2015ESRI Global User Conference Top10 QA

1. What are the important plans for the development of ArcGIS? What is the long-term roadmap?

The ArcGIS platform continues to improve in several ways. Key points are as follows:

First, we are working on a new concept-geoanalytics. Geoanalytics uses a new technology, including distributed computing and storage frameworks, to analyze and visualize big data. The sample includes a large amount of analysis and visualization of real-time streaming data (e.g., driving vehicle/GPS sensors, connecting devices and social media events), analysis of massive spatiotemporal data, and raster analysis of massive image sets can be enabled batch processing.

Over the next three to 6-18 months, we will be introducing new features of the ArcGIS platform in this area, and it is easy for our users to use this new approach to meet their needs to deal with such big data. The geoevent and geoanalytics capabilities combine to support high-speed real-time extraction, mass storage, real-time and batch analysis data. The combination of image and geoanalytics capabilities will support the distribution, batch analysis, and dynamic analysis of images captured by drones, aerial and satellite sensors.

The geoevent extension is being enhanced to support high-speed access and stream processing for more than hundreds of thousands of events per second similar to the underlying device. To support time-space archiving, analysis, and visualization, we will also introduce a new spatiotemporal Big data Store (datastore) in ArcGIS for server based on distributed storage technology. This new data store will leverage the additional infrastructure to augment capacity and throughput scale. In the field of visualization of big data, we are studying a number of things, including smart maps, built-in aggregations, and hierarchical visualizations.

Second, we've added 3D capabilities to the ArcGIS platform to support a complete workflow to edit, manage, analyze, publish, and share data in a 3D environment . With ArcGIS Pro 1.1, users can publish Web scenes in ArcGIS online and ArcGIS for server. In Pro 1.2 We will add support for KML and publish scene layers composed of points, lines, polygons, and elevations. In the next 12 months, the ArcGIS Web and Runtime SDKs will fully support the use of device applications built on the Runtime and Web, leveraging the benefits of 3D workflows and information products.

At the end of this year, we will also release a new client application ArcGIS earth--an easy-to-use desktop application that supports KML workflows and integrates with the ArcGIS platform. Vector slicing, which previously described support for 2D, is also supported in Web and mobile applications. For more information, see QA in section 3D, cartography, and visualization.

Thirdly, we are working on creating a series of apps that support the workflow of different types of users in your organization . We are providing field workers with a range of apps: faster and more efficient data collection, on-site management and coordination, and transactional/task visualization and analysis. We are also in the same business for office workers and communities. Some of these new applications have been shown at the user conference, and you can find more information in the QA in the Mobile and Apps section.  

2. How will ESRI release its software in the future?

ESRI's software has three major release plans, including:

1) ArcGIS software products and maintenance . This is what most users will be exposed to when purchasing our software, especially arcgisfor Desktop,arcgis for server and extension. The current product cycle is version 10.x, released in December 2014 of 10.3, released in May 2015 by ArcGIS 10.3.1, and the release of ArcGIS 10.4 is scheduled for the beginning of 2016.

Esri released ArcGIS Pro 1.0 in January 2015. Expected to be released in the third quarter of 2015 ArcGIS Pro 1.1, released at the end of 2015 ArcGIS Pro 1.2. ArcGIS Pro is part of the desktop for ArcGIS, but the release cycle is slightly different, allowing users to get very fast enhancements to some extent faster.

2) ArcGIS online and apps. Arcgisonline is a fully cloud-enabled GIS with 3-4 functions and capability updates per year. The speed of content updates 20–30 times per year. Apps follow a similar release cycle and are updated several times a year.

3) Esri Labs. This is a new initiative of ESRI, designed to enable our users to understand the concept and value of future products before they are available for new products. Esri Labs focuses on apps, workflow templates, and related content. Apps are free to use, but are not an official ESRI product, so they have not been formally tested and documented and are not covered by ESRI's technical support. This approach introduces an agile release cycle that allows some of our creative efforts to gain more value.

