Notes from ESRI User Conference - ArcGIS at 9.4 the Road Ahead
Written by Glenn Letham
12 August 2008
Even though ArcGIS 9.3 was only shipped several weeks ago (hopefully you’ve unwrapped the box by now!) we were treated to a session that introduced us to ArcGIS 9.4 and what will/may come.
- Service packs are scheduled and planned for about 4 times per year. Fixes are driven by tech support… from ESRI “tell us about it - SP1 for 9.3, tentatively coming in Q4 - SP2 Q1 2009, take note as sometimes new functionality is provided within service pack releases.
9.4 Focus - update and expand ArcGIS, make it easier, more flexible, more powerful - simplify, streamline, share - 9.4 is just starting. The vision is set, the details are not. We should, however, expect, new workflows, new science, and more focus on expanding GIS across the web.
Search has fundamentally changed how people categorize and organize information – patterns of use though have not changed.. Ind. Uses, teams of workgroups, enterp. Orgs, web dissemination, web gis.
ESRI's Rob Elkins on ArcGIS 9.4 - simplify, streamline, share
The value is realized when you share your work... sharing in a number of ways. ESRI has modernized the app to make it easier to use. The company realizes that many people have complex work - the goal is to simplify things for the users.
New features and improvements at 9.4
Maximizing the mapping workspace. Limited redraws and new window styles. Improved icons.
Improved viewing of 2D data: Fast draw of maps Dynamic pans Remove unnecessary redraws Fast search Improves in animation Chart and graph enhancements KML layers in 2D
3D virtual city support enhanced chart and graphing
Editing in ArcMap: Layer based editing Efficient graphical tools for making features Simple sketching New snapping model Improved attr editing
3D feature editing: Supported in ArcGlobe and ArcScene
ArcCatalog is the admin tool for managing the databases and services. Redundancies will be eliminated. Improved search will augment browsing experience when looking for data. Enhanced Metadata editing
Improvements to the Geodatabase: Faster data browsing and search Personal Geodb upgraded to access 2007 Improved sql query functionality. Enable users to create and populate geodatabases corresponding to earlier releases (Save As)
Symbol searching and management Better Attribute presentation on maps Cartographic optimization and generalization BetterText placement and layers
Geoprocessing improvements: Finding tools (several hundred tools) Sharing tools and toolboxes Filling in through inputs Results automatically added to maps as a layer, data stored in maps workspace Tool execution off loaded to a job server (optionally)
A common framework and user experience for publish and share: Author and direct share from ArcMap to prepare, send, publish Simple to explore find and use other’s data. Faster installs, rollback and uninstall SP ability Automatic updates and notices of patches - auto download and configurable Easier to work with dynamic data
Desktop is the driver for the 9.4 release - Simplify, streamline, share This update will take a fresh new holistic look at things. A culmination of the efforts of some 30 teams.
Server at 9.4 (from Ismael Chivite, ArcGIS sever product manager)
Server 9.4 will be an incremental release - its about optimizing the server product with a Focus on quality.
Recall, the new Beta Flex API just released - see http://resources.esri.com/arcgisserver/apis/flex/. Interesting that FLEX books are typically found in the web design section of the bookstore, not the programming section!
The new optimization toolbar Ovehaul of the rendering engine to facilitate higher quality maps on the web dynamic map services will be much faster… faster map caching, and faster dynamic maps. More documentation of architecture of the ArcGIS Sever will be provided.
A new editing experience, based on templates and will be consistant across all ArcGIS clients.
Coming in ArcGIS mobile - Improve the mobile SDK, open the app framework for developers
Remember ArcGIS Online (source: Rob Shanks, ESRI)
Providing the ability for users to deploy web-based GIS Making GIS data discoverable from anywhere is a key focus. See ArcGIS online fo common framework for building your application on. http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline-services/index.html Templates adhering to standards and metadata - more templates are coming for creating new services.
