Learning ArcGIS Pro 2

A beginner's guide to creating 2D and 3D maps and editing geospatial data with ArcGIS Pro, 2nd Edition

Tripp Corbin

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781839219511
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Computer Graphics
• Index: Computer Science

Create 2D maps and 3D scenes, analyze GIS data, and share your results with the GIS community using the latest ArcGIS Pro 2 features

Key Features

• Get up to speed with the new ribbon-based user interface, projects, models, and common workflows in ArcGIS Pro 2
• Learn how to visualize, maintain, and analyze GIS data
• Automate analysis and processes with ModelBuilder and Python scripts

Book Description

Armed with powerful tools to visualize, maintain, and analyze data, ArcGIS Pro 2 is Esri's newest desktop geographic information system (GIS) application that uses the modern ribbon interface and a 64-bit processor to make using GIS faster and more efficient. This second edition of Learning ArcGIS Pro will show you how you can use this powerful desktop GIS application to create maps, perform spatial analysis, and maintain data.

The book begins by showing you how to install ArcGIS and listing the software and hardware prerequisites. You'll then understand the concept of named user licensing and learn how to navigate the new ribbon interface to leverage the power of ArcGIS Pro for managing geospatial data. Once you've got to grips with the new interface, you'll build your first GIS project and understand how to use the different project resources available. The book shows you how to create 2D and 3D maps by adding layers and setting and managing the symbology and labeling. You'll also discover how to use the analysis tool to visualize geospatial data. In later chapters, you'll be introduced to Arcade, the new lightweight expression language for ArcGIS, and then advance to creating complex labels using Arcade expressions. Finally, you'll use Python scripts to automate and standardize tasks and models in ArcGIS Pro.

By the end of this ArcGIS Pro book, you'll have developed the core skills needed for using ArcGIS Pro 2.x competently.

What you will learn

• Navigate the user interface to create maps, perform analysis, and manage data
• Display data based on discrete attribute values or range of values
• Label features on a GIS map based on one or more attributes using Arcade
• Create map books using the map series functionality
• Share ArcGIS Pro maps, projects, and data with other GIS community members
• Explore the most used geoprocessing tools for performing spatial analysis
• Create Tasks based on common workflows to standardize processes
• Automate processes using ModelBuilder and Python scripts

Who this book is for

If you want to learn ArcGIS Pro to create maps and, edit and analyze geospatial data, this ArcGIS book is for you. No knowledge of GIS fundamentals or experience with any GIS tool or ArcGIS software suite is required. Basic Windows skills, such as navigating and file management, are all you need.

Section 1: Introducing and Navigating ArcGIS Pro

This section will introduce you to the ArcGIS Pro application and explain some of its capabilities in relation to other ArcGIS products. It will also provide a general overview of its capabilities and we will discuss installation and licensing requirements.

You will be introduced to ArcGIS Pro's ribbon-based interface and the commonly used interface panes or windows. You will also learn how to use the ribbon to access data, maps, and tools within an ArcGIS Pro project.

In this section, we will cover the following chapters:

• Chapter 1, Introducing ArcGIS Pro
• Chapter 2, Navigating the Ribbon Interface

Introducing ArcGIS Pro

Esri's ArcGIS platform has become well-entrenched as the primary solution for GIS professionals seeking to implement a scalable integrated solution, which can start with a single user and grow to support multiple users across various platforms. With ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Apps, Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals can design and implement a robust GIS solution that provides a wide range of functionality to meet the needs of a growing enterprise, which includes users of various skill levels, requirements, differing platforms, and data formats. However, Esri has not been content to rest on their laurels. They continue to push the GIS envelope.

In 2015, Esri released a new desktop GIS application named ArcGIS Pro. ArcGIS Pro has replaced ArcMap and ArcCatalog as the flagship desktop GIS application in Esri's solution stack. Those are not the only applications ArcGIS Pro has replaced. It has also replaced the ArcScene and ArcGlobe applications for 3D data viewing and analysis.

