Cross-platform Mapping Systems

Connecting spatial editing workflows across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.
Role

Product Designer

Scope

Workflow research • Smart Forms • Editing Systems

Collaboration

Core Editing • Framework • Field Maps Web & Mobile

Timeline

2025-Present

Focus

Cross-platform editing systems

Organizations using ArcGIS manage and edit shared spatial data across desktop, web, and mobile applications. As workflows expanded across platforms and teams, editing experiences became increasingly fragmented across the ecosystem.

This project explored how shared editing workflows and configurations could become more connected through Feature Services and cross-platform editing systems.

My Role

Bringing system through design

I worked across desktop, web, mobile, and framework teams to help connect editing workflows across the ArcGIS ecosystem.

This included:

  • leading workflow research

  • mapping platform relationships

  • identifying ecosystem gaps

  • defining cross-platform behaviors

  • designing desktop integration patterns for ArcGIS Pro

The Problem

Shared data did not create shared experiences

Organizations manage and edit shared spatial data across multiple applications and teams.
As editing workflows expanded across desktop, web, and mobile environments, experiences became increasingly fragmented across the ecosystem.

Cross-Platform Workflow Research

Understanding the workflow across platforms

Editing workflows span multiple platforms and are powered by Feature Services.
The research focused on understanding how users move across systems — not how individual applications work in isolation.

Key Insight

Users think in workflows, not products.

Shared data created technical connectivity, but not workflow continuity across platforms.

Mapping the System

Visualizing relationships across platforms

I mapped how editing workflows, configuration layers, and shared services connected across the ArcGIS ecosystem.

Identifying the Gap

A missing cross-platform experience

One major gap emerged during the research:

Smart Forms configured in web and mobile workflows were not fully supported in the desktop editing experience.

This created inconsistencies in:

  • data entry

  • editing behavior

  • validation logic

  • workflow continuity

Designing the Cross-Platform System

Building a shared editing experience

To bring the experience across platforms together, I structured the work into three system layers:

Tier 1 Cross-System Semantics

Understanding the meaning behind forms across platforms.

  • Audited Smart Forms behaviors across web, mobile, and desktop

  • Mapped mismatches in structure, terminology, and data relationships

  • Defined shared concepts across systems

Tier 2 Behavior Logic

Defining what should happen and when.

  • Defined validation behaviors

  • Mapped conditional visibility logic

  • Aligned editing behaviors with desktop workflows

Tier 3 Interface System

Showing the experience in the right place and the right way.

  • Designed native Pro form components

  • Integrated forms into editing workflows and attribute panes

  • Collaborated with Framework and Editing teams on implementation

Before: Data-grid based data entry

After: Form based data entry

Outcome

Cross-platform alignment

The project helped establish a more connected editing experience across the ArcGIS ecosystem.

Outcomes included:

  • clearer workflow continuity across platforms

  • shared form behaviors and editing logic

  • native desktop support for Smart Forms concepts

  • stronger collaboration across Editing, Framework, Web, and Mobile teams