ArcWatch: GIS News, Views, and Insights

Learning ArcGIS Gets Real

By Carla Wheeler
Esri Writer

Whether you are new to GIS or use the technology daily, check out Learn ArcGIS, a new self-study website from Esri. Here you work directly in the ArcGIS platform to solve real geographic problems, analyze data, and make maps online. "In the old days, we had to teach people about things like geodatabases and topology, the under-the-hood things that make GIS work," says Clint Brown, Esri's director of software products. "But so much now just works, so we have an opportunity to go beyond that and teach people how to solve real problems." Read the article and take your first Learn ArcGIS lesson.

The new website strongly stresses using your skills to solve real problems, using real data.

Tip of the Month

Determine Drive-Time Areas Using ArcGIS Online

You can use Esri ArcGIS Online to create drive-time areas based on fixed speeds or traffic conditions using a specific departure time. Read this tip, which will show you how to perform a drive-time analysis.

Join the Conversation

The Headlines

A New App for Geodesign

Create design scenarios and edit, collaborate on, and share designs using the online geospatial tools in Esri's new GeoPlanner for ArcGIS app. Read the article.
For Your Information

Configure Esri's new Public Information template and start delivering your maps with media feeds from Flickr, Twitter, Instagram, and Webcams.travel. Read the article.
Online Mapping for Schools

As part of President Obama's ConnectED Initiative, Esri recently pledged $1 billion in mapping software to schools in the United States. K–12 classes will use ArcGIS Online. Read the article and learn more about ConnectED and Esri.

News Bytes

How the Seattle Police Department Uses GIS

Seattle police officers monitor the city's annual Torchlight Parade and analyze crime with the Esri ArcGIS platform. Watch the video.
Esri Works with the Scientific Community

Esri is represented on many science boards and councils, including the World Ocean Council. How else does Esri involve itself in science initiatives? Read the blog post by Esri chief scientist Dawn Wright.
GIS Helps City Comply with Federal Sign Standards

The City of High Point, North Carolina, used Esri ArcGIS to complete an inventory of traffic signs, which were upgraded to meet new federal retroreflectivity requirements. Read the article.
Tracking Assets Such as Oil Wells in Real Time

In this short video, David Jacob of Esri demonstrates how petroleum companies can use Esri's Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS with other systems to track oil well data in real time.

Centerpoints

Apps that Mean Business

Apps in ArcGIS Marketplace from WebMapSolutions, Wall Street Network, and Full Extent will give your business a competitive edge. Read the article.
Amp It Up, ArcGIS Users

All Esri Location Analytics apps are now available at no extra cost with an ArcGIS Online paid or trial subscription or Portal for ArcGIS named user license. Read the article.
Path of Destruction

Explore this story map to see which years produced the most tornadoes in the United States over the last three decades. Click on the individual tornado symbols for statistics, including the number of people killed and injured during each twister.

Technical Talk

Esri CityEngine 2014 Released

In this new version of Esri CityEngine, you will get an expanded library of built-in rules for buildings, facades, roofs, and streets to speed up your 3D modeling. Read this blog post and sign up for a 30-day free trial.

ModelBuilder 101

Learn to map a workflow in ArcMap using ModelBuilder. Read this blog post to get started.
Add Flickr Albums to Map Tours

Bern Szukalski updates you about how to add Flickr albums to your Esri Story Map Tour apps. Map Tours. Read his tip.
What Is Geographic Data?

This video tutorial covers some GIS basics, answering questions such as, What is geographic data? and showing people how to find it.
New Community Maps Tools

Esri has created several new tools to help you prepare the data that you contribute to Community Maps. Learn more.
Create a List of Favorites

ArcGIS Online now includes a way to mark items as favorites, helping you quickly find and retrieve frequently used items such as maps and layers. Read this tip about how to use My Favorites.

Et cetera

Dip into GIS for Ocean Science

Join other ocean professionals for the Esri Ocean GIS Forum, November 5–7, 2014, and learn how to apply geospatial technology in your work.
Tips for Your Story Map Data

Make sure your data is in order before you make a Story Map app.
What Is GIS?

Esri's Matt Artz tries to answer a seemingly simple question. Watch this video too.
Esrigram Wants Your Geophotos

They will go into a Geogeeks story map. Tag @esrigram in travel and Esri event photos or anything else GIS related. Use #geophoto in the caption to get on the map!

Endpoints

Spot the Space Station

If you look up in the evening sky and see the International Space Station (ISS), you can send a Tweet with hashtag #SpotTheStation and your Tweet will appear in this Esri story map. Read the article.
Learn Python Scripting

Python is an important tool for automating applications in ArcGIS for Desktop. New from Esri Press, GIS Tutorial for Python Scripting is filled with numerous examples, exercises, and assignments to help you build hands-on proficiency. Buy the book.
Hardware Offer

Esri offers cost-effective solutions to US customers who want to configure or upgrade their GIS. Esri's server, desktop, mobile, and data products are prepackaged with ArcGIS. Search for a solution.

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