ESRI released a new version of ArcGIS Explorer a couple of weeks ago and it is a lot different from the previous version. There are more offerings in base maps, data as well as just a usable application. The following are my 5 favorite things after playing with the application.

Globe, 2D & 3/D Display

Sometimes you want things round…

Globe View

Sometimes you want things flat…

2D View

Then there are times you want a different point of view…

Oblique Perspective

Data Offerings

Built right into the interface are a number of base maps that allow you to switch between a number of ArcGIS Online map services as well as the ability to view the use Microsoft’s Bing! Maps (after registering to do so…)
Base Map Offerings

There are also a number of new data types that can be brought in locally or via the web.

2007 High Resolution Aerial WMS Service hosted by New Jersey Office of GIS and a Layer Package showing the different play spots at Scudders Falls

Routing & Geocoding

Somehow or another, I always end up being the guy who has to give directions. Being the nerd that I am, I take GPS Coordinates of all the places we go paddling or mountain biking. Now I can store all of them in one place and share them (jumping the gun here, that is my next item) with friends so they can get directions from wherever they are coming from (and stop blaming me when they get lost). It uses the ArcGIS Online Routing Task Service and so far noone has gotten upset with me about the directions.

A trip we had talked about doing using previously collected GPS coordinates from a GPX file and the routing functions in ArcExplorer

A trip we had talked about doing using previously collected GPS coordinates in a GPX file and the routing functions in ArcGIS Explorer

There is also a ‘Find’ function in the application. I did a search for Ohiopyle Falls, and it dropped the pin right on it.
2009_08_26_PlaceLookup

Sharing

ESRI built the functionality to share ArcGIS Explorer maps right into the application. There are two methods, the first is bundling everything up and saving it as a Map Content File (.nmc), the second is creating the Map Content File and launching your email client to send it out the door.

Presentation Mode

When I heard about the Presentation Mode at the ESRI Business Partner Conference, I got excited. How many times have you had to update a presentation’s screenshot because the data was updated?

Aerial view of the Ohiopyle falls, a shot of Tom F. going over the falls and shot that was taken standing next to the rim of the falls.

I do have to admit that it took me a little while to understand how to build the presentation. For me it wasn’t 100% obvious that to add an image, you had to put it in as a separate layer. But once I got my head around that, it was easy. There are predefined styles for the titles, easy to use image placement interface. you can download the I cannot wait to do my next presentation!

I have made the presentation file available for download, but you will need to visit ESRI’s ArcGIS Explorer site download and install ArcGIS Explorer if you don’t already have it installed.