ÿ
If I were to start over, I would use the Tax Accessory's Property ID # as a filename.
I use Global Mapper:
https://www.bluemarblegeo.com/products/global-mapper.php
I've recently been informed that QGIS has become much more user friendly than it was a decade ago, so that might also be an option:
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The only problem with either of those is getting used to the new software and how it operates.?ÿ If you go with something along those lines, there is vast amount of data that can be added in to aid (imagery, road layers, etc...).
Jon P... wasn't there a plug in for QGIS for geocoding inside the software???ÿ
Google up "OpenStreetMap". It's open source and with a little creative license I'm betting it could be made to work. Check out the "user's diaries" for ideas. It's a pretty cool platform in any case.?ÿ
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QGIS would be a thing to look into.
Yep.
or get a personal esri license which has lots of fun tools for 100.00 per year.?ÿ its full blown version, just can't use it for commercial business.
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I haven't tried out this software but found it in a search for a geocoder and it looks interesting.?ÿ?ÿ I'll follow up with a post if/when I use it.?ÿ
I use Mango Map
The initial process is a bit tedious as I first had to send the spreadsheet through Google Earth to convert the address to Lat/Long.?ÿ ?ÿ
My field crews can access it with their smart phones.