3. What is ESRI's strategy on 3D?

This year we have made great strides in providing 3D capabilities for the entire ArcGIS platform. So far, we have achieved the following results:

1) Increased 3D authoring and publishing capabilities in ArcGIS Pro

2) Three-dimensional browser-based (no plugins required)

3) ArcGIS Online provides Web viewer and Web Scene

4) ArcGIS for Server (including portal for ArcGIS) provides webviewer and web Scene

5) 3D Arcgisruntime for. NET developers (support for other development platforms subsequently released)

In the next 6-12 months, we will add 3D (desktop, Server, Online, browser, and mobile apps) to each section. In addition, we are working on an easy-to-use, lightweight desktop app with the name Arcgisearth.

4. What is smart mapping? How will the future of smart mapping develop?

Smart mapping makes charting easier than ever, making it possible for everyone to create interactive maps to introduce interesting stories. Smart mapping is not a single function, it is a set of intuitive, data-driven workflow and the default intelligent advice to get the best way to map, with a strong visual impact. Smart mapping includes the principles of intelligent design, analyzing your data and existing choices, reflecting the characteristics of your data and the type of map you want to help you make the right choices.

Smart mapping provides new choices for data rendering, including continuous color values, proportional symbols, improved classification mapping, calorific values, and enhanced transparency to convey more information. You can easily adjust the data you want to display, such as using demographic data to highlight regions that are above or below the national level. Smart mapping can determine many of the available settings and choose the right choice to make your map look good, even if you are first contact with cartography. This means that you can spend less effort and make better maps in less time.

Smart mapping also provides additional help to control your cartographic effects. When you know exactly what you want to do, smart mapping does not prevent you from modifying your map, changing the parameters of the map, such as the size of the symbol, the color style, and the classification method, will never exceed three clicks.

More content: http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2015/03/02/introducing-smart-mapping/

Future types of smart mapping will include:

1) point density and multi-point density

2) Intelligent Clustering

3) transparent setting by attribute value

4) Classification Data mapping

5) Transparency Overlay size and color (partly updated in July)

5. What do I choose if ESRI has provided so many apps?

ESRI has provided a large number of apps running on different devices that can use resources in the cloud, or resources in the local organization, providing an intuitive experience that quickly meets the organization's user goals, and the following scenarios for selecting which apps depend on the user's needs:

Field work: If you want to quickly and efficiently collect data, quickly display GIS data and real-time data, and perform analysis functions in the wild, you can consider apps:

1) Explorer for ArcGIS: Lightweight map Browsing app, running on smartphones and tablets;

2) Collector for ArcGIS: Map-centric data collection that can run on most mobile devices (Ios,android and Windows 10)

3) Survey123 for ArcGIS (an ESRI Lab project): A new, form-centric data collection workflow app;

4) Arcpad and ArcGIS for Windows Mobile: high-precision data acquisition solution running on Windows and Windows Mobile systems;

5) Navigator for ArcGIS: path navigation, support offline.

Monitor, plan, present, collaborate:

6) Operations Dashboard for ArcGIS: Runs on Windows desktop devices and tablet devices, monitoring daily business operations and events;

7) Explorer for ArcGIS: Discover, use, analyze, and share GIS data on smartphones and tablets, as well as on Macs, providing a quick way to get GIS content, including imagery, maps, related document and attribute information;

8) Esri Maps for Office: enables Office users to quickly make tabular data into maps and insert map slides in ppt;

9) ArcGIS Earth (coming soon): a free, lightweight 3D map viewing app that can be used by members of the public or the organization.

integration with existing systems: You can create and browse maps directly from other business apps, such as Microsoft Office and SharePoint, while ArcGIS can also integrate with existing BI systems, such as Cognos, MicroStrategy and Salesforce;

Public Participation:

Esri story Map can combine maps and text, images, multimedia content, and so on to create a web map for public access;

AppStudio for ArcGIS allows you to create your own, well-experienced ArcGIS maps that run on both iOS and Android phones, and the quick capture template included in AppStudio for ArcGIS to build native apps, Realize crowdsourcing;

ArcGIS Platform provides a number of Web application templates that can be included in your own site;

Developers can use ArcGIS Runtime SDKs and Appstudio for ArcGIS to build custom apps to meet the needs of the public. ESRI's partners can also use these SDKs to quickly build industry solutions.

