Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. , doing business as Esri ( / ˈ ɛ z r iː / ), is an American multinational geographic information system (GIS) software company headquartered in Redlands, California . It is best known for its ArcGIS products. With 40% market share as of 2011, Esri is one of the world's leading supplier of GIS software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications.
53-901: The Esri International User Conference ( Esri UC ) is an event dedicated to geographic information system (GIS) technology. It is held annually in the United States, usually for one week in July at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego , California. The Esri UC dates back to 1981. In 2008, conference attendance grew to more than 14,000 attendees. The first Esri UC took place in 1981 in Redlands, California , at Esri Headquarters, with 15 users, and held annually in Palm Springs , from 1987 to 1996. Since 1996,
106-458: A geoprocessing environment that allows execution of traditional GIS processing tools (such as clipping, overlay, and spatial analysis) interactively or from any scripting language that supports COM standards. Although the most popular of these is Python , others have been used, especially Perl and VBScript . ArcGIS 9 includes a visual programming environment, similar to ERDAS IMAGINE 's Model Maker (released in 1994, v8.0.2). The Esri version
159-457: A table of contents on the left and the data frames which display the map. Items in the table of contents correspond with layers on the map. ArcToolbox contains geoprocessing, data conversion, and analysis tools, along with much of the functionality in ArcInfo. It is also possible to use batch processing with ArcToolbox, for frequently repeated tasks. ArcScene is an application which allows
212-415: A "file geodatabase", a "personal geodatabase", or an "enterprise geodatabase" (formerly known as an SDE or ArcSDE geodatabase). Introduced at 9.2, the file geodatabase stores information in a folder named with a .gdb extension. The insides look similar to that of a coverage but is not, in fact, a coverage. Similar to the personal geodatabase, the file geodatabase only supports a single editor. However, unlike
265-511: A .loc file extension. In ArcGIS 8.3 and previous versions, an address locator was called a geocoding service. ArcGIS Mobile and ArcPad are products designed for mobile devices. ArcGIS Mobile is a software development kit for developers to use to create applications for mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablet PCs . If connected to the Internet, mobile applications can connect to ArcGIS Server to access or update data. ArcGIS Mobile
318-478: A 2 gigabyte size limit. Enterprise (multi-user) geodatabases sit on top of high-end DBMS such as PostgreSQL , Oracle , Microsoft SQL Server , IBM Db2 and Informix to handle database management aspects, while ArcGIS deals with spatial data management. Enterprise level geodatabases support database replication , versioning and transaction management, and are cross-platform compatible, able to run on Linux , Windows , and Solaris . Also released at 9.2
371-458: A book “Local Voices, Local Choices,” to describe the success of the Tacare approach to community-led conservation. ArcCatalog Desktop : Windows 7 SP1 and later, Windows Server 2008 R2 and later; ArcGIS is a family of client , server and online geographic information system (GIS) software developed and maintained by Esri . ArcGIS was first released in 1982 as ARC/INFO ,
424-460: A command line-based GIS. ARC/INFO was later merged into ArcGIS Desktop , which was eventually superseded by ArcGIS Pro in 2015. Additionally, ArcGIS Server is a server-side GIS and geodata sharing software. Prior to the ArcGIS suite , Esri had focused its software development on the command line Arc/INFO workstation program and several Graphical User Interface -based products such as
477-546: A globe surface. The ArcGIS Pro application was added to ArcGIS Desktop in 2015 February. It had the combined capabilities of the other integrated applications and was built as a fully 64-bit software application. ArcGIS Pro has ArcPy Python scripting for database programming. There are a number of software extensions that can be added to ArcGIS Desktop that provide added functionality, including 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, Survey Analyst, Tracking Analyst , and Geostatistical Analyst. Advanced map labeling
530-634: A partnership with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to create a data hub, Federated Systems, based on Esri's ArcGIS platform. The data hub will allow countries to measure, monitor, and report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a geographic context. In 2019, Esri partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to develop tools to help communities map and manage their surrounding ecosystems using GIS software. In 2022, they partnered again to publish
583-493: A programming interface for developers. For non-commercial purposes, Esri offers a home use program with a lower annual license fee. ArcGIS Engine is an ArcGIS software engine, a developer product for creating custom GIS desktop applications. ArcGIS Engine provides application programming interfaces (APIs) for COM , .NET , Java , and C++ for the Windows, Linux, and Solaris platforms. The APIs include documentation and
