Esri ArcGIS Pro

Esri ArcGIS Pro
Name	Esri ArcGIS Pro
Developer	Esri
Released	2015
Latest release version	3.x
Programming language	C#
Operating system	Windows
Genre	Geographic information system

Esri ArcGIS Pro is a professional desktop geographic information system application produced by Esri for creating, analyzing, visualizing, and sharing spatial data and maps. It serves as a successor to ArcMap and integrates with Esri's cloud platform for enterprise GIS workflows used by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United Nations, and corporations like BP and Siemens. The application is used in contexts ranging from environmental planning involving the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the World Wildlife Fund to infrastructure projects with Bechtel and urban planning with New York City agencies.

Overview

ArcGIS Pro is a 64-bit, ribbon-interface GIS desktop client designed to support mapping, spatial analysis, 3D visualization, and data management workflows. Organizations including the European Space Agency, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology deploy it alongside server technologies such as ArcGIS Server and cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Academic institutions such as Stanford University, University of Oxford, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology use it for research in disciplines tied to the National Science Foundation, the European Research Council, and applied projects funded by the Gates Foundation.

Features and Functionality

The application offers mapping, geoprocessing, spatial statistics, raster analysis, and 3D scene creation, enabling workflows used by practitioners at the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Cartographic production features serve clients like the United States Census Bureau, Ordnance Survey, and National Geographic Society, while analytical tools integrate with standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium and data sources maintained by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites. Visualization capabilities support LiDAR and point cloud datasets generated by vendors such as Leica Geosystems and Trimble, and remote sensing workflows using sensors from Landsat, Sentinel-2, and commercial platforms like Planet Labs.

Architecture and Data Management

ArcGIS Pro's architecture centers on a project (.aprx) model with integrated layers, maps, layouts, and connections to enterprise geodatabases like PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, and Microsoft SQL Server. It interoperates with spatial data formats and services including GeoJSON, KML, Web Map Service, and GeoTIFF used by organizations such as the OpenStreetMap community and the DigitalGlobe archive. Data management workflows align with standards set by the International Organization for Standardization and the Federal Geographic Data Committee, and integrate with metadata profiles from the Library of Congress and catalog services like CKAN.

Licensing and Editions

Esri licenses the software through subscription and perpetual models, with tiers used by entities such as the United States Department of Defense, municipal governments like the City of Los Angeles, and private firms including Accenture. Editions and extensions map to professional needs—Advanced, Standard, and Basic tiers mirror enterprise offerings from vendors such as Autodesk in adjacent markets, while specialized extensions support imagery, 3D, and network analysis comparable to solutions from Hexagon AB and Bentley Systems.

Development and Extensibility

Developers build add-ins and geoprocessing tools using the .NET SDK and Python with packages like NumPy, Pandas, and SciPy, adopting workflows familiar to research groups at Harvard University and technology teams at Google. Integration points include REST APIs used by GitHub projects, CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins and Azure DevOps, and containerized deployments orchestrated by Kubernetes when connecting to microservices from vendors such as Red Hat. Scripting and automation for tasks like spatial modeling and machine learning leverage frameworks from TensorFlow and scikit-learn in collaborative projects with organizations like Esri Research and university labs funded by the Wellcome Trust.

Adoption and Use Cases

Public sector use cases include emergency management by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and public health surveillance with institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while private sector uses span utilities (e.g., National Grid), transportation (e.g., Union Pacific Railroad), and natural resources companies including ExxonMobil. Conservation and biodiversity projects run by the Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian Institution use the platform alongside nongovernmental partners like Conservation International and research initiatives supported by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

History and Release Timeline

The product was introduced in the mid-2010s as part of Esri's transition from legacy desktop applications, with major releases aligning to broader platform shifts toward cloud services and 64-bit processing embraced by technology firms such as Microsoft and Amazon. Subsequent versions added 3D scene support, multiprocessing geoprocessing, and tighter integration with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise used by customers ranging from the European Commission to national mapping agencies like the Geological Survey of Canada.

Category:Geographic information systems