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June 2012

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Build Dynamic Mapping Applications with ArcGIS Runtime

Esri Offers New Developer Technology for Desktop and Mobile Devices

By Jennifer Jacob
Esri Product Marketing

Using ArcGIS Runtime, a new developer technology from Esri, developers can create powerful, lightweight GIS applications that display quickly, deploy easily, and work with the entire ArcGIS system.

ArcGIS Runtime features a new modern architecture for building focused, stand-alone mapping applications for both desktop and mobile devices. Software development kits (SDKs), available from the Esri Developer Network (EDN), make it easy to create compelling custom applications that integrate geospatial data and GIS capabilities. With ArcGIS Runtime deployment can be as simple as plugging in a USB drive.

ArcGIS Runtime on Desktop Devices

Developers can use Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) or Java to embed dynamic mapping and geospatial applications into existing applications or build new custom ones. Users can author maps, content, and GIS functionality in ArcGIS for Desktop or publish web services, which can be consumed in a custom application. An ArcGIS Runtime application can be a client to ArcGIS for Server or run completely disconnected. Advanced geoprocessing, editing, and analytical capabilities can be integrated into applications built using ArcGIS Runtime.

ArcGIS Runtime will help you

• Rapidly build GIS-enabled applications with out-of-the-box developer controls, templates, and samples.
• Display and navigate maps and data created with ArcGIS for Desktop.
• Create and edit geographic features stored in enterprise and file geodatabases.
• Perform geographic operations that leverage the power of ArcGIS geoprocessing tools.

"ArcGIS Runtime is a new generation of tools for developers," said Rob Elkins, ArcGIS product manager. "It has a very lightweight footprint, meaning it's about the same size as Adobe Acrobat Reader. It doesn't need any administrative privileges to be installed and provides you with very fast capabilities to display maps, do editing, and perform analysis. Developers are able to build an application and leverage it in a focused environment, taking advantage of local hardware to get very fast display performance, for example, with in-vehicle applications."

Here's what you can do with ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF and Java:

• Select the capabilities you want, from simple map viewing and navigation to powerful spatial analysis, and create focused applications that are easy to deploy.
• Build touch screen applications for laptops, tablets, or in-vehicle mounted systems.
• Develop location-aware applications that use GPS.
• Create applications using local content, online content, or a combination of both.

ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Java and WPF, for example, provides a set of development tools that allows you to create 2D map applications for deployment onto Windows and Linux platforms. The SDK enables you to integrate remote maps, local maps, and geoprocessing models to create rich applications for the desktop.

ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Java and WPF are now in prerelease. All current EDN subscribers, Esri partners, and 2012 Esri Developer Summit attendees can get access to the prerelease version. The official 1.0 release is expected later this summer.

ArcGIS Runtime on Mobile Devices

Esri also offers ArcGIS Runtime SDKs for building and deploying custom mobile mapping applications. These SDKs are integrated with the ArcGIS system and make developing, testing, and deploying applications faster and easier. They combine geospatial data and maps into intuitive mobile applications.

Currently, Esri supports ArcGIS Runtime SDKs on the following mobile platforms:

• ArcGIS Runtime SDK for iOS
  Developers can build and deploy applications for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. ArcGIS Runtime SDK for iOS is integrated directly with Apple's XCode integrated development environment (IDE) and uses Apple's Objective-C programming language for iOS devices.
• ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Android
  Developers can build Java-based mobile applications for the Android platform. ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Android includes a plug-in for the Eclipse IDE that provides a set of tools and a rich, Android-specific API to help developers create custom mobile mapping applications.
• ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Windows Phone
  This SDK takes advantage of the Windows Phone application platform, which supports Visual Studio, Expression Blend, Silverlight, and XNA Framework.

Users can access local data and web services in both connected and disconnected environments, collect and report data, perform GIS analysis, and take advantage of the wealth of user-contributed content from ArcGIS Online. After a custom mobile application has been created and tested, it can be distributed through various app stores, marketplaces, or private enterprise networks. Users who have been developing and deploying applications with previously released SDKs for smartphones and tablet devices are already taking advantage of ArcGIS Runtime technology.