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#1732791854741636-472: A series of high-level visual components to ease building ArcGIS applications. ArcGIS Engine includes the core set of components, ArcObjects , from which ArcGIS Desktop products are built. With ArcGIS Engine one can build stand-alone applications or extend existing applications for both GIS and non-GIS users. The ArcGIS Engine distribution additionally includes utilities, samples, and documentation. One ArcGIS Engine Runtime or ArcGIS Desktop license per computer
689-615: A single-use license. Most products are also available with concurrent-use license, while development server licenses and other types of software licenses are available for other products. Single-use products can be purchased online from the Esri Store, while all ArcGIS products are available through a sales representative or reseller . Annual software maintenance and support is also available for ArcGIS. While there are alternative products available from vendors such as MapInfo , Maptitude , AutoCAD Map 3D and open-source QGIS , Esri has
742-483: A total of over a million active users in 350,000 organizations. These include Fortune 500 companies, most national governments, 20,000 cities, all 50 US States and 7,000+ universities. The firm has 4,000 total employees, and is privately held by its founders. Strategic partners include Microsoft, Salesforce , Amazon Web Services , and SAP, among others. In a 2016 Investor's Business Daily article, Esri's annual revenues were indicated to be $ 1.1 billion. In 1969, Esri
795-622: A user sharing program. A variety of basemaps is a signature feature of ArcGIS Online. The Esri Community Maps program compiles detailed user basemap information into a common cartographic format called Topographic Basemap. The Esri Technical Certification program was launched in January 2011. The program provides an exam based certification for Esri software. The core groups for the certification include Desktop, Developer, and Enterprise. Each subcategory under these groups have two certification levels, Associate and Professional. The company hosts
848-633: Is ArcGIS Pro 3.3.2, with the older ArcGIS Desktop (or ArcMap) version 10.8.2 in mature support (to be fully retired in March of 2026). The older ArcGIS Desktop consisted of several integrated applications, including ArcMap , ArcCatalog , ArcToolbox, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe. Esri's main desktop, or thick client, application is ArcGIS Pro which is slowly replacing the former main components of ArcGIS Desktop: ArcMap , ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox. Esri's desktop products allow users to author, analyze, map, manage, share, and publish geographic information. ArcGIS Pro
901-637: Is a "container" for holding datasets, tying together the spatial features with attributes. The geodatabase can also contain topology information, and can model behavior of features, such as road intersections, with rules on how features relate to one another. When working with geodatabases, it is important to understand feature classes which are a set of features, represented with points, lines, or polygons. With shapefiles, each file can only handle one type of feature. A geodatabase can store multiple feature classes or type of features within one file. Geodatabases in ArcGIS can be stored in three different ways – as
954-441: Is available at different product levels, with increasing functionality. Other desktop GIS software include ArcGIS Explorer and ArcGIS Engine . ArcGIS Explorer is a GIS viewer which can work as a client for ArcGIS Server , ArcIMS , ArcWeb Services and Web Map Service (WMS). ArcGIS Desktop consists of several integrated applications, including ArcMap , ArcCatalog , ArcToolbox, ArcScene, ArcGlobe, and ArcGIS Pro . ArcCatalog
1007-687: Is available with the Maplex extension, as an add-on to ArcView and ArcEditor and is bundled with ArcInfo. Numerous extensions have also been developed by third parties, such as the MapSpeller spell-checker, ST-Links PgMap , XTools Pro and MAP2PDF for creating georeferenced pdfs ( GeoPDF ), ERDAS' Image Analysis and Stereo Analyst for ArcGIS, and ISM's PurVIEW , which converts Arc- desktops into precise stereo-viewing windows to work with geo-referenced stereoscopic image models for accurate geodatabase-direct editing or feature digitizing. ArcGIS Pro can use
1060-799: Is called ModelBuilder and as does the ERDAS IMAGINE version allows users to graphically link geoprocessing tools into new tools called models. These models can be executed directly or exported to scripting languages which can then execute in batch mode (launched from a command line), or they can undergo further editing to add branching or looping. On June 26, 2008, Esri released ArcGIS 9.3. The new version of ArcGIS Desktop has new modeling tools and geostatistical error tracking features, while ArcGIS Server has improved performance, and support for role-based security. There also are new JavaScript APIs that can be used to create mashups , and integrated with either Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth . At
