What’s New in ArcGIS Pro 2.1

Esri has released ArcGIS Pro 2.1. This is a major release, and ArcGIS Pro 2.1 continues the trend of moving closer to parity with ArcMap and ArcCatalog as far as available tools and functionality. Because ArcGIS Pro is a native 64-bit application (ArcMap and ArcCatalog are 32 bit), it generally out performs ArcMap when performing the same operations.

So, what can you expect from this new release:

1. Arcade integration – Can write expressions for feature elevation, display fields, attribute-driven symbols, and extrusion using Arcade
   1. Secure, portable, and has GIS specific functionality
   2. Ideal for embedded scripts not automation
   3. Write expressions directly in popups
   4. It is not a replacement for Python
   5. Arcade recommended – much better performance than Python in Pro and it’s portability across the platform
2. ArcGIS Image Analyst – Visualize and analyze imagery, including stereo mapping, advanced image segmentation and classification, image space analysis, and building custom image processing algorithms.
3. New Utility Network Management Extension.  Utility customers can model, edit, and analyze across the entire platform
4. 3D Exploratory Tools
5. New viewing modes in 3D – Perspective and Isometric
6. Mapping enhancements
   1. Create sub type group layers
   2. Make layers from selected features
   3. Dot Density Symbology
   4. Labeling Improvements – copy and paste from TOC
   5. Annotation Improvements – convert labels to annotation
   6. Linear referencing hatching
7. Layouts
   1. Insert and work with Dynamic Tables
   2. Improved support for grids and graticules in layouts
8. Editing
   1. 3D grid added
   2. Trim, extend, and construct polygons
9. Geoprocessing
   1. 252 new tools
   2. Interactive feature input (embedded right in GP tool
   3. Arcade, SQL for calculate fields
   4. Model Builder Report View
   5. Share web tools
10. General
    1. Drag and drop files from desktop to the Catalog pane
    2. Copy maps from one project to another
    3. Notifications – ie. Opening a web map that has been updated
    4. Create topology wizard
    5. Copy coordinates to clipboard

These are just a few of the improvements you will find in ArcGIS Pro 2.1. For a complete list go to http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/get-started/whats-new-in-arcgis-pro.htm.

If you have not looked at ArcGIS Pro yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. It will replace ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene and ArcGlobe in the not too distant future. So, it is not a matter of if you will have to migrate, it is a matter of when. ArcGIS Pro is a completely different animal so do not get caught unprepared.

Our ArcGIS Pro classes:

Learning ArcGIS Pro 1: Fundamentals

Learning ArcGIS Pro 2: Analysis, Automation, and Sharing

Introduction to Programming ArcGIS Pro with Python

Intermediate ArcGIS Pro Programming with Python

Getting Started with ArcGIS Arcade