More Powerful Tools For sharing the benefits of GIS with a wider audience ArcGIS Explorer 900, the newest release of Esri's freely downloadable GIS viewer, offers an enhanced user experience and many new features that extend how the software can be used to deliver and present geographic information to a broad audience. ArcGIS Explorer is a great way to share and view GIS information and capabilities. It uses a variety of ready-to-use ArcGIS Online basemaps and layers, so users can immediately begin exploring as soon as they download. ArcGIS Explorer enables users to connect to their own map services or add local data. Users can also add other information, such as photos, reports, and videos, and place them in a geographic context. ArcGIS Explorer can be extended with geoprocessing tools and other capabilities, enabling people to use GIS data and tools without needing to be GIS experts themselves. Making a Compelling Case New presentation capabilities make ArcGIS Explorer an outstanding choice for briefings, meetings, and lectures. Users can create dynamic presentations that integrate GIS and other content, such as titles, pop-ups, documents, photos, and videos, and combine these into dynamic presentations that can be easily shared. Integrated 2D/3D Display ArcGIS Explorer 900 introduces an integrated 2D/3D display that lets users choose a visualization experience that meets their needs. In 2D mode, ArcGIS Explorer now supports all ArcGIS projections, so data can be used in the same way as in ArcGIS Desktop. Choice of Basemaps ArcGIS Explorer 900 includes a basemap gallery that allows users to select from a variety of ArcGIS Online maps, including aerial imagery, streets, hybrid, and topographic maps. The gallery also includes Microsoft Virtual Earth basemaps (imagery, hybrid, streets), and users can easily add their own basemaps to the gallery. Sharing Is Easier Layer packages are a new feature in ArcGIS 9.3.1 that makes it easier for GIS professionals to distribute and share information. Layer packages encapsulate ArcGIS Desktop cartography along with data. Because ArcGIS Explorer uses layer packages, desktop cartographic capabilities and data can be used by anyone, not just GIS professionals. Layer packages can be shared via ArcGIS Online, sent as e-mail attachments, or distributed on a network. Enhancing Data Support In addition to support for new layer packages, ArcGIS Explorer 900 offers direct connect to an enterprise geodatabase as well as support for personal geodatabases. KML/KMZ support has also been improved, including networklinked KML. Tailoring the User Experience Using application configurations, the user experience can be easily tailored, without programming, to support specific user needs or workflows. Multiple configurations can be managed centrally and used throughout an organization. Esri also offers a freely downloadable ArcGIS Explorer Software Developer Kit (SDK). This SDK provides a powerful object model and lets developers create new tools and add-ins that can extend ArcGIS Explorer's capabilities. Working with Multiple Languages ArcGIS Explorer has been localized for French, German, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. Increasing the Value of GIS ArcGIS Explorer adds value to any GIS by allowing for broader dissemination of data and greater collaboration, while addressing specific end-user needs. It extends the benefits of GIS to users that need to have access to GIS data and capabilities, but may not be GIS experts themselves. For more information and to download ArcGIS Explorer, visit www.esri. com/arcgisexplorer. 6 ArcUser Summer 2009 www.esri.com