ArcGIS Server-unveil your secrets

ArcGIS Server is a powerful server-based GIS product. It is used to build enterprise-level GIS applications and services with centralized management, multi-user support, and advanced GIS functions, such: space Data Management, 2D 3D map visualization, data editing, spatial analysis, and other out-of-the-box applications and rich types of services. ArcGIS Server is a platform for users to create working groups, departments, and enterprise-level GIS applications, use ArcGIS Server to create centrally managed GIS applications that support multiple users, provide rich GIS functions, and meet industrial standards. ArcGIS Server provides a wide range of web-based GIS services to support geographic data management, plotting, geographic processing, spatial analysis, editing, and other GIS functions in a distributed environment.
1. Main Functions of ArcGIS Server
Main functions of ArcGIS Server include:
Provides a general framework for establishing and distributing GIS applications within an enterprise;
Provides simple and easy-to-configure web applications;
Provides a wide range of web-based spatial data acquisition functions;
Provides a general GIS data management framework;
Supports online spatial data editing and professional analysis;
Supports 2D and 3D map visualization;
In addition to the standard browser, it also supports desktop clients such as arcgisdesktop and arcgisexplorer;
Multiple GIS services can be integrated;
Supports standard WMS and WFS;
Provides management tools for configuration, release, and optimization of GIS servers;
Provides. NET and Java software development kits;
Provides an application development framework for mobile customers;

1) Main Functions of ArcGIS Server:
Space Data Management-arcgisserver provides two data storage management levels based on the arcgisgeodatabase model. With geodataservices, administrators can extract, check, and copy published geographic data. The three versions of arcgisserver, basic edition, Standard Edition, and advanced edition all have the ability to manage spatial data.
Space visualization (drawing)-arcgisserver provides web graphics services to support 2D and 3D Dynamic or static cache map publishing. GIS analysts can configure a web graphics service-based browser application with just a few clicks. In addition, ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Explorer can be used as the client of arcgisserver to browse 2D maps or 3D sphere. The standard and advanced editions of ArcGIS Server provide map functions.
The capabilities of visualized services.
Space Analysis-arcgisserver provides server-based analysis and geographic processing, including vector and raster analysis, 3D and network analysis. It also supports models, scripts, and tools created by ArcGIS geographic processing; only the advanced version of ArcGIS is capable of spatial analysis extension (spatial.

2) ArcGIS Server users include:
Professional users-professional users can use arcgisserver as a work platform to publish their achievements in the form of shared map data, business processes, and application functions, they can also enjoy Services released by other professional users.

Application developers who specialize in application development can create or customize applications using Services released by professional application users without having to have a deep understanding of GIS knowledge. Arcgisserver provides a rich application development environment, including J2EE and. NET 2.0.

Leader and non-professional users-the leader and non-professional users can use WebServices technology to integrate GIS applications provided by arcgisserver into their daily workflow. If they are highly integrated with other enterprise-level systems, users may not realize that they are applying GIS technology.

IT administrators-IT administrators can apply GIS services and integrate them into a wider IT field to support a variety of multi-purpose business processes. For example, GIS can be perfectly integrated with dispatch management systems, financial systems, supply chain management systems, and business intelligence systems.

2. Product Level Classification of ArcGIS Server
To meet the needs of working groups, departments, and enterprises, arcgisserver provides a scalable Product Line Based on its differences in functions and servers. ArcGIS Server has two levels of servers: workgroup-level and enterprise-level. Besides, it has three levels of functions: Basic edition, Standard Edition, and advanced edition. Therefore, arcgisserver includes six products of different levels.

