ArcWatch: GIS News, Views, and Insights

February 2013

Mapping Where the Ice Flows

By Barbara Shields
Esri Writer

The National Ice Center (NIC) uses an ArcGIS extension to process satellite imagery of polar regions, analyze ice conditions, and create sea-ice and iceberg maps that ships use to navigate in often treacherous waters.

Satellite imagery is loaded into the Satellite Image Processing and Analysis System (SIPAS), where analysts study the sea ice and produce the maps. They generate about 80 standard GIS maps per week.

The US Navy, shipping enterprises, fisheries, petroleum companies, and ocean scientists use the maps. Read the article.

NIC maps show features like polynyas -- areas of open water surrounded by pack ice. Photo: US Navy Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet.

Tip of the Month

Visually Analyze Data on the Ocean Basemap

This tip uses live web maps to demonstrate how to use the Ocean Basemap in combination with ArcGIS Online to visually analyze data. You will use pipeline and fishing restriction data for the Gulf of Mexico to study a safety issue.

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ArcWatch is published monthly by Esri and contains GIS news, practical advice, and updates about the company's software and events. To submit article ideas, e-mail editor Carla Wheeler at arcwatch_editor@esri.com.

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The Headlines

Community Analyst Scores with Students

Students at California University of Pennsylvania (CAL U) used Esri Community Analyst to study whether their town of California, Pennsylvania, could support a new hockey arena/ice rink. Read the article.

Unique Ways to Celebrate GIS Day

They celebrated GIS Day halfway around the world from each other, but students in both the Czech Republic and the United States learned that maps tell some pretty fascinating stories, even about animal scents. Read the article.

Mapping Flu Intensity

Track the intensity of the flu state by state using this web map with information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The map also displays social media posts that mention the flu such as "Off to get my flu shot."

News Bytes

Can Geodesign Protect People from Disasters?

Will planning using GIS reduce a natural disaster's impact? Read the Scientific American blog.
Mapping Syria's Deepening Crisis

This Esri story map uses social media and geographic information to document the conflict in Syria.
Download the Light Gray Canvas Basemap Template

Use this new template to create a high-resolution, multiscale general purpose basemap in the style of the Light Gray Canvas basemap.
Get the New ArcGIS API for Silverlight

This update supports ArcGIS Online world geocoding, Visual Studio 2012, and much more.
Presenting the South San Francisco Fire Map

Watch this video to see how ArcGIS gives the city's fire department real-time situational awareness.
Who Registered First?

Read this interview with the first person to sign up for the Esri International User Conference (Esri UC). Join Jeff in San Diego.

Centerpoints

Around the World with Community Maps

Explore the streets of Romania, the mountains of Switzerland, and the valleys of Yosemite National Park using this interactive slideshow created using ArcGIS Explorer Online. Pan and zoom through all the maps from contributors who are sharing their content in the cloud through the Community Maps program.

Find a Spot to Swim and Fish

Locate state parks and natural areas using this new interactive web map called Park Finder, which the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation created using ArcGIS.

Changing Landscapes

Joseph Kerski used the Esri Storytelling Map Tour template to create this story map that illustrates interesting landscapes, from coral-colored sand dunes in Utah to eskers in Minnesota.

Technical Talk

Esri Releases Report Feature Widget

Subject matter experts, stakeholders, and others who consume your organization's published data can detect data quality issues and provide feedback using the Report Feature widget for ArcGIS Viewer for Flex. Read the blog.
Motion Mapper in Motion

Check out the cool Motion Mapper. Want the source code? Come and get it.
Save Weeks of Work

Use the field mapping and Python scripting for data migration. It saves big time. Read the article.
Which Way to Go?

You can publish a web map using the ArcGIS Online Map Viewer or an application template. Learn how.
Don't Miss This Event, Developers

Take a plane, a car, or bike to the Esri International Developer Summit in Palm Springs, California.
Validate Your Tax Parcel Data

Ensure parcel data integrity with three automated checks in ArcGIS Data Reviewer for tax parcel editing.
Make a Web Map in Less Than 20 Minutes

Use ArcGIS Online to map data on your Excel spreadsheet. Read the blog.

Et cetera

A Free Seminar

Take the Collect High-Accuracy Data with ArcGIS for Windows Mobile training seminar on March 7, 2013. Subscribe to reminders.
Is the Forest Your Domain?

Please join fellow foresters in the Esri Forestry Group and at the Esri Forestry GIS Conference.
A Diverse Nation

Study the growing diversity in the United States using Esri's 2012/2017 Updated Demographics. Read the blog.
Who Represents Who in Congress?

Download the new 113th congressional districts dataset and map service.
Video: ArcGIS for the Military—Land Operations
Try Business Analyst Online for Two Weeks
Take a Trial Spin in ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop
Follow Esri on Twitter

Endpoints

StreetMap Premium for ArcGIS Down Under

Generate the best routes and turn-by-turn driving directions for trucks and other large vehicles using a new version of StreetMap Premium for ArcGIS that includes street data for Australia and New Zealand.

Get to Know ArcGIS for Desktop

Introduce yourself to the principles of GIS in Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop. This new edition includes chapters and exercises related to working with ArcGIS Online, creating web maps, and searching for shared online data. Buy the book.

Hardware Offer

GeoCollector for ArcPad comes with the new Trimble Positions field collection software. GeoCollector for ArcPad is a high-accuracy global navigation satellite system (GNSS) mobile GIS data collection solution. Learn more about all Esri and Trimble offers.

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