Orbitas Field is powerful data collection software for the Utility asset management industry.
Our custom Collection Form allows you to collection GPS accurate locations and freely edit the content being collected.
Locations can be classified in two different form factors. The first being what we would call a "dynamic" location and the second being a "static" location.
Dynamic location types will send you to a series of forms to further define your collected location after saving, while a static location type will send you back to main map screen after saving your current location.
To collect a basic Location within Orbitas first open a job and make sure you are connected to your Asteri GNSS receiver or other supported GPS solution. Or using ILS.
You can refer back to the Connecting an Asteri guide for help.
Once you have acquired an accurate position you can begin collecting data.
Click on the LOCATION icon in the bottom icon tray of Orbitas to start collection.
You are brought to the collection location form. Here you can see some basic information on the Location.
Name
Note
Current LAT/LON value
Parent (if applicable)
Location Type
Line Type
Photo (if applicable)
Basic GNSS Status
Click on the SAVE icon in the top right corner to save your Location and be brought back to the main map screen.
To EDIT a previously collected Location simply open the job in which the Location was collected. Within the main map screen click on the desired location to access the 'quick menu
Select EDIT from the menu options.
You are brought to Location collection form. From here you can make the following edits:
Name
Note
Change Parent
Change Location Type
Change Line Type
Add a photo
GPS move the Location
Once your Edits are made click the SAVE icon to lock in your edits and return to the map screen.
Click on the NAMING tag on the top line of the collection form.
You can add a Prefix, a Suffix, and change the number scheme.
Enter your Prefix and Suffix name as desired. Be mindful of special characters like @&*+/ and extra spaces after your naming convention as these may interfere with other programs database schemes upon export.
You can add a note to help further define your location, or make internal references that can help another field user.
Enter your notes as desired. Be mindful of special characters like @&*+/ and extra spaces after your note as these may interfere with other programs database schemes upon export.
Please read the standalone section on Understanding the Parenting System
A powerful feature of Orbitas is the ability to collect different location & line types within a job. Location & Line types are configuration based so your types may differ from what is shown in this example. You can have multiple location & line types within a configuration.
To change a location type simply click on the LOCATION TYPE icon while in the collection form and choose your location type.
The current location will become the selected type and will continue to be used as the location type on collected locations until it is manually changed again, using the steps listed above.
Another powerful feature of Orbitas is the ability to collect locations on multiple lines within the same job. An example of this would be collecting several locations on a Water line, then while in the same job switching to an Electric line and continuing to collect locations. This ability allows multiple lines of collected locations that may or may not be related to each other.
You can change the Line Type from the Line Types menu on the main map screen.
Click on the LINE TYPES icon in the top right corner of the Orbitas
Select your desired Line Type and be brought back to the main map screen.
You should notice your Line Type is now selected.
This Line Type is now considered the “default” line type for the current job.
Continue collecting locations as normal. Your Line Type for each collected location will represent the selected default line.
Different Line types are represented on the map with different color lines connecting the locations on that line.
*NOTE* You can change the Line Type from the collection menu while collecting a location. However, using this method will change the Line Type for that location ONLY.
The next location you collect will revert back to default line type.
Locations with different Line types will not parent by default.
You can add a photo while collecting the initial location simply by clicking on the PHOTO icon on the collection form.
The process the same for when you are editing a location.
GPS MOVE will re-locate the selected location to your current position.
To GPS move a location, click on the location from the main map and select EDIT.
Scroll to the bottom of the collection form and click on the GPS MOVE icon.
Please keep in mind this feature will instantly re-locate the Location and any units/spans and parenting to your current location.
*NOTE* Deleting a location will also remove the parenting. You may need to re-adjust your parenting sequence.
To delete a collected location, select which location to delete by clicking on it from the main map screen.
Select DELETE from the Quick Feature Menu, much like you would do with Editing a Location.