To better meet the needs of geographic data management and server users, ArcSDE technology is included in the basic edition, Standard Edition, and advanced edition of arcgisserver.
1) Functional score: three levels of ArcGIS Server versions
Basic edition-provides users with GIS servers for spatial data management. It mainly uses the ArcSDE technology to organize and manage geographical datasets.
Standard Edition-provides users with GIS servers for space data management and visualization (plotting. Its functions include 2D plotting, 3D rendering (GLOBE) services, and a series of related functions, such as geocoding, Place Name dictionary, and path. Application developers can access components (objects, Web controls, and services) to build solutions under the Java and. Net frameworks. The arcgisserver Standard Edition provides all basic functions.
Advanced edition-provides users with space data management, plotting, 3D visualization, browser-based editing, geographic processing, spatial analysis, modeling, and other functions. The advanced edition includes all functions of the basic edition and Standard Edition. For developers, the advanced edition contains multiple layers of components used to build and deploy Java and. NET applications and services for desktops, mobile clients, Smart Clients, Web browsers, and enterprise models.

2) server scale: two levels of ArcGIS Server
ArcGIS Server workgroup-This ArcGIS Server can only run on a single CPU socket (single-core or dual-core) machine, and uses the microsoftsqlserverexpress database engine to support Geodatabase.

arcgisserver enterprise-level arcgisserver can run on one or more machines, and each machine can have more than two CPU sockets. ArcGIS Server enterprise-level package ArcSDE, users need to provide their own DBMS (sqlserver, IBM DB2, Informix or Oracle ).

3. Optional ArcGIS Server Extensions
ArcGIS Server has a series of optional extensions to supplement its core system capabilities.
1) ArcGIS Server spatial
ArcGIS Server spatial extension provides a powerful set of functions for creating, querying, and analyzing pixel-based raster data. Using the spatial extension in ArcGIS Server, you can export valuable information from existing data, Confirm spatial relationships, locate proper locations, calculate travel cost surfaces, and perform a large number of grid geographic processing operations. Models and tools created using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension can be used to publish a web service.
2) ArcGIS Server 3D
ArcGIS Server 3D extension provides a set of 3D GIS functions for creating and analyzing surfaces. 3D extensions add some 3D and terrain-based geographic processing operations that can be published as Web Services.
3) ArcGIS Server network
ArcGIS Server network expansion provides network-based spatial analysis capabilities, including path, travel direction, recent facilities, and service area analysis. Developers can use it to build and deploy network applications.
4) ArcGIS Server Data Interoperability
ArcGIS Server Data Interoperability extension allows you to easily use and distribute data of different formats. With the datainteroperability extension, you can directly read more than 70 spatial data formats and export dozens of spatial data formats. You can use the Quick import quick export tool in arctoolbox to quickly convert data formats. You can use workbench's semantic Translation Engine and spatial ETL Tool to perform advanced
data conversion. ETL (extract-transform-load) is a tool used to convert data. It can be easily migrated between multiple computing environments. Special formats and translators created using ArcGIS data interoperability extensions can be used in ArcGIS Server Web Services and geographic processing services to support automatic and open data exchange.

4. arcGIS Server Structure
ArcGIS Server consists of the following components:
GIS server-host GIS resources, including maps, globes, geographic processing tools, and geographic encoding, and publish it as a service for the client application. When a client application requests a specific service, the GIS server generates a response and returns it to the client application. GIS server can be configured to process multiple concurrent requests and load balancing. This includes configuring gisserver on multiple machines.
Web server: deploy web applications and services that use the resources provided by the GIS server.
client-you can use a web client, a mobile client, or a desktop application to connect to an internet server over HTTP or access local services over a LAN or WAN. Arcgisserver includes three specified application frameworks: 1) web map application, 2) Free ArcGIS Explorer, 3) ArcGIS mobile.
data server-contains the GIS resources that are published to gisserver as services. These resources can be map documents, address encoding, globe documents, Geodatabase, and geographic processing tools. Generally, DBMS is used to deploy arcsdegeodatabase on the data server to ensure the security, integrity, and efficiency of geographic data.

Manager and arccatalog management tools-the ArcGIS Server administrator can use manager or arccatalog to publish and manage GIS resources and services. Manager is a Web application that supports GIS service and management, web application creation and management, and the release of ArcGIS Explorer maps on the server. Arccatalog can be used to add GIS server connections to common users and server administrators. It also provides an interface for GIS experts to publish GIS resources as GIS services. ArcGIS Desktop content authors-GIS, such as maps, geographic processing tools, and globe, released to servers
Resources, including ArcMAP, arccatalog, and arcglobe.

