Straight Talk About ESRI MapIt

Now that the MapIt blog is up and running we are starting to see some content flowing. In the first series of posts, Rex talks about MapIt and answers a number of questions that have been asked since it’s release. Questions ranging from functionality through to packaging through to price. I get asked a lot of the similar questions so this is a nice series of posts to answer these.

So what do you get with MapIt? Well there are four key components that make up MapIt.

1. Spatial Data Assistant
2. Spatial Data Service
3. ArcGIS API for Microsoft Silverlight/WPF
4. WebPart for Microsoft SharePoint

Rex has covered what each of these components do in detail here: http://blogs.esri.com/dev/…

On to answering a number of key questions. The answers below are only snippets from Rex’s full post.

Does MapIt replace ArcGIS Server?

No.  From the server-side perspective they share one operation: query.

ArcGIS Server is a complete enterprise GIS solution built around the extensive capabilities of ArcObjects. MapIt features simply enable quick and easy access to spatial data in SQL Server and do not require ArcObjects in any way. 

MapIt does not include a SOM or SOC, that functionality is handled by SQL Server. 

MapIt does not include an administrative interface like ArcCatalog or Manager and does not use service configuration files like mxds, msds, tbxs, etc.  As a result, MapIt does not include an application to create and modify configuration files such as ArcMap.  Instead you organize and manage your data in SQL Server using standard database techniques and capabilities.  You may use SQL Server Management Studio to do this, but again that’s available completely outside of MapIt.

Does MapIt replace ArcIMS?

No.  From the server-side perspective the comparison is similar to ArcGIS Server.

ArcIMS is a simple Web GIS solution composed of Java and C++ components, with limited ArcObjects support via the ArcMap Image Server.  MapIt features are built as pure managed .NET solutions.    

MapIt does not include a spatial server, monitor, or application server – again that functionality is handled by SQL Server. 

MapIt does not include an administrative interface like ArcIMS Administrator and does not require configuration files like axls or mxds.  As a result, MapIt does not need to include an application to create and modify configuration files such as ArcIMS Author.

Is MapIt the new MapObjects-Windows or MapObjects IMS?

As a whole, no.  Keep in mind MO-Windows and MOIMS are no longer available – but this has not stopped the attempt at a comparison – which is why I mention it here.  From the server-side perspective MOIMS provided a light-weight Web mapping solution but you still had to create the server-side application to work with directly with data (e.g. shapefiles, ArcSDE) – plus you generate map images on the server.  The MapIt SDS correlates with the MOIMS esrimap dll but like with the ArcIMS servlet connector, the format is different.  You also had to build the MOIMS client, usually a limited mish-mash of HTML, JavaScript, and ASP.

How do you compare MapIt to other products?

From what we can see by the ESRI product comparisons (above) and the features of MapIt, it is not a comprehensive enterprise GIS solution.  It’s designed to be a simple, straight-forward, non-intrusive set of features that build on the existing Microsoft stack of database, service, and client solutions.

As mentioned above, the answers here are only snippets covering the important points. Rex’s full answers to these questions can be found here: http://blogs.esri.com/dev/…

The important message here is to understand MapIt and how’s its being positioned in the market. Many users have been confused about MapIt and notion that it could be a replacement for ArcGIS Server. This is incorrect. Like Rex has mentioned, MapIt is NOT a comprehensive enterprise GIS solution but rather a simple set of features that leverage the Microsoft quite nicely.

The next bundle of questions will discuss pricing and who should be interested in MapIt. I’ll update this post once that has been published.