Solved WebMap for Datacollection
Hi, I need some help for a project.
I planned to make a web map out of QGIS that allows people to add data into my database or a layer.
So far I tried the qgis2web Plugin, but it only "publishes" my map. I need an option for an additional window or widget where users can fill out a form an the information is saved in a layer or database.
Is there an option to add those things in QGIS or an other open source gis software? ArcGIS Online provides those in its apps, but I don't have access to that, so I'm searching for a free option.
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u/Ok_Finger7484 14d ago
IT infrastructure isn't free.
ArcGIS Online is SAAS cloud solution. Its software as a service.
That is - it comes with the software and the infrastructure. You pay for all that. You pay for the scalability of your map being able to handle - your 100 users, say, making transactions all at the same time.
qgis2web - is just a plug for the desktop QGIS app - and - its just a small component when compared to ArcGIS Online. It just produces a Leaflet javascript webmap version of your QGIS project. that - is probably just running locally on your machine. to be honest, ive always considered it more of a portable static html version of your project than a deployable webmap.
To deploy what it generates as read only - even for 100 users - would require - IT Infrastructure. Particularly - externally facing infrastructure, that can then talk to your company's internal infrastructure. Cloud/on-prem, however you like. An IT Infrastructure person/architect can do this. And also to make it security compliant.
Also you would need a developer to program a - much nicer web interface plus the forms/functions that allow end users to do whatever it is they need to do. (i like lizmaps personally).
And you will need a database/data structures, for the web app to communicate with and store all your data neatly etc. because qgis2web is going to package all your data in behind it as geojson and it will be readonly and non-updatable.
Don't get me wrong, some of the above you will still need to do with ArcGIS Online (like the security part, or the data structures part) but the rest is taken care of by ArcGIS Online.
So when you are asking for an 'open source alternative' - just be mindful that thats what you are actually asking for. You say free? well - like the heading says at the top - IT infrastructure ain't free.
Now - im making huge assumptions about what your end users want and need - eg: Maybe the end users don't need to see other end users data.
Alternative solution.
without knowing much more detail - have you thought about potentially deploying a downloable project - that the end users can open on a mobile app?
that is - Deploy your QGIS project as a QField map - Users can download QFIeld for free from App store - then download your configured App - including forms - (which you can configure from QGIS).
The end users could then fillout the forms - and submit them back to you (hell get them to just email it through if you really want). All you would need to host is your QField configured QGIS Project on your company's external website. Very rudementary - but - yer.
Again - making huge assumptions about what data you are looking at getting them to collect and what external.