Mastering ArcGIS Pro

 

A new text for a new GIS experience

Although the concepts of GIS have remained fairly constant over time, the software is continually

evolving. With the release of ArcGIS Pro, the latest software in the Esri GIS family, a new generation of GIS has arrived. ArcGIS Pro has a 64-bit, multithreaded architecture, uses ribbon-style menus, integrates 2D and 3D applications, and is closely tied to ArcGIS Online.

This text constitutes a major rewrite of Mastering ArcGIS, a book that covered GIS concepts and skills using the ArcGIS Desktop programs of ArcMap and ArcCatalog. Although the GIS concepts largely remain the same in both texts, the implementation, and in some cases the terminology, has changed. The new software has also prompted a reorganization of the book in several important ways.

First, the book has been refocused on the basics of GIS. The ArcGIS Pro software capabilities are improving with each new version but have not yet completely matched the capabilities of ArcMap. 

Partly for this reason, and partly to better match the rhythm of a semester, the book is now presented in 12 chapters, leaving time for instructors to better incorporate exams and projects within the semester. Some of the more advanced and less frequently used skills, such as planar topology and standards-based metadata, have been left for students to explore on their own.

Second, the book includes some new topics. Raster data management has been discussed in a new chapter to acquaint students with compiling and processing raster data sets, supplementing a similar chapter on vector data management. ArcGIS Pro was designed to foster the sharing of GIS data and workflows, and these enhanced capabilities are explored in another new chapter, including how to prepare a database for collecting data using mobile devices.

Third, the chapters and topics have been reorganized to eliminate some repetition and to present the information more logically. The text still roughly follows the project model with data manage ment presented first and analysis second.

The tutorials, questions, and exercises have been rewritten. and tried to incorporate more

open-ended and creative questions in the exercises, rather than relying on cut-and-dried questions and answers. Although this approach makes grading a little harder for instructors,  it enhances student learning and makes the exercises more interesting.

Chapter sequence

The book contains an introduction and 12 chapters. Each chapter includes roughly one week’s

work for a three-credit semester course. An introductory chapter describes GIS and gives some

examples of how it is used. It also provides an overview of GIS project management and how to

develop a project. Chapters 1 through 11 follow a roughly project-based sequence: mapping basics, data compilation and management, and spatial analysis. The final chapter explores sharing

GIS work with others. These chapters are the core of an introductory GIS class and, by the end of it, students should have little difficulty developing and carrying out an independent GIS project.

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Mastering ArcGIS Pro