ArcGIS Explorer is a free, downloadable GIS viewer that provides an easy way to explore, visualize, share, and present geographic information.
The latest release of ArcGIS Explorer has many new features and capabilities that make it ideal for providing wider access to your GIS data and capabilities. The new features of ArcGIS Explorer include:
Basemap Gallery Updates
The basemap gallery contains a variety of ready-to-use ArcGIS Online maps that you can choose from to start your map, including imagery, transportation, streets, physical, and more. The basemaps are continually updated, and incorporate content from the best available sources including national and local government sources, as well as commercial providers. All basemaps are free for use in ArcGIS Explorer. Bing ™ Maps (imagery, hybrid, roads) are also included. Newly added is OpenStreetMap. Tools for managing your own basemaps have also been enhanced.
ArcGIS Online
ArcGIS Online has been integrated so you can search for and add content directly from ArcGIS Online. You can also share map items to your online account. All of your maps, data, and groups can be accessed from ArcGIS Explorer.
The ArcGIS Explorer team hosts two groups on ArcGIS Online which have also been updated for this release:
- ArcGIS Explorer – provides selected maps and layers for Explorer users
- ArcGIS Explorer Labs – unsupported samples and examples from the ArcGIS Explorer team.
ArcGIS 10 Image Services
ArcGIS 10 image services are now directly supported, with many tools and properties you can use to manage and optimize these services. New tools and properties include:
- Gamma, brightness, contrast
- Compression, resampling method
- Mosaic method and operator
Image services can also be added as elevation layers.
Notes
Notes are an important and easy way to add non-GIS content to your map that you want to place in a geographic context, such as videos, reports, websites, photos, and more. Notes have been enhanced with the following:
- New note types (arrows, circle, square)
- Enhanced note editing capabilities (replace, move, stamp)
- Share (export) notes to layer packages (.lpk) and KML
- Point notes can be labeled
- Enhanced popup management tools
Presentations
ArcGIS Explorer includes presentation capabilities that enable you to create dynamic and interactive presentations that include your own maps and data. Add titles and overlays, show popups, toggle layers, and more. Maps can be saved to open in presentation mode, including automatic slide advancement. The time interval for each slide can now be adjusted when using auto-advance.
Popups
Popups are used to display information about features when clicked, and can include videos, photos, and much more. Popups have been improved and enhanced with the following:
- HTML popups for ArcGIS 10 services are now supported
- Handling of multiple hits at a given click location has been improved
- A Create Note tool has been added to the feature popup window, enabling users to create notes directly from any feature on the map.
Analysis Gallery
The Analysis Gallery enables you to easily extend ArcGIS Explorer’s capabilities by connecting to published ArcGIS Server geoprocessing services. The Analysis Gallery has been improved with better management of accessed geoprocessing tools, and extended to support additional returned feature types not supported in previous versions.
Sharing
All map items can now be shared (exported) in several different formats, depending on the item type. The supported formats include layer packages (.lpk), KML, and map content files (.nmc). The shared items can be saved to a file, sent via e-mail, or uploaded to ArcGIS Online.
Query
Query allows you to filter the data in a map layer based upon criteria you specify. For example, you might add a geodatabase layer containing cities around the world but only want the map to show cities with a population over 1 million. Using the Query Builder you can create the query that results in a new Query Layer. No changes are made to the underlying data source, rather you are controlling the amount and type of information drawn on the map.
Labeling
Labeling is now supported for 2D and 3D point notes. Labeling for layer packages (.lpk) and layer files (.lyr) has been improved.
KML
KML handling has been improved in both 2D and 3D mode, and regionated KML is now supported in 2D mode. KML interoperability has also been enhanced; notes can be shared (exported) as KML and KML can be shared (exported) as layer packages or converted to notes. The KML file association can be set to ArcGIS Explorer.
Symbols
ArcGIS Explorer symbols have been updated to improve appearance in 2D and 3D modes. Symbol management tools have been enhanced with improved support for custom (user) symbols.
Interoperability
ArcGIS Explorer features new capabilities that enhance interoperability with the ArcGIS system and KML. These features include:
- ArcGIS Online integration
- Support for ArcGIS Explorer Online maps, including presentations and notes
- Share (export) to layer package or KML
- Create notes from features
- Create notes from KML
- Add data directly from Excel spreadsheets
ArcGIS Explorer SDK
The ArcGIS Explorer SDK includes new combo box and check box add-in types. The SDK has been updated to support Visual Studio 2010, including new templates for the new add-in types and an updated add-in wizard. The reference and conceptual help has also been updated, and new/updated samples are included.
Other updates and enhancements include new application functionality exposed in the API:
- Map document management (load, save, open)
- Manage color scheme, detect changes
- Track circle, arrow, envelope, move
- Connections to Image Server and OpenStreetMap
- Definition query on feature and service layers
- Custom icon for map item in contents
- Screen overlays (watermark)
Localization
ArcGIS Explorer is fully localized and this release includes updated Help. ArcGIS Explorer is supported in the following languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese.
Other improvements and enhancements
ArcGIS Explorer build 1500 has many other improvements and enhancements, including:
- Repair tool to fix broken layer paths
- Improved 3D point-to-point navigation (eliminates “wobble”)
- Improved surface placement and draping
- Updates to support ArcGIS 10 services
- Updates to support ArcGIS 10 layer packages
- Updated ArcGIS Online groups
- Updated Help
- Bug fixes
For more information and to download ArcGIS Explorer
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