5. Main technologies included in ArcGIS Server

1) ArcSDE technology is included in ArcGIS Server System
Enterprise-level GIS is an integrated, multi-department system. It must meet the single requirements within the Organization and the comprehensive needs to provide conditions for GIS and non-GIS personnel to access geographical information and services. The data server contains the GIS resources to be published as services. For most GIS servers, these resources are managed in a relational database-based Geodatabase through ArcSDE. In any ArcGIS Server application system, to meet such enterprise-level requirements, multi-user Geodatabase Based on ArcSDE Technology for long transaction processing is crucial. Therefore, ESRI incorporates the ArcSDE technology into the ArcGIS Server System.
Advantages and functions of ArcSDE:
High Efficiency and system scalability
Integration with IT systems
Coordination and update mechanism in case of conflict
Database Replication
Historical Archiving
Version and non-version editing
Supports cross-platform and cross-Database
Supports direct access to Oracle, IBM DB2, and Informix Geodatabase through SQL
ArcGIS Server is a GIS for centralized management of Advanced GIS applications. It allows developers and system designers to implement a centralized GIS and supports multi-user access. Centralized GIS applications (such as Web applications) can reduce the cost of installing and managing desktop applications on each machine. ArcGIS Server provides web services, allowing GIS to be effectively integrated with other IT systems, such as relational databases, web servers, and enterprise application servers.
All levels of ArcGIS Server products include the ArcSDE technology:
ArcGIS Server workgroup-level ArcSDE Technology
ArcGIS Server workgroup-level ArcSDE that supports SQL Server Express. This ArcGIS Server allows 10 concurrent Desktop Users and editors (for example, ArcView, arceditor, ArcInfo ArcGIS Engine Applications, AutoCAD, and microstation users) add any number of servers to use SQL Server Express. SQL Server Express is part of the ArcGIS Server workgroup level. It is limited to 1 CPU or core, and a maximum of 1 GB of memory. The maximum database size is 4 GB. The administrator can use arceditor or ArcInfo to create, manage, and maintain a working group-level arcsd Geodatabase. You can use SQL Server express in arccatalog to set and manage the Working Group arcsd Geodatabase without additional database management knowledge.
ArcGIS Server enterprise-level ArcSDE Technology
This is a traditional ArcSDE technology that runs on Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, and IBM informi databases, allowing any size of databases and any number of users, it can run on any computer with any configuration. If you use ArcGIS Server Enterprise Edition, you must provide your own DBMS license. DBMS is usually managed and maintained by the database administrator (DBA. Enterprise ArcSDE supports Oracle, IBM DB2, Informix, and SQL server running on a cross-platform.

2) Web Map Application
ArcGIS Server contains an out-of-the-box web map application that can run directly in a web browser. This client provides a rich user experience for using ArcGIS Server and other services. This web map application is also part of ArcIMS 9.2. A Web Map application supports multiple types of map services, such as WMS from ArcIMS, ArcGIS Server, OGC, and arcweb Services released by ESRI.
The Web Map application provides the following tools:
Interactive Content table;
Smooth Map Browsing, translation, and scaling tools;
Map prompts and element query functions;
Space query and selection tools;
Web-based ArcSDE Geodatabase editing functions (including adding elements, splitting, capturing, element trimming, and attribute editing );
ArcGIS Server Manager provides convenient configuration capabilities. No programming required;
Provides powerful development environment support for. NET and Java developers. Provides a set of customizable Programming controls and components;
Based on standards and development;
The Web Map application framework is based on AJAX technology, greatly enhancing the user experience. It allows users to interact with Web applications while applications Program Communicates with other resources (such as Web servers.
3) ArcGIS mobile
ArcGIS Server provides mobile users with a web application development framework (ADF) called ArcGIS mobile for creating and deploying mobile-oriented solutions, it features applications in the "non-real-time connection" Environment and faces a large number of users. These applications provide mobile maps, GPS, wireless steps, and GIS data replication and editing functions for field devices running Microsoft Windows Mobile. ArcGIS mobile supports editing the version-based ArcSDE Geodatabase in the online and offline workflow environments. You can regularly update and synchronize data through ArcGIS Server without returning to the office. ArcGIS mobile can run on a large number of mobile devices: smartphones, Pocket PCs, and tablet PCs.

