Wildland Mobile Technologies Working Group and Geospatial Subcommittee

Briefing Paper: Avenza Pro Maps and ESRI Collector

Overview: Mobile mapping applications are increasingly a key tool used within wildland fire and
aviation management operations. Two primary applications are ESRIs Collector application and Avenza
Maps Pro. This document will provide a brief overview of the applications and advantages and
disadvantages of each specific to wildland fire incident use.

Avenza Maps Pro: is the updated version of the PDF Maps offered by Avenza Systems, Inc.
Avenza Maps Pro allows for increased functionality of shapefile import/export and can be used
without cell service. Most Federal agencies have an enterprise license agreement with Avenza
that includes the use of the Avenza Maps Pro app.
o Website: https://www.avenzamaps.com/commercial-usage/subscription.html
o Agency Contacts: https://sites.google.com/a/firenet.gov/fs-contacts-avenza-expiring-
license/

Collector: Collector for ArcGIS works with ArcGIS Online (AGOL) and extends visualization and
data collection to the field on mobile devices. ArcGIS Online (AGOL) is an online, collaborative
web GIS that allows users to create and share maps, collect data, and use without cell service.
The National Interagency Fire Center has an Interagency AGOL Organization established to be
used for all fire incidents. Additionally, each federal agency has their separate agency AGOL
Organization.
o Website: http://www.esri.com/products/collector-for-arcgis
o NIFC AGOL: http://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

Bottom-line: ESRIs Collector application is the best tool for incident field data collection and
has more comprehensive map functionality if the local area/fire incident has created web maps
specifically for Collector. Avenza Maps Pro is the best tool for map viewing simple and custom
maps.

Avenza Maps Pro Collector

Cost Free Free
Most Federal/State Agencies have an Most Federal/State Agencies have an
enterprise license agreement for Avenza enterprise license agreement with ESRI
Maps Pro
Maps Available for purchase thru Avenza Store Created by local GIS specialists,
or custom geopdfs agency/incident specific maps and available
thru the agency AGOL site
Share options Email, cloud storage (drive/dropbox) as Email, cloud storage & sync as .csv, kml .shp
.kml, .csv, .shp
Multiple map No Yes
layers The ability to incorporate aerial imagery,
topo, and travel maps in the same basemap
is a game changer.
Navigation Yes No
Basemaps loaded into Collector (as tile
packages) provide a superior reference for
field navigation, can be paired with
Navigator
 Wildland Mobile Technologies Working Group and Geospatial Subcommittee
Briefing Paper: Avenza Pro Maps and ESRI Collector

Creating/Config Simple attribute collection forms Simple to complex attribute collection

uring for field
data collection
Editing data Points Points, lines, polygons
collected Avenza Pro cannot alter lines or handle
polygons currently
Field data Online or Offline, single user Online or Offline, multiple users
collection and Avenza maps must be configured on each The same Collector map can be used by
sync device and may be updated once a day multiple field users
and pulling in edits is more difficult. Incident data in Collector is a two way sync -
users are submitting collected data and
receiving updates from others in the field at
the same time. This could happen many
times during the day (if not in real time) so
there is a big increase in situational
awareness.
Field data Email/cloud storage Sync / email / cloud storage
transfer Retrieving data from an Avenza map has
multiple steps and is dependent on email
or the like for transfer. This can lead to a
delay in the incorporation of the data into
the current incident data.
Zoom Fixed page Scale levels
Avenza only zooms in on a fixed page. There is a true zoom, with various scale
levels, is available in Collector.