This tag should only be used for questions concerning ArcGIS the GIS Platform from Esri. Try wherever possible to use a product tag such as arcgis-desktop, arcgis-server, arcgis-mobile or arcgis-online on conjunction with a version tag such as arcgis-10.1, arcgis-10.0 or arcgis-9.3.
36
votes
4answers
11k views
How to build effective heat-maps?
Using ArcGIS, QuantumGIS, Grass, and/or GVSIG
What are some of the tools and processes involved in building effective heat maps?
What are the plugins involved?
What are the major data requirements?
...
31
votes
5answers
912 views
When to use Model Builder over Python Scripting and vice versa?
I'm new in python scripting in ArcGIS but not Model Builder. I'd like to know what's the benefits of Python VS Model Builder. Why should we write script for GIS automation while we can use Model ...
30
votes
13answers
8k views
Why do you use ArcGIS?
I'm new to GIS, having only dabbled with ArcGIS for about 4 weeks in 2007. The business I am at wants to target writing complete solutions that involve GIS as it would benefit their hardware sales. ...
30
votes
4answers
3k views
Why has Web Mercator (auxiliary sphere) become the web map standard?
I understand what the difference is between the Web Mercator projection and Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (WMAS). I also understand that both Google and Esri have adopted this projection as their ...
29
votes
4answers
4k views
Migrate from ArcGIS to QGIS?
This is my first visit to and first question on this site, I hope this newbie question is suitable here.
Our lab has about 10 projects in ArcGIS 9 (a couple are made in ArcGIS 10) that includes the ...
26
votes
3answers
626 views
Sharing Open Source Python Code for ArcGIS
My company just purchased ArcGIS software. I'll be writing scripts for ArcGIS in Python. Is there a community or open source project where this code can be shared? (I'll be releasing all of my code ...
24
votes
7answers
594 views
GIS developer blogs … recommendations?
I'm looking for recommendations for GIS blogs ... specifically GIS developer blogs. I'm less interested in the geography than in how apps are put together.
I'd like to keep up with ESRI ArcGIS as ...
24
votes
6answers
2k views
Options for ArcGIS Desktop SpatiaLite support?
SpatiaLite is playing an increasing role in my organization. As it stands now, using SpatiaLite alongside ArcGIS Desktop requires an amount of importing and exporting of data that isn't always ...
23
votes
5answers
5k views
ArcGIS and PostGIS
Has anyone successfully used PostgreSQL with PostGIS successfully? I am a semi-experienced ArcGIS user and want to build out a database and connect it to ArcCatalog. I've scoured the internet for ...
23
votes
2answers
983 views
Streamlining Python Code for Big Data
I have Python code which is designed to take point shapefiles through the following workflow:
Merge points
Integrate points, such that any points within 1 m of each other
become one point
Create ...
22
votes
9answers
9k views
How can I connect to a PostGIS database from ArcMap 9.3 and 10.0?
How can I connect to a PostGIS database from ArcMap 9.3 or 10.0?
Ideally, I would like to be able to perform spatially enabled queries and receive the results back (e.g. spatial and non-spatial ...
21
votes
4answers
374 views
How to use directional shading on boundaries for cartographic effect?
The attached screenshot of a National Geographic map shows some beautiful directional shading of boundaries. I'm trying to reproduce this sort of shading for a burn perimeter map, as I want to ...
20
votes
4answers
483 views
Recommend topics to be included in a Computer Science for Geospatial Technologies course
I will be instructing a course at the local university titled Computer Science for Geospatial Technologies. This is an introductory course meant to introduce computer science concepts to geospatial ...
19
votes
7answers
9k views
Removing small spaces between polygons
I have a set of polygons representing administrative districts. The districts were digitized by hand, and there are small spaces between polygons where the polygons should be touching. How can I ...
19
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there any model builder in QGIS or other open source GIS?
Like the model builder in ArcGIS Desktop to run simultaneous geoprocessing tools, is there any model builder available in QGIS or an open source GIS software.
19
votes
5answers
2k views
Future of Silverlight in ArcGis?