6. How to Use ArcGIS Server

6.1. provide GIS Resources in the Internet environment
ArcGIS Server allows you to share GIS resources within an enterprise or on the Internet. GIS resources refer to maps, Globe, address location, spatial processing tools, and spatial databases that you want to share with others.
1) create and publish content through ArcGIS Desktop
ArcGIS Server 9.2 uses ArcGIS Desktop products to create maps, Globe, and space processing tasks for release, and then releases them on ArcGIS Server. The release process can be performed in the arccatalog environment on the ArcGIS Desktop, or in the browser-based ArcGIS Server Manager. If you want to share these resources, you can first use these resources in ArcGIS Server to create Web Services, and then access and use these resources through various client products (or other servers. The main advantage of sharing GIS resources on the GIS server is the same as sharing data through the server-for example, centralized data management supports concurrent access by multiple users, it provides customers with real-time update information and powerful computing capabilities for remote access.
2) optional service functions
When we publish the ArcGIS service, we also have some optional service functions that can be activated. For example, a map service can publish a network data layer. In this way, we can use the network analysis function in the map service.
6.2. service type
1) map service
The map service provides access to the content of the ArcMap document (. mxd. Before creating a map service, you must first create a map document In ArcMap and then publish it as a map service. Creating a map cache (optional) A map cache is a set of pre-rendered blocks at a multi-level scale to improve the efficiency of Map Display and use. Because map images do not need to be dynamically rendered and generated in real time according to user requests, the cache service can greatly increase the display speed. However, because map images are pre-computed and generated when the map cache is created, the map cache can only be used to provide static map content. The map cache stores a series of map data at a scale. Each scale corresponds to map information with a certain degree of detail and resolution. Before building an application, a good design should first determine the scales used and the details of the MAP information. ArcMap and its proportional map display function can be used to generate and maintain a high-performance map cache. The extensible map service function map service is the most commonly used ArcGIS service. It contains a set of optional functions. Many optional map functions are implemented by including specific data content in the map document. For example, you need to provide the spatial database editing capability in the browser. You can add a map layer In ArcMap and publish it as a web service. Understanding how to create GIS resources that contain specific functions can help us better utilize the powerful capabilities of ArcGIS Server.
2) Globe Service
The globe document created in arcglob (part of E desktop 3D analysis extension module) can be published as the globe service of arcgisserver. The globe Service provides access to the 3D Earth. We can interact with the 3D Earth and display it with other geographic information. We can use the globe service in arcglobe, arcreader, and the new free ArcGIS Explorer application. The globe service can also be published as a kml service and used by other visualization applications. Create your own virtual global view through ArcGIS Server: With arcgiloud and ArcGIS Server, you can create 2D and 3D Virtual Earth views based entirely on your own GIS data and maintain changed information. Each GIS application often needs to use its own data information, access specific tasks and perform operations. GIS users must be able to build visualization and analysis applications based on their own data.
3) ArcGIS Explorer
ArcGIS Explorer is a new spatial information browser that is strongly supported by ArcGIS Server. It provides a free, fast, and easy-to-use way to browse geographical information-whether 2D or 3D-and provides powerful data query and analysis tasks. By accessing the powerful and complete GIS functions provided by ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Explorer integrates the GIS dataset and server-based spatial processing functions to provide spatial processing and 3D services. ArcGIS Explorer can also use local data and ArcIMS services, arcweb services, ogc wms and kml, with development and interoperability capabilities. ArcGIS Explorer can be downloaded and used by anyone and professionals. ArcGIS Explorer can access the complete GIS functions provided by ArcGIS Server. With arcgisexplorer, we can:
Seamlessly browse the world's data in 2D and 3D ways
Integrate local data and services and data from ArcGIS Server and ArcIMS, ogc wms or arcweb services
GIS analysis by task, such as visual analysis, modeling, Neighborhood Search and statistical analysis
Answer geographical-related questions in map mode and share your results with others
Use data and maps on your servers and use them with data on other servers.

