Mobile ArcGIS Desktop Systems

Sketches and notes created on a Tablet PC are geographically referenced and can be saved as map graphics or as annotation in the geodatabase.

Using Tablet PCs and laptop computers, ArcGIS can travel from the office to the field. Mobile ArcGIS desktop systems (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView, and ArcReader) support mobile GIS applications that require sophisticated geographic tools such as network analysis, geoprocessing, and geodatabase editing.

ArcGIS Engine is a developer product for creating custom GIS desktop applications that can be deployed on mobile computers. Custom applications created with ArcGIS Engine can be used on Tablet PCs and laptop computers to provide the specific functionality needed by different types of field workers.

ArcWeb Services, ArcIMS, and ArcGIS Server enrich mobile GIS applications by streaming GIS data and capabilities to mobile devices with intermittent or continuous wireless connectivity.

All ArcGIS desktop systems—ArcInfo, ArcEditor, ArcView, and ArcReader—and custom applications built with ArcGIS Engine can run on high-end mobile systems such as laptops and Tablet PCs.

Using a Tablet PC

ArcGIS users can utilize their software on a Tablet PC platform in four ways

• Tablet PC as a Notebook Computer—The Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is a superset of the existing Windows XP operating system. Since ArcGIS is fully supported on Windows XP, it works on a Tablet PC.
• Tablet PC Pen-Based Technology—The Tablet PC lets you drive the Windows XP operating system and all Windows-based applications using a digital pen instead of a mouse. In ArcGIS, the digital pen can be used to push buttons on toolbars and draw on the map.
• Windows XP Speech Recognition—The speech recognition functionality is embedded within the Tablet PC input panel and can be used with ArcGIS for dictation functions.
• Tablet PC Digital Ink Technology—ESRI has extended the ArcGIS mapping application, ArcMap, with a new toolbar that integrates digital ink technology with ArcGIS. Using the Tablet Toolbar, users can use the ink tool to create notes or sketch diagrams and tie them to a geographic location. Ink can also be used to pdf features on a map and to sketch shapes that can then be used to perform GIS editing tasks. Tablet tools make use of additional ink technology such as gestures and text recognition.

Users in a number of industries will benefit from a Tablet PC running ESRI's ArcGIS desktop software including electric and gas utilities; telecommunications; local, state, and federal government; homeland defense; agriculture; retail; health care; and many more.

Download tools and additional documentation about Tablet PC support for ArcGIS 8.x or higher. These tools are available for the ArcGIS desktop products (ArcInfo, ArcEditor, and ArcView).