ESRI UC Response to Questions
Every year ESRI sends out a questionnaire to attendees of the UC and they’ve just posted the results from this year. Some of the questions are C-level and probably not interesting to this crowd, but it does get into some of the 9.4 (as was seen at the DevSummit), map automation, file geodatabase, and new technology. A couple that caught my eye:
Q: When will ESRI support direct access to the spatial types within relational databases (i.e. SQL 2008, Oracle Spatial, etc) that are not geodatabases (i.e. does not utilize ArcSDE technology)?
At 9.4, ArcGIS introduces new functionality called ‘query layers’ to allow users to directly access spatial type data stored in a database that is not a geodatabase. Query layers allow users to use a SQL query to access spatial type data and create a new (read-only) layer in ArcMap. This layer will allow users to map, query, and analyze data from spatially enabled databases such as SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, DB2, or Informix without registering the spatial information in a geodatabase or installing and configuring ArcSDE.
Additionally, geodatabase users who store their spatial information in spatial types can use this functionality to work with their data using complex SQL queries.
Q: Will ESRI support the iPhone?
Yes, we will support the iPhone as a mobile platform to get maps from ArcGIS Server and do queries and edits on data from ArcGIS Server. We plan on releasing an application for the iPhone later this year and then adding additional capability as part of our 9.4 release. In addition developers can build their own solutions for the iPhone using the REST APIs available from ArcGIS Server.
Q: Is ESRI moving into any new business lines?
Our fundamental business is building ArcGIS and supporting our users and partners with effective technical support and professional services to help them implement their technology. In the last year we have extended ArcGIS with online services. Fundamentally, this is ESRI’s implementation of GIS in the cloud. This environment involves a large deployment of ArcGIS Server and an extensive library of GIS content. This direction is principally focused on providing Web services to our software users. Generally speaking our users have been very pleased with these services. ESRI now receives several million requests a day for the use of these services worldwide, and we believe it’s just beginning.
Q: How will ESRI support professional standing through certification?
Professional certification provides proof that an individual has attained competence at a defined level of performance. With the ArcGIS 9.4 release, ESRI intends to offer a technical certification program designed around the use of our products in successful ArcGIS implementations. This program will be available to ESRI users, partners, distributors, and staff. While it will focus on the use of our products, it will be complementary to the GISP certification offered through the GIS Certification Institute, which focuses on the practice of GIS. We hope this will help create an active and qualified user community that can expand the reach of GIS in solving problems around the world.
Safe FME User Conference Keynote Video
Safe was nice enough to let me post the video from my keynote on my blog. I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak at FME UC and had a wonderful time meeting everyone there.
Safe FME User Conference Keynote Video
Safe was nice enough to let me post the video from my keynote on my blog. I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak at FME UC and had a wonderful time meeting everyone there.
OpenLayers 2.8 Released
The wait is over, OpenLayers 2.8 has been released. Some of the highlights I think are important:
- Add support for multi-layer feature selection when using vector features
- Added support for “XYZ” layers to interact with standard caches of tiles; includes OSM support built in
- Add support for drawing text on vector layers
- Support for loading ArcGIS Server data
- OSM layer
- Improved KML support with better styling, networklink support, ExtendedData Support
The full list is here. ArcXML support is “interesting”, but I havne’t touched an AXL file in years.
Hooray OpenLayers!
Hooray OpenLayers!
OpenLayers 2.8 Released
The wait is over, OpenLayers 2.8 has been released. Some of the highlights I think are important:
- Add support for multi-layer feature selection when using vector features
- Added support for “XYZ” layers to interact with standard caches of tiles; includes OSM support built in
- Add support for drawing text on vector layers
- Support for loading ArcGIS Server data
- OSM layer
- Improved KML support with better styling, networklink support, ExtendedData Support
The full list is here. ArcXML support is “interesting”, but I havne’t touched an AXL file in years.
Hooray OpenLayers!
Hooray OpenLayers!
GIS Cartography — A Guide to Effective Map Design
I just finished reading a new book by Gretchen Peterson called GIS Cartography: A Guide to Effective Map Design and I really enjoyed it. Gretchen wrote this book independent of any GIS tools so that you can apply it anywhere, from ESRI and Autodesk to PowerPoint and Web Mapping. So much of computer books include sections on preferences, installation and best practices, that it takes away from actually learning key concepts. Cartography is critical to visualization of spatial data and with so many different ways to visualize that information these days, you need these key concepts to ensure that you are getting your message out.
Gretchen’s writing style was enjoyable and she was able to cover detailed concepts without losing my interest. I’m guessing because we come from similar GIS backgrounds, I really was able to follow her though process and better understand how I should look at GIS cartography. Another think I really liked was the ability pick the book up and find a section to review so I can see this being a great reference book as well.
The chapter on fonts was particularly enjoyable. So often I believe this is an area overlooked by GIS cartographers and can greatly affect the ability of readers to understand your maps. Color is another area that Gretchen covers and in great detail. The world is much more complicated than just polygons so she goes much deeper than most websites and GIS books have into how color affects your output.
GIS books aren’t cheap because they never do the volumes that general computing books do, but when you can apply them across multiple software packages and disciplines, you get much more value out of them. Gretchen’s book is something that you can use almost anywhere with any medium and won’t get out of date. That is a great value that most technical computing books overlook. GIS Cartography is a great resource to have and one that I’m glad that I have in my technical library. I’m guessing though that it will spend more time next to my computer than on the bookshelf. Flip through the pages at Google Books and see how valuable this book is. Great job Gretchen!