This chapter’s lab will introduce you to using Esri’s free ArcGIS Explorer software program in the context of many of the concepts introduced throughout
the book. In many ways you can think of this lab as a “summary” of several
things you’ve explored in other chapters. However, you’ll be using a new geospatial technology program, as ArcGIS Explorer contains numerous GIS tools,
as well as access to many different types of GIS and remotely sensed data.
You’ll also be using “cloud” resources available through ArcGIS Explorer in
the form of several types of basemaps, data, and imagery.
Objectives
The goals of this lab are:
a Learning the basics of the ArcGIS Explorer environment.
a Utilizing various imagery and data sources streamed from the cloud.
a Examining digital topographic maps and how terrain is displayed with
contours in 3D environments.
a Examining high-resolution Bing Maps imagery and visually identifying
features from it.
a Locating an address, creating a buffer around it, and calculating a route
between two points on a map.
Obtaining Software
The current version of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop (Build 1500) is available
for free download at http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/
index.html.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software
at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly
changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data used in this lab comes with the
software or is streamed to you via the Internet.
Localizing This Lab
This lab focuses on various features around southern California, but the same
techniques can easily be used for a local area. The topographic maps and
high-resolution imagery analysis of Sections 15.2 and 15.3 can be adjusted
15.1 Geospatial Lab Application
Exploring ArcGIS Explorer
459
the book. In many ways you can think of this lab as a “summary” of several
things you’ve explored in other chapters. However, you’ll be using a new geospatial technology program, as ArcGIS Explorer contains numerous GIS tools,
as well as access to many different types of GIS and remotely sensed data.
You’ll also be using “cloud” resources available through ArcGIS Explorer in
the form of several types of basemaps, data, and imagery.
Objectives
The goals of this lab are:
a Learning the basics of the ArcGIS Explorer environment.
a Utilizing various imagery and data sources streamed from the cloud.
a Examining digital topographic maps and how terrain is displayed with
contours in 3D environments.
a Examining high-resolution Bing Maps imagery and visually identifying
features from it.
a Locating an address, creating a buffer around it, and calculating a route
between two points on a map.
Obtaining Software
The current version of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop (Build 1500) is available
for free download at http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/
index.html.
Important note: Software and online resources sometimes change fast.
This lab was designed with the most recently available version of the software
at the time of writing. However, if the software or Websites have significantly
changed between then and now, an updated version of this lab (using the newest versions) is available online at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito1e.
Lab Data
There is no data to copy in this lab. All data used in this lab comes with the
software or is streamed to you via the Internet.
Localizing This Lab
This lab focuses on various features around southern California, but the same
techniques can easily be used for a local area. The topographic maps and
high-resolution imagery analysis of Sections 15.2 and 15.3 can be adjusted
15.1 Geospatial Lab Application
Exploring ArcGIS Explorer
459