Category Archives: News

USGS National Map Viewer – New Data and Resources

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Hello everyone:

USGS operates the National Map Viewer (nationalmap.gov/viewer) as a national GIS data resource.  The site has long offered viewing and download access to a number of individual basemap layers (imagery, elevation, land cover, boundaries, hydrography, etc.).  Recently, some new capabilities have been added providing more utility to GIS users.

1. Contour lines – the same contour lines shown on the new 1:24,000-scale US Topo can now be downloaded as vector files for use in GIS.  The contour lines are available in a shapefile format.  Contour lines are pre-staged in one degree blocks for quick retrieval.

2. Download Options – have been expanded to include selecting areas by a bounding box or by specifying coordinates (in decimal degrees).  The site has supported the ability to download data by reference region (such as county or quadrangle or watershed) or by the map viewer extent.  Now these additional options make it easier to select data for the exact region you need.

3. More maps and data to view and download – in addition to the contour lines mentioned above. National Map Viewer had added an elevation availability basemap layer which can be toggled on and off.  This lets users know what resolution of elevation model is available (such as 1/3 arc-second (10m)) for a given area.  Another improvement is the ability to download scanned topographic maps from the historical topographic map collection, which you will see as an option under the “available data for download window.”

We invite everyone to visit the National Map Viewer and see these new additions.  And, as always, if you have any questions or need help locating or downloading data please feel free to contact us anytime.  Thanks,

Drew Decker
Carol Ostergren

Changes to ArcGIS and Bing Maps

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If you use Bing Maps in your ArcGIS implementation, the following changes by ESRI will effect you.  From ESRI:

Complimentary use of Microsoft’s Bing Maps with ArcGIS will begin to be phased out as of February 28, 2013, and will be phased out completely by September 30, 2013. ArcGIS will continue to be Bing Maps ready, but you will have to obtain your own Bing Maps key directly from Microsoft and input the key into your ArcGIS products. Once you input the new key, you will be able to use Bing Maps in your ArcGIS products.

How This Will Affect Use of Bing Maps with ArcGIS
Once you obtain a key from Microsoft, you will be able to use Bing Maps in your web and mobile applications, including ArcGIS for Server, ArcGIS Web APIs, and all ArcGIS Mobile SDKs.

ArcGIS for Desktop will be affected in different ways depending on the version you have:

  • ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop users will have to install ArcGIS 10.1.2 before being able to input a Bing Maps key. ArcGIS 10.1.2 is currently scheduled to be available in late Q1 2013.
  • ArcGIS 10 for Desktop users will have to install a patch to use their Bing Maps key. The patch will be available in late Q1 2013.
  • ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1 will no longer support the use of Bing Maps.

ArcGIS Online will be Bing Maps ready at the next release, scheduled for the end of Q1 2013. At that time, customers who have an ArcGIS Online subscription will be able to input a Bing Maps key and continue to add Bing Maps to their web maps. However, customers who have an ArcGIS Online personal account will no longer be able to use Bing Maps after March 31, 2013. For both subscribers and personal account holders, web maps that already include Bing Maps will continue to function.

Try the ArcGIS Online World Imagery Map Service
The World Imagery Map is updated frequently and provides 1 meter or better satellite imagery for many parts of the world. We just added a substantial volume (50 terabytes) of more recent and more detailed aerial imagery from DigitalGlobe. The update includes 30 cm imagery for the continental United States down to 1:1,000 scale, and 60 cm imagery for large parts of western Europe down to 1:2,000 scale. Over the coming months, we will add more DigitalGlobe imagery to this service, giving you even more detailed coverage for Europe and many other parts of the world.

Discover Other Basemaps
In addition to the World Imagery Map, ArcGIS Online gives you access to a number of different basemaps that you can use in your projects. The World Street Map, World Topographic Map, Light Gray Canvas Map, and National Geographic World Map provide a range of cartographic options to meet your needs.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Esri office. To talk directly to someone at Microsoft, send an email to bing4esri@microsoft.com.