ArcMap Definition Query

The ArcMap Definition Query is a tool that not many people know about.  The tool takes the simple query interface and applies it to the visible extent of a data layer.  The example shown isolates New Zealand from a layer of countries.  Check it out and tell me what you think.

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Organizing CAD Data In ArcGIS: Part 5/7 Definition Query

Quick rant on joins in ArcMap

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What’s New in ArcGIS 9.3

Now that ArcGIS 9.3 has been out a few months, people are starting to migrate over to the new version.  So what is new?  ESRI has put together a few videos to show what cool additions they have added.  Check them out!

ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Options for Working with Graphics
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Layer Legend Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Bookmark Manager
ArcGIS 9.3: ESRI Resource Centers
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Pause Labeling
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Geoprocessing Tool Progress and Messaging
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: New KML Export Support
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Improved KML Support
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: WYSIWYG Representation Editing
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Identify Tool Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: New HTML Popup Tool
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Table Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Custom Relative Scales

Blogs:

• ESRI Seminar on New Features in ArcGIS 9.3
• ArcGIS 9.3 Now Exports Geo PDF Maps (ESRI)

Press Releases:

• ArcGIS 9.3 Improves Your Entire GIS Workflow
• ESRI Offers a Free ArcGIS 9.3 Seminar for Improving an Entire GIS Workflow

Compare Vehicle MPG by Map

A new website produced by ESRI will map the distance that your car will be able to travel as compared to an another vehicle of your choosing base on one gallon of gas.  The site, http://mapmpg.com, allows you to select a vehicles by year, make, and model.  A distance polygon is calculated for each vehicle and then routed based upon the location that you select.

Although this is pretty neat feature, ESRI is using this site to promote its BusinessMap software.  This software uses tools to help businesses run extensive analysis.

Other than the BusinessMap motive, this site is pretty cool!

When One Small Monitor Just Won’t Do

I recently found an interesting blog about Why your boss should buy you a larger monitor.  I found it very detailed in the benefits for buying a larger monitor for GIS work.  There is even a slide show with these details laid out.

I do not have a larger monitor, but I do have two monitors.  Althought you have to have a dual video card for this, I feel that the benefits are even greater than just a larger monitor.  I use the Dell UltraSharp 1908FP 19-inch monitor.  Well, I use two of them of course.  

Here are some ways I benefit from two monitors.

Read more

Open Source Mapping Tools

I just stumbled upon a really great website for those who are looking for a great open source mapping resource.  MapTools.org provides a variety of open source software and tools for GIS.  The areas included in this site are:

• Web Tools
• Desktop Tools
• Utilities
• Other Open Source Links

Although I mainly use ESRI software, open source is becoming a growing thing.  Providing the GIS industry with a free option for mapping is a win-win situation.  I am eagerly looking to learn more about this growing phenomenon.  I could go into more details about this site, but you check it out for yourself.  MapTools.org

GIS Software

There many, many different software packages available.  Some of them are free and some of them cost.  I will cover a few that are on the cost list in this post.  Free GIS software has been covered in another post (coming soon).  If you are trying to decide which software to use, it is important to establish what tasks you want accomplish and what your inputs and output will be.  Your budget is also a significant factor too.

 

ArcGIS is the name of a software product line produced by ESRI. At the desktop GIS level, ArcGIS can include: ArcReader, which allows one to view and query maps created with the other Arc products; ArcView, which allows one to view spatial data, create maps, and perform basic spatial analysis; ArcEditor which includes all the functionality of ArcView, includes more advanced tools for manipulation of shapefiles and geodatabases; or ArcInfo the most advanced version of ArcGIS, which includes added capabilities for data manipulation, editing, and analysis. There are also server-based ArcGIS products, as well as ArcGIS products for PDAs. Extensions can be purchased separately to increase the functionality of ArcGIS.

 

I use ArcGIS both at work and in school.  I have not used any of these other products.  I feel the ArcGIS is the best software available. I would highly recommend this software depending on what you need to accomplish.  There is some good free software that can do a lot.

 

MapInfo Professional is a Geographic Information System software product produced by MapInfo Corporation which is part of Pitney Bowes.

 

MapInfo Professional has the ability to combine and display, on a single map, data from a variety of sources that are in different formats and projections. The software is capable of overlaying raster and vector layers on the same map; the former can be made semi-transparent, so that they can serve as more than mere backdrops.

 

MapInfo is popular both in business and the public sector, where a typical user is analyzing pre-built map data layers. The software is traditionally desktop-oriented and often compared to ESRI’s ArcView 3.x product

 

Microsoft MapPoint is both a technology and a specific software program created by Microsoft that allows users to view, edit and integrate maps. The software and technology are designed to facilitate the geographical visualization and analysis of either included data or custom data. Numerous acquisitions (Vexcel, Vicinity Corporation, GeoTango, etc.) have supplemented both data and feature integration.

 

MapPoint is intended for business users but competes in the low-end GIS market. It includes all of the functionality of the most recent version of Streets and Trips, the consumer mapping software, at the time of development, as well integrates with Microsoft Office, data mapping from various sources including Microsoft Excel, and a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) interface allowing automation of the MapPoint environment.

 

**Data compiled from www.wikipedia.com