6. How do ArcGIS apps support offline workflows?

1) Collector for ArcGIS and Arcpad, ArcGIS forwindows mobile support offline map browsing, querying and editing operations, and both support Offline service mode (publish feature service, download, edit, and sync). Arcpad and ArcGIS for Windows mobile support offline desktop mode, where the corresponding GP tool is available on the desktop to check in or check out the data on the desktop and mobile devices.

2) Survey123 for ArcGIS, a new mobile app that supports a form-centric data acquisition process that supports offline data collection;

3) Navigator for ArcGIS also supports offline workflows, support for offline address lookups and offline path navigation;

4) Use Appstudio for ArcGIS and Arcgisruntime SDKs to build custom apps with offline functionality.

7. What are the next updates to Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS?

In the July ArcGIS Online update, the integration of Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS adds the following features:

1) 5 new themes: Billboard, box, Dart, jewelry box, and Launchpad

2) 5 new Widget:search,stream, Summary, incidentanalysis, and Geolookup

3) support to open the widget by default when the Web application starts;

4) in the geoprocessing widget, support uploading data when using GP service;

5) Support for configuring context menus in the Layer list widget;

6) support to download the app directly from the app details page;

7) The foldable (collapsed) Theme and tab (tab) Themes are supported better and can respond faster.

For more information, see the blog: What's Coming in Webappbuilder for ArcGIS in the ArcGIS Online July update.

8. What is Appstudio Forarcgis?

AppStudio for ArcGIS is a new tool that makes it easy to build native apps that support multiple devices. For a long time, enterprises or organizations need to entrust third-party developers to create interactive and friendly GIS applications, now through Appstudio, users do not need to understand the development, they can transform the map into a refined and easy to use mobile applications, and published to the store or enterprise, and support cross-platform, Can run on Android, Ios,windows, Mac OS X, and linuxplatforms.

AppStudio for ArcGIS is currently in the beta phase, and the first official version is expected to be released in the quarter 2015.

9. What new features will come with the advent of the ArcGIS Runtime Quartz version?

This year in the user Conference, user communication and developer Showcase Island you will hear the team come up with "Quartz", which is the code for the next big version of the ArcGIS Runtime SDK. This version includes a number of notable enhancements, and the official version is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016, prior to a few beta releases, the first of which is scheduled for release in August 2015.

New features of the ArcGIS Runtime quartz release, including:

1) Map Performance improvements

2) Support more data format, vector data including mobile geodatabase (Runtime geodatabase), Shapefile file, KML, raster image mainly includes JPEG, JPEG2000, NITF, GeoTIFF, MRSID,CADRG, ECRG, DTED, SRTM, HRE and LiDAR. In addition, OGC Geopackage are supported, as well as custom vector and raster data sources

3) More GIS analysis capabilities, including local analysis

4) Support intelligent mapping, vector slicing and reading and writing online map functions

5) Support 3D scene, browse and analyze 3D data

6) Support Xamarin, allow. NET developers to build applications that run across platforms.

What are the surprises of the ARCGISAPI for JavaScript 4.0 version?

More powerful features are available in the latest JavaScript API version 4.0, which will coexist with the existing 3.x version API. Several notable improvements are listed below:

1) Performance optimization: API leverages the latest drawing capabilities to improve the performance of drawing and rendering on the client as a whole

2) New features also include real-time data availability and map rotation

3) 3D across the ArcGIS platform

4) More simplified API and better user experience

5) Support vector slicing, improve web-side mapping performance, and ensure excellent performance at any resolution

6) Support the ability to read and write web maps and scenes

The final version of 4.0 is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016, and the first beta version is released in July 2015.

Learn more and read the original English http://www.esri.com/events/user-conference/q-and-a

2015ESRI Global User Conference Top10 QA