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Industry Perspective www.govloop.com ArcGIS as a Platform 1 Developing “GIS is changing the conversation, allowing the integration Newof alland the factors that should be addressed on a particular Affordabledecision.” Jack Dangermond, Esri President Opportunities

for the Mobile Workforce in a Secure Environment

1 Esri Industry Perspective www.esri.com ArcGIS as a Platform

In this report, Jack Dangermond, Esri President, highlights how ArcGIS is transforming the public sector, and what the future holds for geographic information systems (GIS).

Throughout history, and continu- geography continues to evolve, ArcGIS Online, Esri has created ing today, the field of geography cartography has always served a platform that provides the op- has led to a deeper awareness as medium to tell compelling portunity for both online map- of our surroundings, providing stories. Geographic informa- ping, and enterprise geospatial a visual representation of the tion systems (GIS) has not only content management, reimagin- synergistic relationship we share revolutionized cartography and ing the way the public sector an- with the Earth. In the ancient geography, but has led to new alyzes data to improve decision- world, Greek cartographers cre- insights and findings in nearly ev- making. ated maps that attempted to ery field of study. As society be- link the physical world with the comes increasingly complex and Through ArcGIS, Esri has cre- heavens. Maps allowed Ferdinand dependent on data analysis, GIS ated a geographic platform that Magellan, Christopher Colum- now provides a solution to syn- extends GIS applications beyond bus, and Marco Polo to navigate thesize complex and multivariate traditional GIS users. To improve our oceans. Nearly 315 years af- data visually through maps. With collaboration efforts, organiza- ter Columbus set sail, President GIS, organizations can find new tions are using Esri’s ArcGIS Thomas Jefferson commissioned efficiencies, improve collabora- platform across their agencies. explorers Meriwether Lewis and tion, and identify new insights Further, the emerging trend of William Clark to explore the that would otherwise remain un- real-time location analytics has American frontier, creating hun- known without spatial analysis. extended the adoption of GIS dreds of maps depicting the land technology. This report will high- west of the Mississippi. Today, In this report, Jack Dangermond, light ArcGIS for three GIS user geography continues to provide Esri President, provides an over- communities, organizations, de- an increasing awareness of our view of Esri’s GIS platform, Arc- velopers and location analytics. surroundings, and has evolved far GIS. Dangermond provides in- past the rudimentary tools used sights on how GIS continues to Dangermond’s interview reaf- by Lewis and Clark. evolve, and how through emerg- firms that geography is a science, ing technology, such as the cloud, and through a better understand- Clearly, geography has played mobile, and location analytics, ing of geography, we can gather an essential role in increasing GIS technology is transforming a stronger understanding of our awareness and knowledge of the public sector. With the re- world and our communities. our world. Although the field of lease of the cloud-based service, www.esri.com ArcGIS as a Platform 2 How the ArcGIS Platform is accessible on mobile devices, tablets and on desk- Transforming Government tops. ArcGIS features include:

ArcGIS provides a structured environment for An easy and ready to use service that includes: map making and allows organizations to compile self-service mapping, applications across all geographic information to share and visualize spa- devices and browsers, and geoprocessing tial data. Dangermond notes that ArcGIS Online is distinctly different than traditional GIS desktop/ Improved features for developers server tools. Since ArcGIS Online is built with a cloud and device architecture, GIS professionals Hosting and sharing applications and content can easily manage their organizations’ geospatial content using cloud based mapping tools and infra- Cloud infrastructure that creates a dynamic structure. With the use of the cloud, agencies can and scalable GIS infrastructure quickly collaborate, share maps, and bring data to life with mapping. As Dangermond states, “What Built on open standards we see happening is a huge technology shift, the cloud is creating a new modality for the usage of Supports real-time data server networks and GIS information.” all geospatial data types

In the latest release of ArcGIS Online, users can ac- Simple access through a Software as a cess geospatial functions on any device, anywhere Service (SaaS) model and at any time. Also, ArcGIS Online includes a li- brary of map applications and templates for users Integration with business intelligence (BI) to share and create customized maps, which are all tools

The new ArcGIS platform “strategy will change the way that organizations collaborate and work together.