On the last Build Conference in September 2011 Microsoft told a lot about Windows 8 and the Future of JavaScript over Silverlight. No Plugins wanted!! JavaScript with html5 ftw!
Now what is the ...
19
votes
2answers
683 views
Color polygons so each is distinct from its neighbors
I'm using ArcGIS 10, and I have a layers of 2010 Census blocks, block groups, and tracts. There are thousands of polygons in these layers. I want to color them so that each is distinct from its ...
18
votes
10answers
24k views
How do I convert MapInfo TAB and/or MIF to SHP?
How do I convert MapInfo TAB and/or MIF files to SHP using only free tools or ArcGIS itself? I've not had much luck trying to do this in the past and I don't want to have to shell out for the ArcGIS ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Alternatives to ArcGIS Online?
I am considering purchasing ArcGIS Online for a group of users who currently use about 5% of ArcGIS capabilities (ArcMap, simple map creation and information display) about 80% of the time. Primary ...
18
votes
9answers
7k views
ArcGIS Desktop 10 Tips and Tricks
A couple times a month, I check out the various tips and tricks CW posts on StackOverflow and always learn something new.
I went back and forth as to whether to pin this question to a specific ...
18
votes
3answers
2k views
How to hide “internal” polygon boundaries?
We've been scratching our heads over how to tackle this for some time, and are no more illuminated than when we started. I hope you can help. Our task is thus: how to draw a lake with a solid outer ...
18
votes
1answer
365 views
What does the adoption of Python by NVIDIA for GPGPU mean for GIS?
Today NVIDIA announced support for the Python language on its flavor of GPGPU (CUDA).
Manifold GIS uses CUDA to enable some accelerated raster operations but it is not a programmable environment and ...
17
votes
8answers
746 views
What are some resources for learning Python and arcpy?
I would like to learn arcpy, but I do not know quite where to begin. Does anyone have any good advice on where I should start to learn arcpy?
17
votes
6answers
434 views
What are key things to test in ArcMap 10.1, service pack 1?
I have been asked to test service pack 1 for ArcMap 10.1 before it is provided to other users at my university. Are there any key things I should do for any SP test, or should I try to look at things ...
16
votes
6answers
2k views
Is there a way to code-complete arcpy scripts using an external editor?
I have been scripting in Python for ArcGIS 10, and so far I have just been using Notepad++. I like how the Python command line interface code-completes arcpy functionality for you, showing you your ...
16
votes
6answers
9k views
How can I define projections for multiple shape files in ArcMap 10 at once?
I have over 100 shape files that don't have .prj file and thus when I bring them into ArcMap they show the coordinate system as unknown. I know all of the shape files coordinate system is GCS WGS ...
16
votes
7answers
797 views
GIS for Local Police Department
I'm trying to recruit local police departments into a new GIS certificate that I am teaching in Florence South Carolina. None of the Police departments have any experience with GIS, but they are all ...
16
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I calculate the average width of a polygon?
I'm interested in examining the average width of a polygon that represents the road surface. I also have the road centerline as a vector (which is sometimes not exactly in the center). In this example ...
16
votes
1answer
3k views
How to divide a polygon into specific sizes using ArcGIS?
I have several thousand irregularly shaped polygons in a shapefile. I want to be able to split each polygon into three areas, and to specify what the size of those areas (they sum to the previous ...
15
votes
5answers
4k views
Best practices for a mixed ArcGIS 9 and 10 environment?
What are some best practices for ArcGIS v9.3 and v10 in the same shop?
We have a couple of dozen users on v9.3. The bulk of our data is in file geodatabases and geotiffs, with a respectable splash of ...
15
votes
2answers
521 views
Crashing ArcGIS 10.1 Add-ins Using Multiprocessing
I would like to run a multiprocessing task from a python add-in tool. My issue is that the process keeps failing. Basically crashes ArcMap.
Here is my basic code:
def function(startOID, endOID, ...
15
votes
1answer
198 views
Are there any standards or common practices for performing a network analysis for emergency response?
I am working on a project using Network Analyst to determine official emergency response zones for fire departments. The shape of each zone will be determined by the network (at least 1 department ...
