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Getting Started with:

ArcGIS Survey123

Contents 

Overview ..............................................................................................................................................................2

Install the Application...........................................................................................................................................2

Mobile Device (Android or iOS)....................................................................................................................2

Desktop (PC)...................................................................................................................................................3

Sign in to ArcGIS Enterprise (APHIS GIS Portal) (All devices).........................................................................4

Download Survey (All devices)...........................................................................................................................8

Delete Survey (if desired)....................................................................................................................................9

Complete a Survey (All devices).........................................................................................................................9

The Data Form.................................................................................................................................................9

Send or Save Completed Surveys...................................................................................................................12

Outbox............................................................................................................................................................13

Sent................................................................................................................................................................14

Getting Help .......................................................................................................................................................14

APHIS PPQ...................................................................................................................................................14

Cooperators & Other Nonfederal Users.......................................................................................................14

Disclaimer: Training techniques or workflows held within are designed as basic job aids. Mobile collection tools and technology used 

are constantly being improved upon. End users should consult with management for current workflows and standards.
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Overview

ArcGIS Survey123 is a form centric mobile data collection application available on desktop PC or mobile 

device using Windows, iOS, and Android systems. PPQ’s End User Tools group hosts surveys for use in 

the Survey123 application on the ArcGIS Enterprise (Portal) platform. 

Install the Application

All PPQ survey iPads have survey applications, including ArcGIS Field Maps, automatically installed. 

If you are using a PPQ iPad and do not see ArcGIS Field Maps icon on your screen, please contact 

CEC IT right away to correct your configuration. You likely need to be added to the PPQ Only security 

group.

**If you already have the ArcGIS Survey123 application, skip to Sign In to ArcGIS Enterprise**

Mobile Device (Android or iOS)

Be Prepared

You will need to confirm the following in place:

1. A phone or tablet that runs Android or iOS (Apple)

2. A reliable Wi-Fi connection

3. eAuthentication ID/Password

4. APHIS GIS Enterprise (Portal) account

App Store

ArcGIS Survey123 is available through the App Store for both Android and iOS devices for free. Search by 

name (ArcGIS Survey123) and select install or get.

If you still need help, open a ticket with CEC IT. CECHelpDesk@usda.gov or 877-873-0783
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Desktop (PC) 

Be Prepared

You will need to confirm the following in place:

1. A laptop or PC 

2. A reliable Wi-Fi connection

3. eAuthentication ID/Password

4. APHIS GIS Enterprise (Portal) account

For Desktop installation, go to this URL: 

https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-survey123/downloads

https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-survey123/downloads

Scroll down a little and locate the heading “ArcGIS 

Survey123 field app” in the middle column of options.

Select the link to download/install the appropriate version 

for your Operating System. 

For APHIS users, this is normally “Windows x64”. (Figure 

1)

The file should only take 1-2 minutes to download. Once the 

download is complete, click on the carrot (See Figure 2) and 

choose “Open”.

Select “Next” and “I accept the license.” and “Next” as the 

install wizard prompts you. Finally, select “Finish” to complete 

the install.

Figure 1. ArcGIS Survey123 Desktop Download

Figure 2. Open download
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Sign in to ArcGIS Enterprise (APHIS GIS Portal) (All devices)

Once the application is installed, locate the Survey123 App icon and tap to open it.

(Figure 3)

**You will need to sign into ArcGIS Enterprise (APHIS GIS Portal) to find surveys shared with your APHIS 

GIS Portal user account. See details below.

Once opened, Survey123 presents a landing screen with the sign-in options of either Sign in with 

ArcGIS Online or Sign in with ArcGIS Enterprise.

On first opening the application, you will have to add the ArcGIS Enterprise Portal. Once 

established, your device saves this as a sign in option.

Official Data Collection

USDA-MRP GIS Portal URL: https://maps.mrp.usda.gov/arcgis

Training Maps and Practice

USDA-MRP GIS Stage portal: https://maps-stg.mrp.usda.gov/arcgis

To add a new connection:

Choose the option “Manage ArcGIS Connections” (Figure 4) and then + Add connection

(Figure 5) located in the bottom left.

