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Overview
ArcGIS Desktop Applications
ArcGIS Desktop is a collection of ESRI software products to create, analyze, manage, and share spatial data as well to create maps, perform spatial analysis, and manage data.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ArcGIS 10.8.2 is the current release of ArcMap and will continue to be supported until March 01, 2026.
ArcMap will not be further developed past version 10.8.2 of ArcGIS Desktop.
See all product lifecycles linked here: https://support.esri.com/en/other-resources/product-life-cycle and you will note that ArcMap is in “extended support” at this time – until March 2026
Specifics on ArcMap support are here: https://support.esri.com/en/arcmap-esri-plan and the page includes some links to great resources for learning ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Pro is the newer desktop app where future development is focused
An ArcGIS Desktop license includes the following five desktop GIS applications:
ArcCatalog | Used to organize and manage various types of geographic information as logical collections—for example, the data, maps, and results of your current GIS project that you work with in ArcGIS. |
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ArcMap | ArcMap is the primary application used in ArcGIS to perform a wide range of common GIS tasks as well as specialized, user-specific tasks. It is also where you display and explore GIS datasets for your study area, where you assign symbols, and where you create map layouts for printing or publication. ArcMap is also the application you use to create and edit datasets. |
ArcScene | ArcScene is a 3D visualization application that allows you to view your GIS data in three dimensions. Features are placed in 3D by providing height information from feature geometry, feature attributes, layer properties, or a defined 3D surface, and every layer in the 3D view can be handled differently. |
ArcGlobe | ArcGlobe is a 3D visualization application that allows you to view large amounts of GIS data on a globe surface. You can view data covering a global extent and seamlessly zoom in to highly detailed, localized data. |
ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Pro is newest addition to the ArcGIS Desktop product. Read More>> |
ArcGIS Desktop licenses
There are three types of ArcGIS Desktop licenses:
Named User (available for ArcGIS Pro only)
Single Use
Concurrent Use
ArcGIS Desktop license levels
An ArcGIS Desktop license comes in three different levels of functionality:
Basic
Standard
Advanced
Process
Depending on the type and level of license you have, ArcGIS Desktop allows you to perform number of GIS tasks.
ArcToolbox | ArcToolbox is a collection of geoprocessing tools for analyzing, editing, and converting data. The tools can be used directly from a dialog, executed via command line, combined with other processes in visual models using Model Builder, or used in advanced scripts. |
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Outputs/Resources
ESRI Resources
GIS Tutorials
For ArcMap users migrating to ArcGIS Pro
Guidance
To obtain an ArcMap license contact FIS fis-ocha@un.org
View file name ArcMap Installation Guidance.pdf Migrating to ArcGIS Pro, see resources on ArcGIS Pro page