Tasks you can perform with ArcMap GPS Support

You can perform the following tasks with ArcMap GPS Support.


Show the location on the screen

You can connect a GPS receiver to a communication port on a computer running ArcMap and see the current location on the map display (see Connecting to a GPS device). You can also open the GPS Position window, which shows updated information in real time.


Digitize features

By setting up a log file, you can create a new feature class in which to store GPS locations. Once the log is defined, you can use the Stamp Current Position to Log button on the GPS toolbar to record individual points. If you'd rather automatically record locations to the log, set up the filter options on the Log Setup dialog box and click the Start Streaming to Log button on the GPS toolbar.


Snap positions to features

Consider the following scenario:


You want to have the current location snapped to the features in a feature class. In this example, you are streaming features to a log file as you drive down a road, and you want the locations to coincide with the street centerlines. You set up the connection and position display information. You then use the Snapping tab of the Display Options dialog box to choose the Roads layer (which contains street centerlines) from a list of features on a map. Next, you specify a snapping tolerance. All positions within the specified tolerance will now be snapped to the features in the Roads layer. Learn more about snapping to existing features


Replay collected information later

You can use the Simulate a GPS connection option to review data that was collected earlier and saved to a log. First, set up the simulation by choosing the log you want and set a display interval. Then open the connection to display the locations from the log on the map. You can use any point or line feature class for the simulation data.