1113-531: Is necessary. ArcGIS Web Mapping APIs are APIs for several languages, allowing users to build and deploy applications that include GIS functionality and Web services from ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Server. Adobe Flex , JavaScript and Microsoft Silverlight are supported for applications that can be embedded in web pages or launched as stand-alone Web applications. Flex, Adobe Air and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) are supported for desktop applications. ArcGIS Desktop products and ArcPad are available with
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#17327918547411166-434: Is now the only ArcGIS Desktop platform that is undergoing new development for future product releases. Server GIS products provide GIS functionality and data deployed from a central environment. ArcGIS Server is an Internet application service, used to extend the functionality of ArcGIS Desktop software to a browser based environment. It is available on Solaris and Linux as well as Windows. ArcSDE (Spatial Database Engine)
1219-620: Is only available at the Enterprise level. Server GIS products include ArcIMS ( web mapping server), ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Image Server. As with ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Server is available at different product levels, including Basic, Standard, and Advanced Editions. ArcGIS Server comes with SQL Server Express DBMS embedded and can work with enterprise DBMS such as SQL Server Enterprise and Oracle . The Esri Developer Network (EDN) includes ArcObjects and other tools for building custom software applications, and ArcGIS Engine provides
1272-460: Is the data management application, used to browse datasets and files on one's computer, database, or other sources. In addition to showing what data is available, ArcCatalog also allows users to preview the data on a map. ArcCatalog also provides the ability to view and manage metadata for spatial datasets. ArcMap is the application used to view, edit and query geospatial data, and create maps . The ArcMap interface has two main sections, including
1325-414: Is the personal SDE database that operates with SQL Server Express. Personal SDE databases do not support multi-user editing, but do support versioning and disconnected editing. Microsoft limits SQL Server Express databases to 4GB. ArcGIS Pro (which is a 64-bit application) does not support the personal geodatabase format but can convert them into supported formats using geoprocessing tools. ArcGIS Desktop
1378-769: Is used as a relational database connector for other Esri software to store and retrieve GIS data within a commercially available database: currently, it can be used with Oracle, PostgreSQL , DB2, Informix and Microsoft SQL Server databases. It supports its native SDE binary data format, Oracle Spatial , and ST_geometry. ArcIMS (Internet Mapping Server) provides browser-based access to GIS. As of ArcGIS 10.1, ArcIMS has been deprecated in favor of ArcGIS Server, but there are still many instances of ArcIMS (10.0 and older) in production environments. Other server-based products include Geoportal Server, ArcGIS Image Server and Tracking Server as well as several others. Mobile GIS conflates GIS, GPS, location-based services , hand-held computing, and
1431-528: The ArcView GIS 3.x desktop program. Other Esri products included MapObjects, a programming library for developers, and ArcSDE as a relational database management system . The various products had branched out into multiple source trees and did not integrate well with one another. In January 1997, Esri decided to revamp its GIS software platform, creating a single integrated software architecture. In late 1999, Esri released ArcMap 8.0, which ran on
1484-618: The Esri International User Conference , which was first held on the Redlands campus in 1981 with 16 attendees. The 44th User Conference was held in San Diego at the San Diego Convention Center from July 15th - 19th, 2024. In 2022, 31,590 users from 142 countries attended either in person or digitally. Esri provides low-cost access to ArcGIS software via special programs. The company has provided free access to ArcGIS Online to over 100,000 K-12 schools in
1537-610: The FME engine and workflows as part of the data interoperability extension. An address locator is a dataset in ArcGIS that stores the address attributes , associated indexes, and rules that define the process for translating nonspatial descriptions of places, such as street addresses, into spatial data that can be displayed as features on a map. An address locator contains a snapshot of the reference data used for geocoding , and parameters for standardizing addresses, searching for match locations, and creating output. Address locator files have
1590-526: The Microsoft Windows operating system . ArcGIS combined the visual user-interface aspect of ArcView GIS 3.x interface with some of the power from the Arc/INFO version 7.2 workstation. This pairing resulted in a new software suite called ArcGIS including the command-line ArcInfo workstation (v8.0) and a new graphical user interface application called ArcMap (v8.0). ArcMap incorporated some of
1643-437: The 2008 Esri Developers Summit, there was little emphasis on ArcIMS, except for one session on transitioning from ArcIMS to ArcGIS Server-based applications, indicating a change in focus for Esri with ArcGIS 9.3 for web-based mapping applications. In May 2009, Esri released ArcGIS 9.3.1, which improved the performance of dynamic map publishing and introduced better sharing of geographic information. In 2010, Esri announced that
