Focus maps, and analytical maps. The mapcentric approach used by ArcGIS 10 is a highly intuitive method for accessing and using tools and information. ArcGIS is a unified system for managing and working with maps and geographic information that is powered by servers on premises or in the cloud and accessible through the Web, mobile devices, rich clients, and desktops. This environment enables the discovery, management, analysis, collaboration, and visualization and use of geoinformation. ArcGIS 10 makes GIS available everywhere. In addition to local and enterprise servers, geoinformation and tools are available from the cloud, hosted by Esri or by Windows Azure, Amazon, or another cloud provider. Esri recently announced that users can ArcGIS.com, the geospatial framework in the cloud, inaugurates a new way to use ArcGIS. now purchase a cloud-based anand Microsoft Silverlight APIs. Web applications can deliver rich user nual subscription that supplies a preconfigured ArcGIS Server instance experiences, sophisticated analysis, and focused solutions to end users on Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) infrastructure. With this without requiring any specific GIS knowledge. These Web applications option, organizations can rapidly meet larger-than-average workloads are making the benefits of a geographic approach to decision making and demand by scaling up or down the number of ArcGIS Server instances without investing in new on-premises hardware and increasing readily available to both organizations and individuals. Deciding where to site a business, allocate resources, or launch a overall energy consumption. Users can begin publishing services and marketing campaign all hinge on relating geography to current de- supporting Web mapping applications immediately. mographic and business data. A Web-based solution, Esri Business Analyst Online, combines GIS technology with extensive demographic, The Central Web Gateway into ArcGIS consumer spending, and business data for the United States to deliver ArcGIS.com, the geospatial framework in the cloud, inaugurates a formatted reports and presentation maps on demand. A new tool avail- new way to use ArcGIS. It is a comprehensive Web-based interface to able from Esri Business Analyst Online, Smart Map Search, guides ArcGIS that extends and complements other aspects of ArcGIS. It conusers through a streamlined process that simultaneously evaluates, nects users to all kinds of maps: basemaps from Esri that feature high ranks, and maps areas identified as best meeting up to five specified quality cartography and imagery, collaborative maps, live maps with criteria. [For more information, see “Smart Map Search: New Esri APIs (services), and static maps (that package information). It is also a source of applications furnished as samples and templates from Esri, Business Analyst Online decision support tool” in this issue.] The Walkshed Web site helps people take steps (literally) toward contributed by user sites, and developed by business partners; demos; urban sustainability by travel on foot to neighborhood destinations such software development kits (SDKs); viewers; and focused applications as markets, restaurants, and parks. The online application calculates for browser, mobile device, and desktop use. Services are also built into the “walkability” of these amenities by performing a weighted over- the site. These include services Esri stands up and services that users lay operation and graphically presenting the results as a heat map. The stand up and manage. Resource centers, that show how to make the best site, developed by Esri business partner Azavea, currently models only use of ArcGIS, are part of this gateway. Finally, ArcGIS.com is shared and used by communities of users who have common interests and can New York and Philadelphia but may be expanded to other areas. find, share, organize, and use the maps, apps, and other resources available on the site. A Simple Interface With the release of ArcGIS 10 and the advent of ArcGIS.com, GIS Everyone understands maps. They are useful, well-structured, and powbecomes a more highly available, simple-to-use, and fast system that erful vehicles for integrating and communicating geographic information that promote collaboration. Maps are broadly defined to include makes crucial information for shaping decisions both more accessible not only static paper maps but also Web maps, mobile maps, real-time and actionable. www.esri.com ArcUser Summer 2010 15