4) Space Processing Service
The basic purpose of spatial processing is to help you automatically complete GIS tasks. Almost all GIS applications involve repetitive tasks. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a spatial processing framework. Under this framework, multi-step tasks can be defined and automatically completed, workflow model documents can be compiled, and models can be shared. Spatial processing also supports Spatial Modeling and spatial analysis, which allows us to better understand, analyze, and grasp all aspects of the problem. ArcGIS Server provides a simple mechanism to publish the server's space processing tools and models as tasks for remote client calls, and the tasks themselves are executed on the server. The ability of the GIS server to publish spatial processing models and scripts as Web Services makes it exceptionally powerful. These functions can be accessed and used by multiple clients without considering the types of client applications. In the above example, you can track grid faults based on the accident points. This function is provided as a task in ArcGIS Explorer. Use ArcGIS Explorer to send a request to the spatial processing service of ArcGIS Server. The ArcGIS Server performs background analysis. On the one hand, the analysis results are displayed in a 3D map graphically, on the other hand, fault diagnosis reports are provided and fault points are located.
5) geocoding Service
Geocoding is the process of converting a street address to a spatial location, usually a point represented by a coordinate value. Many users need their own geocoding services. In most cases, it is difficult to obtain satisfactory results through regular and commercial address encoding applications, for the following reasons:
With the development and expansion of the city, the address also changes over time.
There are many forms of address expressions, not just regular address expressions: Street, street number, additional information, such as the city and zip code;
Many countries and regions have their own address encoding formats and methods;
Many users need to search for addresses (for example, Tiananmen Square) by using the names of logo features ");
In some cases, a group of numbers are used to represent a specific geographic location;
All of these cases require a special address encoding solution. Many ArcGIS users have to spend a lot of time building, maintaining and providing user-defined address encoding services to meet user needs. To add the address encoding service to ArcGIS Server, you must first create an address location on the ArcGIS Desktop. Address location is a dataset of a spatial database. It contains a set of elements that can set addresses, address styles, and rules on how to perform address matching. Address location can be updated and maintained in ArcGIS.
6) Spatial Data Service
Spatial Data Service allows us to use ArcGIS Server to access spatial databases through LAN, Wan or Internet. This Service supports spatial databases.
Editing, database replication, data extraction, download, and copy, and query spatial databases. Space Data Service can use any type of space data
Database, including the ArcSDE space database, personalized space database, and file space database. However, security, data integrity, high performance, and scalability
We recommend that you use enterprise-level databases for ArcSDE. Spatial Data Services are particularly useful when we manage spatial databases distributed in different locations. For example, the Ministry of Land and Resources wants to synchronize data between the national and provincial ArcSDE spatial databases. Once a database is created, the provincial land department can publish the ArcSDE on the Internet as a space data service. Then, we can use the spatial data service to regularly synchronize updates on the internet, sharing the changed part between the two database servers.

7. Development of ArcGIS Server
When you use ArcGIS Server, you may want to build a custom application or expand it based on the functions provided by the original ArcGIS Server. To meet this requirement, ArcGIS Server contains a set of powerful and complete development tools and functions. Besides providing out-of-the-box web applications and services, ArcGIS Server is also a platform for developing web and enterprise-level applications and services.
ArcGIS Server supports the following software development environments:
Microsoft. NET Framework
Java platform
ArcGIS Server provides a complete set of development tools on both platforms for developing web applications and services. The Microsoft. NET development environment also includes a set of Development Kits for developing Web Map applications and mobile applications. The Java environment includes Development Kits for enterprise-level JavaBeans (ejbs. In addition, the Java tool supports cross-platform development and runs on Windows, Sun Solaris, and Linux operating systems.