14
votes
4answers
609 views
The simplest way to uninstall any and all ArcGIS products?
What it is the simplest and most straightforward way to uninstall any and all ArcGIS products more or less in one go that might be present on a Windows machine? perhaps scriptable?
Add/Remove ...
14
votes
3answers
475 views
Hidden Features of ArcGIS
ArcGIS is one of the most popular software-packages available for GIS.
What are the lesser-known but useful features of the ArcGIS? Which little/hidden tricks do you known that make your experience ...
14
votes
5answers
4k views
What's the difference between feature class and feature layer?
This may be very trivial question. To me they seems very similar in concept. What's the difference between feature class and feature layer?
14
votes
1answer
793 views
Calling arcpy/python from .NET?
Are there any available examples that show how python can be integrated into a .NET ArcGIS Addin or Extension? I have a series of python scripts that I would like to call from form events (e.g. button ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
R to ArcGIS 9.3.1 or 10
I m trying to learn R generally and making statistics for maps. I found some useful tricks for making maps with it but it is not the best you can do. My everyday GIS program is ArcGIS. How I can use ...
14
votes
1answer
498 views
What is the most accurate coordinate system for calculating areas of polygons?
I have multiple polygons, all located offshore around the UK. I am trying to calculate the areas of these polygons in square kilometres, without splitting them by UTM zone.
Is it possible to do this ...
14
votes
3answers
525 views
Ecological geospatial conundrum
I am looking for a different, more elegant solution to a spatial statistics problem. Raw data consists of an x-y coordinate for each individual tree (i.e. converted to a point .shp file). Although ...
14
votes
3answers
518 views
How to deal with bridges and tunnels when modeling raster least cost paths?
I'm currently using ArcGIS 10 Spatial Analyst's Cost Path tool to model pedestrian routes. I have sidewalks, fences, buildings and a ton of pedestrian scale features, all combined into a cost surface ...
14
votes
2answers
494 views
What is the best practice for data management? [duplicate]
I have always been curious how other folks are storing their spatial data. Outside of an enterprise environment where much data is stored in enterprise geodatabases, is it better to store data per ...
14
votes
1answer
347 views
Hand drawn sketchy symbology styles for GIS software
Often times in planning projects, a hand drawn, sketchy look is desirable in order to convey the preliminary nature of a project.
Is anyone aware of any utilities/plugins for desktop GIS software ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
Should I use File Geodatabase (*.gdb), Personal Geodatabase (*.mdb) or shapefiles?
I am a bit confused on the topic of databases. For me, this far, I have used databases as an easy way to keep all files together rather than having dozens of shapefiles all over the place. And it's ...
13
votes
3answers
8k views
13
votes
4answers
1k views
What are data visualization and analyses pros/cons of QGIS over ArcGIS?
Many of my colleagues use GIS on a very sporadic basis for simple data visualization and basic analysis (clipping, buffering, etc.) and I am hoping to transition these non-core GIS people to QGIS so ...
13
votes
5answers
567 views
How to make a GIS inventory?
My office will be seeing a big change in its GIS section. This section has been operational since the 1980's and has a huge collection of GIS data (i.e., shapefiles, raster files, data, etc) but never ...
13
votes
7answers
2k views
How to create a trade flow map in Arcgis or any free software
I am trying to represent trade flows on a world map where the size and direction of arrows indicate the exports/imports of a given country.
This type of map is commonly found in magazines and ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Data naming convention - starting with a number
My company uses ArcGIS and has a project and data file naming standards in place and (for the most part) followed. Something that has always bothered me about he naming standards is that it mandates ...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Using ArcGIS 10 on a virtual machine with OSX
I'm currently using ArcGIS 10 on a Windows 7 64 bit Macbook Pro (2.53 Ghz and 8GB of RAM) using VMWare. However, when I am using ArcGIS I find it quite slow even with Windows 7 (64-bit) optimized for ...
13
votes
5answers
273 views
Python Development Project - Team working
We have a development project in Python (ArcGIS 10). This project involves a mixture of toolboxes, map templates, layer files, file geodatabase templates (acting as templates being imported into a ...
