With the latest release of ArcGIS Pro at R 1.4 you may be wondering what’s new and what’s cool? Thanks to Trip Corbin of eGIS Associates for sharing via the popular NDGIS discussion group, we’ve uncovered some interesting comments and tips about this release. Corbin comments, “This new version goes a long way to put ArcGIS Pro on par with ArcMap and ArcCatalog for core functionality.” Look for many updates including enhancements to mapping and visualization, geoprocessing, georeferencing, animations, charts, 3D analysis, portal analysis and much more.

Benefits of ArcGIS Pro
So why should you consider migrating to ArcGIS Pro? Aside from the fact that Esri will soon be pushing you to do so, there are many benefits ArcGIS Pro brings to the table. Here are a few key benefits we have found:
- Fully 64 bit enabling ArcGIS Pro to take full advantage of modern hardware including more than 4 GB RAM, Multi-core processors, Graphics Processors, and graphics RAM
- Native Support for both 2D and 3D Maps
- Intuitive and modern ribbon interface
- Faster geoprocessing
- Multiple ways to automate and streamline processes
- Python Scripts
- Models
- Tasks
- Arcade
- Improved iteration with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise
- Increased support for raster and lidar analysis
- Support for multiple maps and layouts in a single project
- Improved support for UAVs and UAS
- .Net Development Environment
- Multiple Licensing options
What’s New in 1.4
So, what are some of the big improvements you will find in ArcGIS Pro 1.4? This release includes a lot of tools many of us have been waiting on to put ArcGIS Pro on par with the core functionality found in ArcMap.
- Here are some of the new tools and functionality we believe are key that you will find in this release of ArcGIS Pro.
- Georeferencing of CAD and Imagery
- Use of Grids and Graticule
- Production of georeferenced ortho products from UAVs, satellites, and aerial photos
- Create and manage topologies
- New CAD tools tab
- Support for Alternate City names as well as street names when geocoding
- Register views with enterprise geodatabases
- Support for both LAS and ZLAS files
- Align Features tool added
- Create Multipatch features
- New Pipeline Extension
For a complete list of what has been added to ArcGIS Pro 1.4 go to http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/get-started/whats-new-in-arcgis-pro.htm.
Corbin comments, “If you have not looked at ArcGIS Pro yet, then you really need too. Esri has said they are no longer focusing on development for ArcMap or ArcCatalog. Their focus for new desktop functionality is all on ArcGIS Pro”. Thanks to Tripp for sharing his perspective.
What are your thoughts about ArcGIS Pro and the road ahead? We’d love to hear from you, either here or feel free to tweet to @geojobegis. For more interesting ArcGIS reading see our post, Year End ArcGIS Reading and 10 Must Read Articles