According to Wikipedia: ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system ( GIS ) software products produced by ESRI . At the desktop GIS level, ArcGIS can include: ArcReader, which allows one to view and query maps created with the other Arc products; ArcView, which allows one to view spatial data, create layered maps, and perform basic spatial analysis; ArcEditor which, in addition to the functionality of ArcView, includes more advanced tools for manipulation of shapefiles and geodatabases; or ArcInfo which includes capabilities for data manipulation, editing, and analysis. There are also server-based ArcGIS products, as well as ArcGIS products for PDAs. Extensions can be purchased separately to increase the functionality of ArcGIS.
Tools (8)
CollabMap is an online social engagement tool that collects spatially-located feedback from community members. Contributions are created by pinning administrator-defined categories (ex: transport, highway design, environmental) to a specific geographical location. The map-based platform works in a Google Maps environment and is GIS friendly. Project administrators may migrate data to GIS for reports. Contributions are recorded in real-time and comments can be openly viewed by the public. A demo site of the tool can be found here . CollabMap is being developed by the Australian-based consulting firm, ARUP .
From the website: CommunityViz is advanced yet easy-to-use GIS software designed to help people visualize, analyze, and communicate about important community planning decisions. From Placeway’s about page : CommunityViz is based on geographic information systems ( GIS ) software – computerized maps that can contain rich information about the physical world. In particular, CommunityViz plugs into ArcGIS-brand desktop software from ESRI , the world’s leading GIS platform and the place where most planning organizations store information about the places they work. CommunityViz adds a large suite of extra functions that combine with ArcGIS to make a more specialized, powerful decision-making platform – tools for setting up alternative futures (scenarios) and analyzing their effects; tools for making interactive three-dimensional (3D) models of real places as they are now and as they could be in future; tools for explaining and communicating across the many groups of people who become involved in making decisions about the future of a place. CommunityViz is developed by City Explained, a software and services firm specializing in GIS -based planning services and technology, based in Lafayette, Colorado (US).
Kumu is a data visualization platform using colored webs, network connections, additional fields for element descriptions, automated calculated information, and custom CSS styling. Begin by importing existing data or use the Google Sheets integration to generate maps from live data. Contribute and see the tool in action by adding your information to the spreadsheet to join the “Kumunity” (a mapping of Kumu users) “here”: https://kumu.io/kumu/kumunity. Organize projects into multiple perspectives, and declutter by using filter, focus and showcase functionalities. Additional data can be attached to each node and connective link through profiles. Default profile fields are type, label, description, and tags; to these fields, skills, operating budget, and embedded videos can be added. The point-and-click builder allows for customization of decorative elements (e.g. augmenting size, color and thickness of connections to reflect data specificities). Kumu’s insight and analytics features include built-in metrics (e.g. closeness, betweenness, and eigenvector centrality), automated community-detection, and clustering. Take the platform tour to better grasp the extent of Kumu’s capabilities. Kumu can be used for an assortment of purposes: stakeholder maps, systems maps & causal loop diagrams, org maps, social network maps, community and asset maps, concept maps, and Lombardi diagrams. 5-Minute Kumu Instructional Video Kumu 5 Minute Quickstart from Kumu on Vimeo . Kumu Inc was was founded in 2011 in Oahu, USA .
OpenLayers is a a module for the open-source CMS Drupal that allows map mash-ups. OpenLayers is an open-source alternative to Google and Bing Maps featuring standalone and interactive maps that can be embedded onto any web page. From their homepage: OpenLayers makes it easy to put a dynamic map in any web page. It can display map tiles, vector data and markers loaded from any source. OpenLayers has been developed to further the use of geographic information of all kinds. It is completely free, Open Source JavaScript, released under the 2-clause BSD License (also known as the FreeBSD). Features include: Tiled Layers : Pull tiles from OSM , Bing, MapBox, Stamen, and any other XYZ source you can find. OGC mapping services and untiled layers also supported. Vector Layers : Render vector data from GeoJSON, TopoJSON, KML , GML , Mapbox vector tiles, and other formats. Cutting Edge, Fast & Mobile Ready : Leverages Canvas 2D, WebGL, and all the latest greatness from HTML5. Mobile support out of the box. Build lightweight custom profiles with just the components you need. Easy to Customize and Extend : Style your map controls with straight-forward CSS . Hook into different levels of the API or use 3rd party libraries to customize and extend functionality. For more information and tutorials regarding OpenLayers, refer to Antonio Santiago’s presentation . From Slide #63, here are some examples of OpenLayers maps: Web Feature Service ( WFS ) Keyhole Markup Language ( KML ) Features Clusters OpenLayers is open-source and its source code is available on Github .
ParticipatR aims to break down barriers to participation in public consultation for hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. The specialist consultancy service provides strategic advice on community engagement by creating “interactive, web-based community engagement websites, designed to gather feedback on housing, development, regeneration, environmental and neighbourhood planning issues.” From the FAQ page: “Our intelligent website software visualises feedback in real-time in the form of interactive maps and pie charts. Feedback can then be analysed by the project team or website visitors, to spot sub trends in opinion and provide insight into issues and aspirations that matter to the community.” “Websites have built in GPS capability, which helps participants pinpoint their exact location and tag their opinions to where they live or the location of a pot-hole that they’ve just spotted when they’re on the move.” ParticipatR was founded in 2016 and is based in Bristol, UK.
Social Pinpoint is a multi-function community engagement platform that uses interactive mapping to collect citizen feedback. Input is summed up through live reporting and analytics for community leaders. Users can add markers (e.g. info, traffic, like, dislike) to a GIS -defined project area. Beyond interactive mapping, the digital engagement and collaboration software also offers solutions for online ideation, safety and incident tracking, and stakeholder management. Some key features of its mapping tool include: - real-time tracking of participation rates and levels of engagement - drag and drop interface - GIS integration - in-built social media integrations - moderation and reviewing with a filterable live feed A complete list of features is on the Social Pinpoint website . Introductory video: Social Pinpoint in 1 minute from Social Pinpoint on Vimeo . A number of demo sites of the tool can be found here . Social Pinpoint was founded in 2014 and is based in Newcastle, Australia.
Ushahidi is a location-based crowdsourcing site that collects, manages, and visualizes data submitted by citizens through SMS , Twitter, e-mail, and mobile apps. Software features include: Data collection from multiple sources, SMS submissions, custom surveys, IOS & Android compatibility. Management of information by grouping datasets, and through filters, saved searches, workflows, and team collaboration. Data visualization utilizing a mapping feature powered by Open Streets Maps and MapQuest, and configurable charts. The platform has been used in the context of election monitoring, crisis response, and advocacy & human rights. In 2008, Ushahidi was founded by four Kenyan bloggers as a tool to ensure citizen safety amid post-election violence in Kenya. The software has since been used for crowdsourcing projects in over 160 countries. The African technology leader is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.