ArcGIS

ArcGIS ArcGIS is a proprietary geographic information system software suite developed by Esri for spatial analysis, mapping, and geographic data management. It integrates desktop, server, mobile, and cloud capabilities to support tasks in urban planning, environmental science, emergency management, transportation, and natural resources. The platform interoperates with standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium and connects to data sources used by agencies such as the United Nations, NASA, and national mapping agencies.

Overview

ArcGIS provides tools for map creation, spatial analytics, geoprocessing, and data visualization used by organizations like the World Bank, European Commission, and United States Geological Survey. Its ecosystem links desktop applications with enterprise servers, cloud services, and mobile clients enabling workflows across institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and United Nations Environment Programme. Through integrations with software from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, ArcGIS supports data formats adopted by bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization and the Open Geospatial Consortium.

History and Development

Esri, founded by Jack Dangermond, introduced key GIS products in the 1980s alongside trends in computing pioneered by companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems. The platform evolved through releases coinciding with developments in relational databases from Oracle, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server, and with standards set by the Open Geospatial Consortium and the International Cartographic Association. Partnerships and acquisitions involving firms such as SAP, Trimble, and GeoEye influenced functionality for remote sensing, surveying, and enterprise integration. Academic collaborations with universities including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT contributed to methods adopted from the fields represented by the American Association of Geographers and the Royal Geographical Society.

Components and Products

The ArcGIS ecosystem comprises desktop software, server components, cloud services, and mobile apps used by agencies such as FEMA, EPA, and CDC. Desktop products link to extensions used by researchers at institutions like Caltech and ETH Zurich, while server products integrate with enterprise systems at corporations such as Boeing, Siemens, and General Electric. Cloud offerings interoperate with platforms from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Mobile and field applications have been deployed by organizations including Doctors Without Borders, World Wildlife Fund, and Red Cross. Specialized products support imagery workflows with partners like DigitalGlobe, Planet Labs, and ESA.

Key Features and Functionality

ArcGIS provides cartographic tools, spatial statistics, network analysis, and raster analytics applied in projects involving the United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Geoprocessing models and Python scripting integrate with libraries and environments associated with NumPy, Pandas, and SciPy used in research at institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Oxford, and Cambridge. Web GIS capabilities underpin portals and services consumed by municipal governments like New York City, London, and Sydney and by transportation authorities including Transport for London and Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Interoperability is supported through OGC protocols adopted by agencies such as the European Space Agency and national mapping agencies like Ordnance Survey.

Applications and Use Cases

ArcGIS is applied in disaster response by organizations such as FEMA, International Committee of the Red Cross, and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; in conservation projects led by WWF, Conservation International, and The Nature Conservancy; and in infrastructure planning by Siemens, AECOM, and Arup. Public health analyses use data from WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and national health ministries. Agricultural monitoring leverages satellite providers like NASA Landsat, ESA Sentinel, and Planet Labs for precision farming used by corporations such as John Deere and CNH Industrial. Urban analytics inform planning in municipalities like Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Paris and projects funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Licensing, Deployment, and Editions

Esri offers commercial licensing models that parallel enterprise agreements used by corporations such as IBM and Deloitte and procurement frameworks employed by government agencies including the Department of Defense and NATO. Deployment options include on-premises servers used by ministries of transport and utilities, cloud-hosted deployments on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud used by multinational firms, and subscription-based SaaS portals adopted by universities and NGOs. Editions and extensions target specialist users in fields represented by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Criticism and Controversies

ArcGIS and Esri have faced criticism on topics raised by digital rights groups like Electronic Frontier Foundation and civil society organizations including Amnesty International regarding licensing costs and data access policies. Debates involving open-source advocates such as the Open Source Geospatial Foundation and projects like QGIS and GRASS GIS highlight tensions over proprietary formats, interoperability, and vendor lock-in discussed in forums attended by contributors from Red Hat, Apache Foundation, and Linux Foundation. Academic critiques from researchers at universities such as UC Berkeley and University College London address reproducibility and transparency when using proprietary toolchains in studies submitted to journals like Nature and Science. Concerns about surveillance and humanitarian applications have been raised by human rights groups and investigative reporters at organizations such as ProPublica and The Guardian.

Category:Geographic information systems