Michael Law - Getting to Know ArcGIS® Pro

Esri Press, 380 New York Street, Redlands, California 92373-8100
Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro
Copyright 2016 Esri
All rights reserved.
20 19 18 17 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Names: Law, Michael, 1980- author. | Collins, Amy, 1974- author.
Title: Getting to know ArcGIS Pro / Michael Law, Amy Collins.
Description: Redlands, California : Esri Press, [2016] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015042050 | ISBN 9781589484573 (pbk. : alk. paper) | e-ISBN 9781589484580
Subjects: LCSH: ArcGIS. | Geographic information systems. | Graphical user interfaces (Computer systems)
Classification: LCC G70.212 .L34 2016 | DDC 910.285/53--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015042050

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The title sums it up: this book is for those who want to get to know ArcGIS Proa new generation of GIS software from Esri. Whether you are a student in an introductory GIS course, an at-home learner who wants to build a foundational knowledge of GIS, or a professional who is considering adding GIS to your arsenal, this book is for you. No prior GIS software knowledge is required or assumed. This book is also suitable for those who are used to a different GIS product, and want to see how to do familiar tasks in a new environment.

The primary focus is, naturally, ArcGIS Pro, but because of the integrated design of the ArcGIS platform, other ArcGIS components are incorporated as well, such as ArcGIS Online and some mobile apps. In fact, ArcGIS Online is integrated into most of the chapters with the use of web-serviced basemaps. In light of this feature, an Internet connection is strongly recommended.

A word about scopealthough this workbook is designed to provide a broad overview of ArcGIS Pro, a truly comprehensive manual would be massive. Instead, we aim to provide a diverse sampling of industries, scenarios, and workflows that highlight the broad appeal and many core functions offered by GIS. At the same time, we try to keep the books length reasonablesomething that a student in a classroom can feasibly complete in a quarter or semester. When you complete this book, you should feel comfortable enough with ArcGIS Pro to start working with it on your own.

The book has 10 chapters, each containing the following features which are designed to facilitate an efficient and effective learning process.

Exercises are composed of learning objectives, which are listed for each chapter and repeated as headings throughout the chapter exercises. Each objective is accomplished by following a sequence of steps. Using objective headings helps break each exercise into logical chunks, and provides a reminder of why you are clicking this or that button, option, or command.

In the real world, you do not begin a geospatial analysis project before first gathering relevant data. Therefore, we list the student data, with a brief description of what it is and where it comes from, at the start of each chapter.

An expansion of the exercise objectives, each exercise begins with a summary of the workflow, explaining the what, why, and how of the upcoming exercise. This description will help you understand the bigger picture, rather than get muddled in a sea of instructions.

A note about exercise scenariosmany are based on actual real-world projects; however, the data and workflows are usually simplified for training purposes. These exercises are meant to teach software and data management skills in a realistic setting; they are not meant to be an authoritative guide to geographic problem solving.

These short sidebars highlight real-world GIS problem solving, and offer a link to read more.

Reminders, shortcuts, or alternative approaches are sprinkled throughout each chapter. Questions keep learners actively involved. (Answers can be found in the books online resources, esri.com/esripress-resources .)

The summary offers a brief recap of what you have learned in each chapter.