GIS Tool

ArcGIS provides a scalable framework for implementing GIS for a single user or for
many users on desktops, in servers, over the Web, and in the field. It consists of a number of
frameworks for deploying GIS.
• ArcGIS Desktop: an integrated suite of professional GIS applications
• ArcGIS Engine: embeddable developer components for custom GIS applications
• Server GIS: ArcSDE, ArcIMS, and ArcGIS Server
• Mobile GIS: ArcPad as well as ArcGIS Desktop and Engine for Tablet PC computing
ArcGIS Desktop is an integrated suite of advanced GIS applications and interfaces,
including ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcGlobe, ArcToolbox, and ModelBuilder. It is available at
three functional levels:
1. ArcView focuses on comprehensive data use, mapping, and analysis
2. ArcEditor adds advanced geographic editing and data creation
3. ArcInfo is a complete, professional GIS desktop, containing comprehensive GIS
functionality, including rich geoprocessing.
ArcMap is the central application in ArcGIS Desktop for all map-based tasks including
cartography, map analysis, and editing. ArcMap is a comprehensive map authoring application
for ArcGIS Desktop. ArcMap offers two types of map views: a geographic data view and a page
layout view. In the geographic data view, you work with geographic layers to symbolize,
analyze, and compile GIS datasets. A table of contents interface helps you organize and control
the drawing properties of the GIS data layers in your data frame. In the layout view, you work
with map pages that contain geographic data views as well as other map elements such as scale
bars, legends, North arrows, and reference maps. ArcMap is used to compose maps onto pages or
printing and publishing.

ArcCatalog helps you organize and manage all your GIS information (maps, globes,
datasets, models, metadata, services, and so on). It includes tools to:
• Browse and find geographic information
• Record, view, and manage metadata
• Define, export, and import geodatabase schemas and designs
• Search for and discover GIS data on local networks and the Web
• Administer an ArcGIS Server
You can use ArcCatalog to organize, find, and manage GIS data as well as document your data
holdings using standards-based metadata. A GIS database administrator can use ArcCatalog to
define and build geodatabases. A GIS server administrator can use ArcCatalog to administer a IS
server framework.

ArcToolbox and ModelBuilder are geoprocessing tools are used for Geoprocessing
tasks.
Geoprocessing is the process of deriving information through analysis of existing GIS data, and
is a critical function in all GIS. Geoprocessing is used for many GIS activities and to automate
many batch procedures and methods in a GIS.
• Converting data (such as converting a shapefile to a geodatabase feature class)
• Overlaying data (by unioning or intersecting datasets)
• Extracting data (by clipping a subset of data, or selecting data with certain characteristics)
• Finding what's nearby (by buffering data or finding points near other features)
• Managing data (by joining fields, copying datasets or creating new datasets)
• Finding suitable locations or paths (by running Spatial Analyst tools such as Weighted Overlay
and Cost Path)

Menu Bar
Standard tool bar

Map document

Phillips Pool Identify

results

Table of content

Map Layer turn on

Map Layer turn off

Phillips Pool Buffers

Tool bar