New base maps: Flood zones hydro Soils Geology Demo Retail Eal estate Resource mgmt Climate and weather Traffic Health Historical Bathymetry Industry solution content bundles based on customer’s needs.
Locator sevices for geocoding, routing and place finding AcGIS online is becoming a foundation for building online GIS, provided as software+sevices
ArcGIS Explorer.. expanding GIS for everyone On its own release cycle – currently at 480. Look for 500 (this month, and 600 coming?? Likely Q1 09. Recall support for using virtual earth as a base layer will be provided. At 600 a new UI for working in 2d or 3d. A more intuitive experience
Finally, at R 9.4 media for all solutions will be DVD only
Top iPhone related GIS and Geo Tech news stories from 2009 - At the end of the year its always interesting for us to look at some of the stats and results to identify trends and more important, to see what our readers think is hot! In the "news" category it seems that iPhone related geo tech items were extremely popular.
Geo Social Location Checkin to Twitter from iPhone - With the cool SXSW event taking place Austin, TX, everyone who's anyone in social and social location seems to have rolled out updates this week, making your choice for how to check-in to your social media bookmarks even tougher to decide on!
10 Awesome GIS and Mapping apps for the iPhone - I recall last year at the ESRI UC when an iPhone was on stage showing a prototype app (think ArcPad on iPhone). It was then that I realized the iPhone platform is going to be BIG in mapping and there's a ton of opportunity for developers.
Nokia Booklet 3G, unboxing video and image gallery... Those of you in the USA who pop in to BestBuy occasionally, you may have seen a stand showing off the Nokia Booklet 3G. A sleek, 3G enabled, SIM slot (AT&T) sporting netbook.
Interesting Tweeple - 10 Geo Technology & Geo-Social Women of Twitter - given the growing love for geospatial and location-aware technologies, I’ve decided to hype 10 women that I feel make a significant contribution to the Geo-Twittersphere. If you’d like to add 10 knowledgeable and useful Twitter contacts to your Geo following list I highly suggest the following: (in no particular order)
10 Geo Social Location-Aware Apps Making Waves... With Twitter's opening of their location API to developers there's going to be a ton of third party apps that will enable Twitter users to share location-aware information via their Twitter accounts.
Signs that indicate you may be a GeoGeek (aka. GeoNerd) and some suggested Geo blogs - Chances are good that if you are a Geo Geek then you already know it and likely refer to yourself as one. However, there’s many of you out there that may be on the fence and wondering… “am I a Geo Geek?" Read on for a comprehensive list of signs you might be a GeoGeek followed up by some suggested Geoblog reading.
Real-time GPS Mapping and GIS Solution Aids Efficient Disaster Management - Saturday, February 7, 2009 will forever be known as Black Saturday in the State of Victoria, Australia. In the midst of a 10-year drought, a record breaking heat wave descended upon the state, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees C (110-120 deg F), breaking all-time record highs in some cities - Victoria Police Use Trimble Juno SC Handhelds to Speed Assessment of Damage Caused by Bush Fires.
2010 ESRI Federal User Conference February 17-19, 2010, Washington D.C. Walter E. Washington Convention Center - The FedUC is the largest geospatial conference for federal agencies. Connect with other leaders, decision makers, and GIS professionals.
The International LiDAR Mapping Forum 2010 - Tenth Anniversary Event! ILMF 2010 will be held from March 3 - 5, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
The NAVTEQ 2010 Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony will be held during Ignite at O'Reilly Where 2.0. Be among the first to hear as NAVTEQ announces the winners for the North America region. Participants will be competing for a global prize pool of $10 million and growing by showcasing pre-commercial location-enabled apps using NAVTEQ map data & products. March 30, 2010, during Ignite Where, 7:30pm - 9:00pm, at the Marriott San Jose, CA
WHERE2.0 2010 - Now in its sixth year, the Where 2.0 Conference is where the grassroots and leading edge developers building location-aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge. For 15% use Discount Code: whr10lbs
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