ArcGIS Pro is a completely new application from Esri. It is not just an update to their venerable ArcGIS Desktop platform. ArcGIS Pro has a modern ribbon interface that has become common in most current desktop applications. It is also designed from the ground up to take full advantage of modern hyperthreaded 64-bit architecture. This greatly improves its performance compared to the older applications it is replacing. In this chapter, we will begin to take a look at this new robust and smart interface.

ArcGIS Pro also introduces a new licensing model to Esri users. While it still supports the traditional Single Use and Concurrent Use license models of previous applications, at least for now, it defaults to the use of a subscription-based named user license model. This new license model requires you to manage your licenses through ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise Portal. You will learn more about this later in the chapter.

ArcGIS Pro allows you to combine 2D and 3D content within a single application. In the past, you would need to utilize multiple applications, such as ArcMap, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe, to view 2D and 3D content. In this chapter, you will examine how you can view both 2D and 3D data within a single ArcGIS Pro project.

Here, the following topics will be covered:

• Checking requirements for installing ArcGIS Pro
• Downloading and installing ArcGIS Pro
• Managing and assigning ArcGIS Pro licenses

Once you have completed this chapter, you will be able to successfully install ArcGIS Pro on your computer, know whether your computer is capable of running the application, assign yourself and other users licenses to use ArcGIS Pro, and open an ArcGIS Pro project.

Technical requirements

To successfully complete this chapter, you will require the following:

• Internet access
• ArcGIS Pro 2.6—Basic or a higher license
• Sample data downloaded and installed for this book

Checking requirements for installing ArcGIS Pro

In order to use ArcGIS Pro, you must first install it. To install ArcGIS Pro, you will need to verify that your system meets or exceeds the minimum requirements. You will then need to download or have access to the installed files, and finally, have the rights to install the software on the computer you are using. We will look at each of these steps next.

It is possible to install and run ArcGIS Pro on a computer that already has ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap and ArcCatalog) installed even if ArcGIS Desktop is an older version. The two applications may exist side by side or on separate computers. These are completely separate, independent installations.

In the following sections, you will learn the ArcGIS Pro system requirements, how to download the installation files, and how to install ArcGIS Pro on your computer.

Understanding ArcGIS Pro minimum system requirements

As mentioned earlier, ArcGIS Pro is a 64-bit application that supports hyperthreaded processing. This allows ArcGIS Pro to take full advantage of modern processors, such as the Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen and Random Access Memory (RAM) larger than 4 GB. The ability of ArcGIS Pro to make use of this increased computing capability means it typically completes tasks much faster than the older applications it is replacing.

However, this ability to use modern computer hardware does come at a price. Compared with the older ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro has much higher minimum computer specifications. This includes increased hardware and OS requirements as well as supporting application requirements. This means that just because your current computer is able to run applications such as ArcMap, it will not necessarily be able to successfully run ArcGIS Pro. It is important to verify that your computer meets or exceeds the recommended minimum specification if you want your experience using ArcGIS Pro to be positive and not frustrating.

At the following link, you will find the minimum requirements for the current version of ArcGIS Pro, 2.6. These do change with new releases, so make sure to verify them based on the release you will be using. You can find the most current system requirements here: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/get-started/arcgis-pro-system-requirements.htm

Learning about OS requirements

ArcGIS Pro requires a 64-bit operatingsystem (OS). It will not run on a 32-bit OS. ArcGIS Pro currently supports the following operating systems:

• Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Enterprise
• Windows 8.1 Pro and Enterprise
• Windows Server 2019 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2016 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 Standard and Datacenter

Esri dropped support for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 after January 2020. They made this move because Microsoft ended their support for those operating systems. This means it might still be possible to run ArcGIS Pro on these operating systems, but neither Esri nor Microsoft will provide you with support if you encounter any problems. It also means that neither company will be providing patches or updates to fix security vulnerabilities or bugs in either of those operating systems. Consequently, it is recommended that you upgrade to a newer OS if you are still running on one of the unsupported ones.

ArcGIS Pro iscurrently not supported on Linux or iOS natively. Given Esri's current support for Linux with their ArcGIS Enterprise solution, it is possible ArcGIS Pro may be adapted to run on that platform sometime in the distant future. However, Esri has indicated that ArcGIS ...