In the previous article "Yellow River Basin SHP Data (including upper, middle and lower reaches, main stream, tributaries, lakes, etc.)", the editor shared vector SHP data related to the Yellow River Basin, including a set of DEM data. Some friends asked how to preview DEM data in 3D view in ArcGIS Pro. In fact, ArcGIS Pro itself supports 3D preview of DEM data, which is much more convenient than ArcMap (after all, it integrates 2D and 3D). It only takes a few simple steps.
From the launch of Arc/Info in 1982, to ArcView bringing desktop GIS to the masses in 1993, and the release of ArcGIS Desktop 9 in 2004, Esri spent over four decades building the world's most ubiquitous desktop mapping platform. ArcGIS Desktop was once the first choice for countless GIS professionals to open maps, edit vectors, and generate legends. Now, with official support for the ArcGIS Desktop 10.8 series (including 10.8.1, 10.8.2) officially ending, it's fair to say an era is coming to a close.
The other day, while casually browsing in the MalGIS community chat, a friend @Tiantian suddenly asked me, "Does ArcGIS Pro 3.6 not support Windows 10 anymore?" This sudden question gave me a fright. After all, many friends following MalGIS should still be on Windows 10, some even on Windows 7. If there were such an issue, it should have surfaced earlier. However, when the friend later showed me the evidence, I couldn't be sure for a moment.
After much anticipation, ArcGIS Pro has been updated again! This update brings version 3.6, but the currently released version does not include a Chinese language pack, so only the English version is available. I downloaded and installed it, and the process is relatively straightforward and user-friendly for beginners, though the lack of a Chinese pack is a bit inconvenient. It is recommended for users with some English proficiency who want to try out the new features.
PS: For production use, it is advisable to wait until a Chinese language pack and subsequent update patches are released.
Users of ArcGIS Pro who wish to customize advanced features often rely on Python scripts, as many functions of ArcGIS Pro itself are implemented using Python. However, directly installing various Python packages in the built-in environment can easily lead to compatibility issues (especially since Python packages often have compatibility problems between versions). Therefore, ArcGIS Pro comes with a built-in Conda environment and packages the environment that ArcGIS Pro depends on as a read-only environment. This ensures that ArcGIS Pro remains stable and does not fail to run due to arbitrary modifications by users. As shown in the figure below, the software clearly indicates that the default environment cannot be modified.
Many users encounter issues when installing third-party packages for ArcPy, sometimes accidentally causing conflicts with Python versions and their corresponding packages. Incompatibilities between package versions can be particularly frustrating and may even disrupt core functionality of ArcGIS or ArcGIS Pro. This article provides a reference for the default Python and NumPy versions bundled with various ArcGIS versions, which can be helpful for troubleshooting such problems.
In a previous article titled "ArcGIS Pro Basemap Service Access Issues in China and Solutions", we discussed the blocking of ArcGIS Pro services in China. Although services were later restored, they have been fully switched to Tianditu services, which offer limited basemap options—only six are available. Therefore, I have been continuously exploring and sharing more basemap services accessible within China. Today, I will introduce a method to add Bing Maps as a basemap in ArcGIS Pro. This approach is somewhat indirect and is provided for reference.
In the previous article, Loading the Geovis Earth Basemap in ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, and QGIS, I introduced the free Geovis Earth basemap service. Recently, some readers asked whether I could create a tutorial on loading imagery from Siwei Earth.
So I gave it a try — and yes, it technically works (using their free API). However, the imagery turned out to have major positional offsets, making it unsuitable for practical use. Still, the API extraction method itself is quite interesting, so let’s explore it.
PS: If you’re only looking for a usable basemap URL, you can skip this post. I’ve tested it — it doesn’t work properly.
Above: The loaded data shows significant offset issues.
In the previous article, A Guide to Using Jilin-1 Satellite Imagery as a Basemap in ArcGIS Pro, I introduced the Jilin-1 basemap service as an alternative to China’s Tianditu maps for ArcGIS Pro users. Many readers asked whether there are other map sources available. Today, let’s look at another excellent basemap provider — Geovis Earth.
PS: I’ve actually mentioned Geovis Earth several times in earlier posts. Back then, with so many international basemap options, few paid attention. However, after ArcGIS Pro Services Blocked in China? Chinese Users Are in Trouble..., the number of stable and accessible basemap services in China has significantly decreased. In this context, Geovis Earth has become a great alternative.
Many users have reported that after switching to the Tianditu basemap in the China region of ArcGIS Pro, some imagery appears unclear and there are limited style options. Well, given the particular nature of our industry and the strict requirements for data legality and compliance, if data confidentiality is a concern, it is strongly recommended not to use map sources outside the China region. So, are there any other Chinese map sources available? Of course, I found a basemap service with decent clarity: the Jilin-1 map source. It offers a free usage quota for individuals, and I highly recommend it.
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