What Is Arcgis 9.3? Copyright © 2001–2008 ESRI All Rights Reserved
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ArcGIS® 9 What is ArcGIS 9.3? Copyright © 2001–2008 ESRI All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. The information contained in this document is the exclusive property of ESRI. This work is protected under United States copyright law and other international copyright treaties and conventions. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as expressly permitted in writing by ESRI. All requests should be sent to Attention: Contracts Manager, ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100, USA. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. U.S. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN DOCUMENTATION The information contained in this document is commercial computer software documentation. Pursuant to FAR Subpart 12.212, Computer Software, commercial computer software documentation is provided on the basis of rights or licensing that are customarily provided to the public. If delivered with ESRI software, commercial computer software documentation is provided under the terms of the ESRI commercial software license. All rights to the commercial computer software documentation not specifically granted in the license are reserved under the copyright laws of the United States. Contractor/Manufacturer is ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100, USA. 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Contents CHAPTER 1: KEY GIS CONCEPTS ..................................................................................................................... 1 The three views of a GIS ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 The geodata view ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Thematic layers and datasets ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Georeferencing ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Types of geographic datasets ................................................................................................................................................... 3 GIS data types ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Descriptive attributes ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 GIS datasets are shared across organizations ........................................................................................................................ 5 The geovisualization view ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Common characteristics of GIS maps ................................................................................................................................... 8 ArcGIS map types .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 The geoprocessing view ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Data + Tool = New Data ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Geoprocessing in action ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Data compilation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Analysis and modeling............................................................................................................................................................. 10 Data management .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Cartography ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10 GIS information management ................................................................................................................................................... 11 GIS data can be sizable ........................................................................................................................................................... 11 GIS data compilation can be an advanced, specialized activity ..................................................................................... 11 GIS involves a unique combination of scientific and business computing .................................................................. 11 A GIS needs long transactions .............................................................................................................................................. 11 GIS is inherently a distributed information system ............................................................................................................... 12 Interoperability ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12 What comprises a comprehensive GIS platform? .................................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS ARCGIS? ........................................................................................................................ 15 GIS is evolving ............................................................................................................................................................................. 16 The changing role of GIS ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Desktop GIS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Server GIS................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 ArcGIS includes three server products ............................................................................................................................ 18 Developer GIS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 ArcGIS Engine ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Mobile GIS ............................................................................................................................................................................... 20 The geodatabase ....................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Online capabilities of ArcGIS .............................................................................................................................................. 21 CHAPTER 3: DESKTOP GIS: ARCVIEW, ARCEDITOR, AND ARCINFO .......................................... 23 What is ArcGIS Desktop? .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 ArcGIS Desktop suite of applications ..................................................................................................................................... 25 ArcMap .....................................................................................................................................................................................