If the spring 2026 issue of ArcUser seems nostalgic, that’s no coincidence—it’s the publication’s final issue. Monica Pratt founded ArcUser in 1998 to keep Esri’s user base informed about product updates, best practices, and the exemplary work of the GIS community. Since then, that community has evolved, and we’re evolving with it.
The media landscape is radically different from what it was at the publication’s inception nearly 30 years ago. Because of this, we want to ensure that the information you need to do your best work lives alongside the most inspiring and compelling GIS stories from across the globe. Therefore, Esri’s ArcNews publication will take on an expanded role, incorporating aspects of ArcUser to maintain a focus on GIS developers, managers, and experienced professionals. Subscribers to ArcUser will soon begin receiving ArcNews, which will be reimagined as part of the transition to a single publication.
In the meantime, the final issue of ArcUser is the perfect opportunity to revisit old hits. “GNSS Accuracy Unlocked” and “Make Maps People Want to Look At” are new versions of two of the most popular articles published in previous issues. In them, familiar concepts get necessary updates for 2026.
It’s also a good time to examine how geography can illuminate our past. “A Cartographer’s Quest to Map US History” covers the importance of GIS to Ken Burns’s The American Revolution. “GIS Protects the Past from Wildfire,” shows how geographic data safeguards archaeological sites. The issue’s cover story, “Maps Are Memory,” details efforts to digitally preserve the vanishing architecture of West Africa.
But mapping isn’t just about where we came from. It’s about where we go next. In this issue, you’ll find many stories about the transformative power of geospatial AI as well as how the ubiquity of these tools can change your work, as in “GIS Governance in the AI Era.” “Keeping Utah Moving with a Solid Geospatial Foundation” provides a road map for geospatial excellence, while “What Does It Take to Build a Career in the Drone Industry?” offers cogent advice for taking on one of the most forward-looking applications for GIS expertise.
The issue’s final story, “The First Responder Who Aided Alaskan Villages She’s Never Visited,” aligns the past and future. This profile of an Alaskan government employee, who helped residents return home after being displaced by a typhoon, exemplifies the power of GIS to help. Because that’s what GIS is—the use of geographic data to make our lives better. Sometimes that means cleaning our streets, letting people know what’s being built in their neighborhoods, or giving us a better understanding of ourselves. Sometimes it means bringing us home.
Thanks for reading, and see you in ArcNews.