Manually type in the URL for the APHIS ArcGIS 

Enterprise Portal. (Figure 6)

And select “Add”.

It may take a moment or two for the connection 

to be established.

Figure 3. ArcGIS Survey123 icon

Figure 4. Manage ArcGIS connections

Figure 5. Add connection

Figure 6. Type in URL
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**If you have done this previously, tapping Settings (gear in the top right corner) will show you a 

list of ArcGIS connections. Be sure the above URL is selected.

Once the ArcGIS Enterprise (Portal) URL is listed, 

tap back in the upper left and tap the blue “eAuth

Account” button. (Figure 7)

Select MobileLinc. (Figure 8)

Enter your User ID (eAuthentication user name) using the keyboard. Tap Log In with MobileLinc. (Figure 

9)

Figure 7. APHIS Enterprise login option

Figure 8. eAuthentication options Figure 9. MobileLinc User ID & Log In
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Entrust Application Security Challenge

A “New Security Challenge” message should drop down along 

the top of the screen. Tap this message to open Entrust. 

(Figure 10)

If you lose track of the message, tap Home button, locate and 

open the Entrust application. You may need to tap to open the 

Challenges menu along the bottom of the Entrust application 

screen. 

Enter your PIN. (Figure 11) 

Tap Confirm (Figure 12) and Yes to allow this action (Figure 13).

Figure 10. New Security Challenge

Figure 11.Entrust PIN

Figure 12. Confirm Authentication

Figure 13."Yes" to proceed
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Return to ArcGIS Field Maps. If shown, tap Accept at the U.S. Government information warning message. 

(Figure 14)

Locate your map or survey and begin field data collection!

Figure 14. US Government warning
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Download Survey (All devices)

To locate and download surveys. You can find the options to “Download Surveys” either by tapping the 

profile icon in the top right corner or the button offering the same along the bottom middle of the screen. 

(Figure 15) Either option is acceptable.

All surveys shared with you will be listed for download. Choose the cloud icon to the right of the title and 

the survey download will start. (Figure 16)

Once downloaded, click the back button (See red box in the upper left corner

in Figure 16) to return to your list of “My Surveys”.

Open the survey by clicking on its icon. (Figure 17)

Follow steps to complete a survey as described in the Complete a Survey section of this document. 

Figure 15. Download Surveys options

Figure 16. Download - Cloud icon

Figure 17.Survey icon
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Delete Survey (if desired)

You may need to free memory on your device or simply clean out old unused surveys. These can be 

deleted easily.

Tap the survey icon to open it and then the menu at the top right. 

(Figure 18)

Then select “Delete Survey”. You will be asked to confirm your choice and 

the survey is deleted. (Figure 19)

Complete a Survey (All devices)

Follow directions previously outlined under the Install the Application section to install Survey123 and 

Download Survey (All devices) to download your survey. 

Be Prepared

You will need the following:

1. Device – mobile or desktop

2. Fully charged battery or possibly access to a power supply

3. Wi-Fi OFF (for mobile devices) / Wi-Fi ON (if desktop)

4. GPS enabled (iPad HINT: Settings app > Privacy > Location Services ON)

The Data Form

Open the survey. 

To begin a survey, tap or select anywhere on the “Collect” bar. If there are surveys assigned to you, you 

will locate these in the Inbox. (Figure 20)

Figure 19. Delete Survey

Figure 20. Collect and Inbox bars

Figure 18. Menu icon
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Map 

IMPORTANT! Survey123 has a geospatial (mapping) component that requires your confirmation. This 

map may or may not be enabled in your data form.

The map shows your GPS location 

(found by your device’s internal 

GPS receiver).

Tap or click on the map to review 

this location. Be sure this is correct.

