ArcWatch: GIS News, Views, and Insights

September 2013

The Years of Living Dangerously

By Carla Wheeler
Esri Writer

Though Nadika Senadheera sometimes ventures to dangerous places, her passion for GIS and feeding the hungry keeps her on the front lines for the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP). The GIS consultant recently spent more than two years in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where she helped WFP staff with mapping projects focused on pinpointing where hunger exists in those countries and how to get food to people in need. She witnessed devastation and despair during massive flooding in Pakistan and fear and grief during attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Read about her work and experiences in this article.

Villagers in Pakistan's Sindh province brave flood waters to reach a helicopter carrying boxes of high energy biscuits from the World Food Programme.

Tip of the Month

Learn to Use Flickr Photos in the Map Tour Story Map

Want to use photos from your Flickr account in your Map Tour story maps? It’s easy to do, thanks to some recent updates to the Map Tour story map template available in ArcGIS Online. Read the tip.

Connect with ArcWatch

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

Sharpen Your GIS Skills

Reinforce the basics by attending the new Esri free nationwide seminar Sharpen Your GIS Skills. You will also get a tour of the many Esri resources available for your projects. You will learn how and when to use select spatial analysis tools. See the locations of the seminars and register today.

Best of ArcGIS 10.2

Improved analysis, better security, and new data conversion tools are among the top reasons Esri solution engineer James Tedrick cites to download ArcGIS 10.2. Read his article.

ArcPad 10.2 Is Out

Your wait is over. Read this article to find out about new data collection and editing capabilities and how to easily use ArcPad with the rest of the ArcGIS platform.

News Bytes

ArcGIS Online Update

Read this blog about the launch of ArcGIS Marketplace, an improved map viewer, and ready-to-use layers and tools.
Mapping American Futures

James Fallows from The Atlantic uses Esri mapping technology to help tell stories about small American communities. Read his posts and listen to the podcast with Fallows and Esri president Jack Dangermond.
Mapping the Paddle to Quinault

The Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde in Oregon created a story map to show the route that canoeists took this year to reach the Quinault Indian Nation during the Paddle to Quinault 2013, their annual canoe journey.
Tracking Energy Consumption

Michael Scott from Salisbury University in Maryland and Pat McLoughlin from Spatial Systems Associates, Inc., talk about an ArcGIS for Server software-based app that tracks and maps energy usage on campus. Listen to their podcast.
Share Your Content

As more organizations share authoritative GIS content online, Esri is adding instructor-led courses about these web workflows. Read the blog. Register for the new course ArcGIS 4: Sharing Content on the Web.
Utah Community Uses GIS to Track Fleets

Sandy City, Utah, adopted Esri technology to monitor its vehicles such as snowplows and street sweepers. Read the article.

Centerpoints

4-H Hosts Maps and Apps

Mapping will be front and center during 4H National Youth Science Day on October 9, 2013. Young people from across the United States will participate in the Maps and Apps program, where they will learn about GIS and other geospatial technology. Read the article.

Let's Talk Oceans and GIS

Bring your ideas to the first Esri Ocean GIS Forum, to be held November 5–7, 2013, in Redlands, California. You will see geospatial tools and applications for ocean research and hear how GIS is being used to protect ocean resources. Read the article and register soon.

GIS Close to Home

Esri is gearing up to host major regional user conferences in Lima, Peru, and Munich, Germany. Read the article for details about the Esri Latin America User Conference and the European, Middle East, and Africa User Conference.

Technical Talk

Download Minuteman Viewer

National Guard units can use and customize Esri's new Minuteman Viewer, which will help them view operational information and coordinate a response during disasters and other emergencies. Read the blog.
Welcome New Developers

With new individual developer plans for ArcGIS Online, all kinds of developers can build apps for their organization, the ArcGIS community, or the world. Read the blog post.
Create Impact Maps

During disasters such as fires or floods, the need arises for impact maps. They answer specific questions such as, How many houses will be affected? Read these great tips on how to make an impact map.
A GIS Research Tool

Visit the GIS Bibliography to find books, journals, reports, and conference materials related to geography, GIS, lidar, and more.
Urban Observatory on iPads

Krishnaprasad Jagadish, from the Esri Applications Prototype Lab, used ArcGIS Runtime SDK for iOS to create a unique application to run Urban Observatory on multiple iPads.
Story Map Tips

This colorful poster is packed with story map best practices and tips.
Model and Manage Interiors

Watch this video to see how 3D GIS can help you model and manage interior spaces such as office buildings and hotels.
Making Beautiful Maps

Esri cartographers Aileen Buckley and Kenneth Field explain the cartographic methods they use to make visually pleasing and highly understandable maps.

Et cetera

Discover the Power of Geodesign

Interested in design and GIS? Register soon for the Geodesign Summit, to be held January 29–30, 2014, at Esri in Redlands, California. Submit your Lightning Talk abstract by October 18, 2013.
Wanted: Your Best Maps

Submit your maps for Esri Map Book, Volume 29, using this portal. If your map is selected, it will be published and distributed at the Esri International User Conference in 2014. Submission deadline: 5:00 p.m., October 25, 2013.
Latest Community Maps Updates

See the locations of some new Community Maps updates in this Esri story map, including Chicago, Illinois; Appleton, Wisconsin; and Village of Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada. Read the blog.
Celebrate GIS Day

Kick your GIS Day planning into high gear by downloading resources to promote your event. And it isn’t too late to register your 2013 event. See Flickr photos of past GIS Day celebrations.
Learn to Create a 3D City

Modeling a City Using Esri CityEngine introduces you to the elements of a 3D city model and the guidelines for GIS data needed to create one. Take the web course.
Take the ArcGIS Data Reviewer Course

The Data QC with ArcGIS: Automating Validation web course will teach you automated workflows to make sure data adheres to your organization’s quality standards.

Endpoints

The 15-Minute Story Map

Yes, it’s possible to create a story map in mere minutes. Esri education manager Joseph Kerski created one using photos he took and location information he collected as he walked from the San Diego Convention Center to San Diego International Airport following the Esri International User Conference. Read his blog.

Hit the Books

Esri offers exams to certify professionals' expertise in Esri products and technology. New from Esri Press is the Esri ArcGIS Desktop Associate Certification Study Guide. You will get an overview of the skills measured in the ArcGIS Desktop Associate Certification exam. Buy the book.

Hardware Offer

Esri offers US customers three packages with a Juniper Systems Mesa Geo Rugged Notepad. They offer the advantages of both a tablet and a rugged handheld computer. These devices come packaged with ArcPad or can be used with ArcGIS for Windows Mobile.

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