- Jack Dangermond“

3 Esri Industry Perspective www.esri.com ArcGIS for Organizations

As the public sector is tasked to increase collaboration efforts, ArcGIS Online is transforming collaboration practices within agencies. Through ArcGIS, users can access thousands of maps and resources made by the GIS community as well as data sets, maps, applications and tools to improve their GIS initiatives. By creating a common GIS environment, agencies can improve collaboration practices through spatial data and fully leverage GIS investments agencies have made. Dangermond This US government data portal leverages explains, “The creation of new web apps that are ArcGIS Online: www.geoplatform.gov associated with the cloud supports very simple mapping and very simple use of geographic data in such a way that many more people are learning GIS users. Dangermond notes, “We are opening how to make maps, on top of the base maps and up ArcGIS Online with a series of development infrastructure maps that our traditional users are code and documentation, to allow everyone from making.” simple startups to enterprise developers to have access to online maps and geo-services.” Esri has With ArcGIS, Esri has led the charge in how GIS provided the development community with a ro- can be leveraged by organizations. ArcGIS now bust set of tools and services to facilitate increased provides organizations the ability to more broadly adoption and support of the developer community. adopt GIS, and integrate with the cloud, mobile, and other web applications. “Traditional GIS users In support of developers and the start-up commu- work through the traditional desktop and user ex- nity, Esri has opened offices in startup hotbed cities perience; with ArcGIS Online, we want to share such as San Francisco and Santa Monica, California. maps with everybody,” states Dangermond. Dangermond mentioned that Esri hosts meet-ups and events to help promote and engage the GIS As the cloud has facilitated increased adoption developer community. Through these kinds of in- of ArcGIS Online, the types of GIS users have teractions, Esri can educate developers on how to evolved. ArcGIS Online benefits many different best leverage ArcGIS tools to build applications, kinds of users, and in order for GIS to continue services, and support revenue growth. to evolve, GIS experts must still exist within the agency to serve as an authoritative source for GIS Through ArcGIS, Esri has provided developers initiatives, manage GIS infrastructure and perform with access to a suite of ArcGIS Runtime Software the science backbone for GIS. Developer Kits (SDKs), which can be used to create custom GIS business applications for mobile ArcGIS for Developers devices and tablets. These applications can run on any operating system and be deployed in the Apple App Store, or the Android and Microsoft Market- Developers can use ArcGIS to assist in developing place. applications, and extend the tools for GIS and non- www.govloop.com ArcGIS as a Platform 4 Further, in addition to SDKs, developers have ac- connect business intelligence platforms to GIS, to cess to ArcGIS APIs to aid in development. ArcGIS develop geographic analysis of the rich and com- Runtime allows developers to create applications plex analytical BI data organizations collect. for desktop and cloud users with small runtimes and lightweight deployment features. For organizations, BI and GIS integration is a promising development. By mapping BI informa- ArcGIS for Location Analytics tion, agencies can unlock new insights that would traditionally not be known or understood. The An emerging trend in the geospatial community is ArcGIS platform easily integrates with BI informa- the use of location analytics and integration with tion. Dangermond states, “Our partners are really business intelligence (BI), enterprise resource plan- excited because in a non-disruptive way, all of a ning (ERP) and customer relationship management sudden fantastic maps can be made from BI infor- (CRM) software. Traditionally, BI, ERP, and CRM mation.” analytics have not been defined spatially, either because the data could not be accessed within the Mapping the Future of GIS organization, or the need to spatially portray data had not been expressed. Today, GIS continues to evolve and mapping is redefining the way we interact with our- sur Organizations typically use BI to make charts, roundings. The public sector is facing increasingly graphs, and tables, but have yet to leverage the complex challenges that require sophisticated sta- power of spatial data. With ArcGIS, paired with an tistical analysis tools to understand, manage, and organization’s BI, ERP, and CRM data, organizations visualize data. can identify new insights and find new relationships to improve business workflows, operations, and Yet, today is unlike any other time in history, as improve how services are delivered to customers. Dangermond explains, “The difference today is ArcGIS and location analytics seeks to support and that now you can register maps and services in the

What I am excited about is that “ GIS is giving insights, and particularly spatial statistical insights, so that a policy might be changed. “ -Jack Dangermond

5 Esri Industry Perspective www.esri.com ArcGIS cloud and discover maps and mash them lytics would shape the future of GIS. This may in- up to discover relationships in seconds. You don’t volve spatially representing real time traffic, real have to do all the data collection yourself, you are time transactional data, or real time environmental actually leveraging the data that is already digitized monitoring, which will have an impact on public by each of the federal, state or local agencies.” sector policy making.

As Dangermond asserts, ArcGIS capitalizes on GIS is certainly in a transition phase, and through the wisdom of the crowds, and allows GIS users the ArcGIS platform, the public sector can lever- to connect with the passionate GIS community age cloud technology, big data, and mobility to to share public sector resources and information. transform how government operates. ArcGIS as “This platform opens the way for simple crowd- a platform has improved GIS for advanced users, sourcing of observational data; people are begin- and made GIS more accessible for new users. Esri ning to share their observations, so every citizen has truly created a geographic platform through or field worker becomes a sensor on a map, and ArcGIS, providing the GIS community the platform that real time information goes back into web to share resources and knowledge, expanding GIS maps, which can be combined with other layers applications and transforming the public sector. of data.”

When asked what the next phase of GIS will be, Dangermond responded that real-time data ana-

About Esri About GovLoop

When Esri was founded in 1969, we realized even GovLoop’s mission is to “connect government to then that geographic information system (GIS) tech- improve government.” We aim to inspire public nology could make a difference in society. Working sector professionals by serving as the knowledge with others who shared this passion, we were en- network for government. GovLoop connects more couraged by the vast possibilities of GIS. than 65,000 members, fostering cross-government collaboration, solving common problems and ad- Today, our confidence in GIS is built on the belief vancing government careers. GovLoop is headquar- that geography matters - it connects our many cul- tered in Washington D.C with a team of dedicated tures and societies and influences our way of life. professionals who share a commitment to connect GIS leverages geographic insight to ensure better and improve government. communication and collaboration. For more information about this report, please Explore our website to discover how our custom- reach out to Pat Fiorenza, Senior Research Analyst, ers have obtained the geographic advantage by us- GovLoop, at [email protected], or follow him on ing Esri software to address social, economic, busi- twitter: @pjfiorenza. ness, and environmental concerns at local, regional, national, and global scales. We hope you will be in- spired to join the Esri community in using GIS to create a better world. www.govloop.com ArcGIS as a Platform 6 For more GIS information, visit: www.govloop.com/gis

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