The history of ArcGIS

The history of ArcGIS

Esri, Environmental Systems Research Institute, knew there was a starving market for location-based systems also known geographic information systems (GIS). In 1990s, Esri started working on a product that later became one of the best enterprise solutions for GIS implementations on Windows systems. In 1999, ArcGIS was released. Since then, ArcGIS hasbecome the most used commercial GIS solution. ArcGIS was then renamed ArcGIS for Desktop, and the ArcGIS name was used as a product line instead to carry lots of products under it.

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When the Web started to become ubiquitous in early 2000s, Esri adopted the Web by rolling in ArcGIS for Server and gradually ArcGIS functionalities as web services so that it could be supported on multiple platforms including mobile phones.

A decade later when the cloud solutions began to surface, Esri released its Software as a Service (SaaS) solution ArcGIS Online. Designed to simplify the user experience, ArcGIS Online hides all the ArcGIS "contraptions" and technologies to relieve the user from maintaining the hardware and software, leaving the user to do what they do best, mapping. Having everything in the cloud allows users to focus on their work instead of worrying about configurations, spinning up servers and databases, and running optimization checks.

Note

SaaS, a cloud-based software distribution model where all infrastructure, hardware, management software, and applications are hosted in the cloud. Users consume the applications as services without the need to have high-end terminal machines.

Today, Esri is pushing to enhance and enrich the user experience and support multiple platforms by using the ArcGIS Online technology.

In this book, we target one of the core products of the ArcGIS family—ArcGIS for Desktop. By using real-life examples, we will demonstrate the power and flexibility of this 16+ year-old product ArcGIS for Desktop. We are going to use the various tools at our disposable to show how we can extend the functionality of ArcGIS for Desktop.

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FUSING IN CAD CAPABILITIES INTO GIS. BY HONEST S. O. U.

FUSING IN CAD CAPABILITIES INTO GIS.       BY HONEST S. O. U.              

ArcGIS as a GIS software lacks some cartographic capabilities for drafting of work. We are often left with converting/ exporting our GIS work into a CAD environment and after some modifications in CAD environment, the work is exported back to ArcGIS environment. GIS lacks some conventional cartographic signs and symbols and does not allow free sketching of such signs/ symbols, a times we make do with Adobe Illustrator and other softwares to aid us.        The question therefore is,  how can we fuse in CAD capabilities into GIS environment?  I found out a simple method of doing this. You can convert your shape file to CAD file. Without closing the ArcGIs, open the CAD file and do the necessary modifications on the CAD  work. Use layer plotting for all text files, signs and symbols so that they can come out as layers in ArcGIS. After all the modifications both the layout and adjustments in the digitized features (Point, Line and Polygon) .Save your CAD work and open your ArcGIS file which u minimized and you will find all the modifications on your ArcGIS.                      Cheers.

STEPS FOR CONVERTING YOUR ArcGIS SHAPE FILE TO CAD.                                    1.Goto ArcToolbox.                     
2.Select Conversion Tools.                                     3.Select to CAD. Select ,Export to CAD.           Under Input Features, (select the shape files you want to convert). Under Output Type( select the DWG- the AutoCAD version u want to save it),  Under output file(Select the folder you want to save it).                                           4. Select Ok and wait for the files to convert/export to CAD. When its successful, it pops out successful message on the ArcGIS environment

How do I georeference an image in ArcGIS?

Q: How do I georeference an image in ArcGIS?

Answer

Georeferencing is a process by which a raster dataset (image) without spatial reference can be matched with a layer that does have spatial reference. For example, this process would be helpful in the case of a user finding an aerial photograph in their map.

In ArcMap, add a reference layer to your map that would be helpful in matching points from the image (e.g. streets if you have an aerial photograph of a city) or a basemap (click the dropdown arrow next to the Add Data button)

Add the image you want to georeference.

Open the Georeferencing toolbar (Customize > Toolbars).

Zoom to the area you will use for georeferencing your image. Select Fit to Display from the Georeferencing toolbar dropdown menu to move the image closer to where it should be located.

Add control points using the button with two crosses connected by a line: 

Zoom to your image (right click on the layer > Zoom to Layer). Add a control point to a place that will be easy to find in the reference layer, such as a road intersection, bend in a river, administrative boundary, etc. Zoom in close on the control point site to maximize your precision.

Zoom to the reference layer, and add the second control point in the same geographical location. Zoom in close on the control point site to maximize your precision.

Repeat these steps using points from around your map. Very quickly your image will fit in the map.

When you are finished go to Georeferencing > Rectify to save a new raster dataset that retains the spatial reference.

Helpful hints:

In the Georeferencing dropdown menu, the Transformation options are helpful if your image necessitates more warping.

The blue lines between control points represent the residual (or, error). The View Link Table button in the toolbar allows you to look at all of the links you have made, see their respective residuals, and delete ones you think may be inaccurate.