Mobile GIS is the expansion of a geographic information system (GIS) from the office into the field. A mobile GIS enables field based personnel to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display geographic information. Mobile GIS integrates one or more of the following technologies:

• Mobile devices
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• Wireless communications for Internet GIS access

Traditionally, the processes of field data collection and editing have been time consuming and error prone. Geographic data has traveled into the field in the form of paper maps. Field edits were performed using sketches and notes on paper maps and forms. Once back in the office, these field edits were deciphered and manually entered into the GIS database. The result has been that GIS data has often not been as up-to-date or accurate as it could have been.

ESRI's developments in mobile GIS have enabled GIS to be taken into the field as digital maps on compact, mobile computers, providing field access to enterprise geographic information. This enables organizations to add real-time information to their database and applications, speeding up analysis, display, and decision making by using up-to-date, more accurate spatial data.

Firefighters, police officers, engineering crews, surveyors, utility workers, soldiers, census workers, field biologists, and more use mobile GIS to complete the following tasks.

• Field Mapping - Create, edit, and utilize GIS maps while in the field
• Asset Inventories - Create and maintain an inventory of asset locations and attribute information
• Asset Maintenance - Update asset location, condition, and schedule maintenance
• Inspections - Maintain digital records and locations of field assets for legal code compliance and ticketing
• Incident Reporting - Document the location and circumstances of incidents and events for further action or reporting
• GIS Analysis and Decision Making - Perform measuring, buffering, geoprocessing, and other GIS analysis while in the field

ArcGIS mobile products include

• ArcGIS Mobile - An SDK powered by ArcGIS Server to build and deploy centrally managed, fully customized mobile applications that can synchronize with the server.
• ArcPad - An out-of-the-box, complete mobile mapping and field data collection solution that provides database access, mapping, GIS and global positioning system (GPS) integration via handheld and mobile devices.
• StreetMap Mobile Software Developer Kit - An SDK that allows developers to create custom mapping and navigation applications for in-vehicle systems or personal navigation devices available exclusively to ESRI Canada business partners.
• Mobile ArcGIS Desktop Systems