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1696-673: The ARC Macro Language (AML), in favor of Visual Basic for Applications scripting and open access to ArcGIS components using the Microsoft COM standards. ArcGIS is designed to store data in a proprietary RDBMS format, known as geodatabase . ArcGIS 8.x introduced other new features, including on-the-fly map projections , and annotation in the database. ArcGIS 9 was released in May 2004, which included ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Engine for developers. The ArcGIS 9 release includes
1749-663: The ArcCatalog and ArcMap functionalities are accessed through the same application, most commonly through the Catalog pane. The graphics requirements for ArcGIS Pro are considerably higher than for ArcGIS Desktop in order to support the upgraded visualization. ArcGIS Pro also supports streamlined workflows that involve publishing and consuming feature layers using ArcGIS Online. With the release of ArcGIS Pro 3.0 in June, 2022 all *.aprx project files can be read by version 3.0; however, if
1802-514: The U.S. as part of Barack Obama’s ConnectED initiative. In 1989, Esri created the Esri Conservation Program to assist in changing the operations of non-profit organizations for their objectives of nature conservation and social change. Esri’s ArcGIS platform has provided GIS data, analytics software, and training to thousands of non-profit organizations and individual conservation projects since 1993. In 2017, Esri began
1855-572: The ability to access data online, directly from the Geography Network site or other ArcIMS map services. ArcGIS 8.3 was introduced in 2002, adding topology to geodatabases, which was a feature originally available only with ArcInfo coverages. One major difference is the programming (scripting) languages available to customize or extend the software to suit particular user needs. In the transition to ArcGIS, Esri dropped support of its application-specific scripting languages, Avenue and
1908-590: The conference has been hosted in San Diego . The conference was the brainchild of Esri President and Founder Jack Dangermond. Keynote Speakers Prior to 1986, no keynote speakers were featured. Esri Founded in 1969 as a land-use consulting firm, Esri currently has 49 offices worldwide including 11 research and development centers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific. There are 10 regional U.S. offices and over 3,000 partners globally, with users in every country and
1961-624: The functionality of ArcInfo with a more intuitive interface , as well as a file management application called ArcCatalog (v8.0). The release of the ArcMap constituted a major change in Esri's software offerings, aligning all their client and server products under one software architecture known as ArcGIS, developed using Microsoft Windows COM standards. While the interface and names of ArcMap 8.0 are similar to later versions of ArcGIS Desktop, they are different products. ArcGIS 8.1 replaced ArcMap 8.0 in
2014-571: The growing availability of geographic data. ArcGIS technology can be deployed on a range of mobile systems from lightweight devices to PDAs, laptops, and Tablet PCs. The firm's products for this use include Collector for ArcGIS, Survey123 for ArcGIS, ArcGIS QuickCapture and more. Former products and applications in this category included ArcPad and ArcGIS for Mobile. ArcGIS includes Internet capabilities in all Esri software products. The services, provided through ArcGIS Online at www.arcgis.com, include web APIs, hosted map and geoprocessing services, and
2067-607: The high end, provides full, advanced analysis and data management capabilities, including geostatistical and topological analysis tools. Additionally, ArcGIS is compatible with following OGC standards : WFS, WCS, GFS and various others. ArcGIS Explorer , ArcReader, and ArcExplorer are basic freeware applications for viewing GIS data. ArcGIS Desktop extensions are available, including Spatial Analyst for raster analysis, and 3D Analyst for terrain mapping and analysis. Other more specialized extensions are available from Esri and third parties. Esri's original product, ARC/INFO ,
2120-487: The lab, Jack and Laura Dangermond conceptualized using computer-powered mapping and analysis for complex problem-solving. The company released Arc/Info, the first commercial GIS program, containing maps attached to relational database. In the late 1990s, Esri reengineered Arc/Info and developed it into a modular and scalable GIS platform. Esri then switched from providing contract mapping services to developing mapping software products. The first ArcGIS software offering (8.1)
2173-658: The personal geodatabase, there is virtually no size limit. By default, any single table cannot exceed 1TB, but this can be changed. Personal geodatabases store data in Microsoft Access files, using a BLOB field to store the geometry data. The OGR library is able to handle this file type, to convert it to other file formats. Database administration tasks for personal geodatabases, such as managing users and creating backups, can be done through ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Pro . Personal geodatabases, which are based on Microsoft Access, run only on Microsoft Windows and have
