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Survey123 System Architecture

High-level components that support ArcGIS Survey123.

ArcGIS Survey123 is a data collection app builder built on ArcGIS. It provides a secure and extensible architecture for creating, deploying, and managing surveys across web and mobile environments. This topic provides an overview of the components that make up Survey123.

Core components

There are four core components that make up Survey123:

Authoring tools

Survey authoring tools are used to create and manage surveys. They are used to create the survey questions, logic, and other survey properties. They are also used to publish the surveys to the data collection applications.

There are two survey authoring tools:

Survey collection applications

Data collection applications are used to collect data from the surveys. They are used to collect the survey responses and store them in the ArcGIS feature service.

There are two data collection applications:

  • Survey123 Field App: Mobile application supporting offline data collection, GPS capture, photo attachments, and barcode scanning. Learn more about about Survey123 Field App in Extend and integrate Survey123 Field App.
  • Survey123 Web App: Browser-accessible survey interface optimized for desktop and tablet use. Learn more about about Survey123 Web App in Survey123 Web App.

Management and analysis tools

Management and analysis tools are used to manage and analyze the surveys. They are used to view the survey responses, analyze the survey data, and create reports.

There are three management and analysis tools:

  • Survey123 website: Central hub for survey management, data analysis, and report generation. Learn more about about Survey123 website in Analyze survey results.
  • ArcGIS Online : Cloud-based platform for hosting survey data and analyzing survey results.
  • ArcGIS Enterprise : On-premises platform for hosting survey data and analyzing survey results.

Integration and automation

As a developer, you can extend Survey123 functionality by integrating survey data with your existing systems and implementing automated workflows. This section covers comprehensive integration strategies, automation best practices, and implementation guidance for building robust, scalable solutions.

Survey123 supports multiple integration patterns to connect with your existing infrastructure:

Integration typeDescriptionKey componentsUse cases
Feature service integrationConnect surveys to existing feature services and databasesSurvey123 Connect, Feature Services, Enterprise Databases, SQL Server, PostgreSQLLegacy system integration, data consolidation
API-based integrationProgrammatic access to survey data and management functionsREST API, JavaScript API, OAuth 2.0, API KeysCustom applications, third-party systems
Webhook automationReal-time event-driven workflows triggered by survey submissionsWebhooks, ArcGIS Workflow Manager, Workforce, Custom endpointsNotification systems, approval workflows
Custom applicationsEmbed surveys in web applications with custom styling and logicJavaScript API, REST API, Custom Web Apps, React/Vue componentsBranded experiences, complex UI requirements
Python automationServer-side automation for data processing and reportingArcGIS API for Python, Python Scripts, Jupyter NotebooksData analysis, batch processing, reporting
Real-time dashboardsLive data visualization and monitoring systemsWebhooks, Real-time Dashboards, External Systems, BI toolsOperations monitoring, KPI tracking
Mobile SDK integrationNative mobile app integration with survey functionalityNative SDKs, Custom mobile appsOffline-first applications, specialized workflows
Cloud platform integrationIntegration with cloud services and platformsAWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Serverless functionsScalable processing, cloud-native architectures

Tutorials

Learn how to create surveys and analyze results using the following tutorials.

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