(Figure 21)

If the location does not look correct, update it by either selecting the point on the map OR typing location 

information into the search bar. Once the location appears correct to you, select the check mark in the 

lower right corner to confirm and return to the survey form. (Figure 22)

Figure 21.Sample survey data form with map question

Figure 22.Sample map view after selecting from the data form 
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Required Fields

All Fields followed by a red asterisk * indicate required fields. These 

must be completed in order to submit the survey. (Figure 23)

Be sure that you understand the input required by reading the “hints”. 

For instance, Street Address should be entered as the “Street 

address, not a P.O. Box”. (Figure 23)

Repeated Related Tables

Some surveys are created with related tables which allow the user to repeat a group of questions as many 

times as needed. For instance, in one location, one or many samples may be collected. First questions on 

the location itself appear. Next a table, or group of questions, on the sample appears. If another sample is 

collected, the user has the option to add information on another sample. 

Usually a hint such as: “Use the + below to add another sample...” is included to help the user along.

The bar at the end of the table group of questions provides the option to delete, toggle through to review 

multiple entries, add another entry, or complete the survey. (Figure 24)

Once finished with all entries, select the check mark in the lower right corner to complete your survey and 

proceed to the Send or Save Completed Surveys section on next page. (Figure 24)

Figure 24.Sample repeating relating table options

Figure 23.Example required field and hint.
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Send or Save Completed Surveys

If you have completed data form and all applicable tables, select the check mark at the bottom right. 

(Figure 25)

The “Survey Completed” box that appears next offers a few options (Figure 26): 

• Send now – If Wi-Fi is connected, choose “Send Now”. 

• Continue this survey – If the check mark was pressed in error or you realize there is something 

more to add to the survey, choose this option to return to the survey.

• Save this survey in the Outbox – If not connected to Wi-Fi, choose this option and refer to the 

section to follow on the Outbox. This saves the survey to your device until Wi-Fi connection is

obtained and you are ready to submit the survey to the online database.

Figure 25. Survey complete checkmark

Figure 26. Survey Completed options
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Outbox

If you collected data while offline or disconnected from Wi-Fi, your surveys were saved to the Outbox (on 

your device waiting for upload). 

When surveys are being held in the Outbox, it appears just beneath the Collect bar with a number 

indicating how many surveys are waiting to be submitted. (Figure 27)

Once returned to a strong Wi-Fi connection, tap the Outbox bar. All collected surveys will be listed and the 

option to “Send” is located at the bottom right corner. (red box in Figure 28)

In the List view, each survey can be reviewed and edited by selection, if desired. To edit a survey, select it 

and choose “Yes” when asked if you want to “edit this survey”. 

You can also choose to view all your surveys in a map view by tapping “Map” along the bottom.

When ready, select “Send” (red box in Figure 28) to submit all surveys waiting in the Outbox to the cloud.

Figure 27. Outbox bar

Figure 28. Outbox with surveys saved to send
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Sent 

Once the survey is sent, you are presented with the option to start another survey (Collect) or review your 

sent surveys (Sent). (Figure 29)

Selecting the “Sent” bar presents options to view your sent surveys in a list, on a map, or to delete the 

contents of this folder altogether. The list or map view allow the user to select individual surveys, perform 

edits, and resend, if desired. (Figure 30)

Edits may be restricted to the main data form. Repeated related table edits must be edited from the 

desktop using a web app.

Getting Help

APHIS PPQ

Be as specific as possible. Include screenshots, error messaging, any troubleshooting you have 

performed, and indicate the type of device (i.e. iPad, laptop, phone, etc.).

For APHIS PPQ users, if you are having issues with the iPad, laptop, Wi-Fi settings, or issues 

dealing with installing software, open a ticket with CEC IT. CECHelpDesk@usda.gov or 877-873-

0783

If you need technical support or help using the ESRI Survey123 application, follow this 

hierarchy:

1. Your supervisor

2. Local GIS Specialist that supports your area

3. Email WebGIS.Connect@usda.gov

Cooperators & Other Nonfederal Users

Contact your State Plant Health Director’s office for assistance.

Figure 29. Collect or Sent menu bars

Figure 30.Sent folder options