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2226-461: The product line but was not an update to it. ArcGIS 8.1 was unveiled at the Esri International User Conference in 2000. ArcGIS 8.1 was officially released on April 24, 2001. This new application included three extensions: 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, and GeoStatistical Analyst. These three extensions had become very powerful and popular in ArcView GIS 3.x product line. ArcGIS 8.1 also added
2279-405: The project is saved it will render the project file to be incompatible with version 2.9.x and earlier. ArcGIS Pro 1.0 was released in January 2015. ArcGIS Pro 2.6 was released in July 2020. Noted features added included: Older Esri products, including ArcView 3.x , worked with data in the shapefile format. ArcInfo Workstation handled coverages, which stored topology information about
2332-444: The prospective version 9.4 would become version 10 and would ship in the second quarter of 2010. The ArcGIS 10.3 release included ArcGIS Pro 1.0, which became available in January 2015. On October 21, 2020 Esri publicly announced that this would be the last release of ArcGIS Desktop. Its products, including ArcMap, will be supported until March 1, 2026. This announcement confirmed predictions that ArcGIS Pro (and related products)
2385-433: The spatial data. Coverages, which were introduced in 1981 when ArcInfo was first released, have limitations in how they handle types of features. Some features, such as roads with street intersections or overpasses and underpasses, should be handled differently from other types of features. ArcGIS is built around a geodatabase , which uses an object–relational database approach for storing spatial data. A geodatabase
2438-533: The use of the Esri ArcGIS geodatabase as the asset and feature data repository central to computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) as a part of enterprise asset management and analytical software systems. GIS-centric certification criteria have been specifically defined by NAGCS, the National Association of GIS-Centric Solutions. As of October 2024, the company's desktop GIS suite
2491-422: The user to view their GIS data in 3-D and is available with the 3D Analyst License. In the layer properties of ArcScene there is an Extrusion function which allows the user to exaggerate features three dimension-ally. ArcGlobe is another one of ArcGIS's 3D visualization applications available with the 3D Analyst License. ArcGlobe is a 3D visualization application that allows you to view large amounts of GIS data on
2544-509: Was a command line GIS product available initially on minicomputers, then on UNIX workstations. In 1992, a GUI GIS, ArcView GIS , was introduced. Over time, both products were offered in Windows versions, and ArcView also as a Macintosh product. The names ArcView and ArcInfo were used for a while to name different levels of licensing in ArcGIS Desktop, and less often refer to these original software products. The Windows version of ArcGIS
2597-460: Was also accompanied by the release of ArcGIS Pro 3.0. ArcGIS Online is a web application allowing sharing and search of geographic information, as well as content published by Esri, ArcGIS users, and other authoritative data providers. It allows users to create and join groups, and control access to items shared publicly or within groups. ArcGIS Pro is a 64-bit GIS software that is the more modern version of ArcGIS Desktop. Unlike ArcGIS Desktop,
2650-576: Was announced at the Esri International User Conference (Esri UC) in 2000. ArcGIS 8.1 was officially released on April 24, 2001. Esri uses the name ArcGIS to refer to its suite of GIS software products, which operate on desktop, server, and mobile platforms. ArcGIS also includes developer products and web services. In a general sense, the term GIS describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares and displays geographic information for informing decision making . The term GIS-Centric, however, has been specifically defined as
2703-415: Was founded by the couple, Jack and Laura Dangermond, as Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), in Redlands, California. Esri was established when the couple started working on the technology to integrate human development with environmental stewardship at Harvard University’s lab for computer graphics and spatial analysis in the early 1960s. Inspired by the early mapmaking software in development at
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#17327918547412756-504: Was introduced in early 2015 as a modern and fully 64-bit application with integrated 2D and 3D functionality. The product suite is available in three levels of licensing: Basic (formerly called ArcView ), Standard (formerly called ArcEditor ) and Advanced (formerly called ArcInfo ). Basic provides a basic set of GIS capabilities suitable for many GIS applications. Standard, at added cost, allows more extensive data editing and manipulation, including server geodatabase editing. Advanced, at
2809-515: Was planned to be a complete replacement for ArcMap . ArcGIS Server was renamed to ArcGIS Enterprise at the 10.5 release, wherein ArcGIS Server, Portal for ArcGIS, ArcGIS Data Store and ArcGIS Web Adaptor are identified as components of ArcGIS Enterprise. ArcGIS Enterprise 11 was released on June 23, 2022 just prior to the annual User Conference held in San Diego . ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 does not support any ArcGIS 10.x and older products and
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