Migrating to ArcGIS Pro

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11 December 2024

Written by Abigail Smith

Is your organization still relying on ArcMap? If so, it’s time to start thinking about the future. As of March 2024, ArcMap no longer receives patches, software updates, or hotfixes. Without these updates, your data may face increased vulnerability and security risks. Additionally, your software could encounter compatibility issues with other systems and applications. Ensure your organization stays current with the latest software to avoid potential complications and protect your data. ArcMap is also scheduled to be retired in March 2026 (ArcMap Life Cycle | Esri Support). In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits and challenges of migration from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro.

 

The 10 advantages of ArcGIS Pro

 

ArcGIS Pro, first introduced in 2015, is a comprehensive professional desktop GIS application designed to elevate geospatial workflows. Since its launch, Avineon has utilized ArcGIS Pro to visualize and analyze both 2D and 3D geographic data. Transitioning to ArcGIS Pro offers numerous advantages that can enhance the quality and efficiency of your data management and analysis.

  1. Modern, interactive interface
    1. Ribbons - similar tools are grouped into ribbons.
    2. Interactive - the ribbons change based on what is selected in ArcGIS Pro. When a Map is active, a different ribbon will be visible compared to when a Layout is active.
  1. Project-centric
    1. By default, when you create a new ArcGIS Pro project with a Map template, an ArcGIS Project File and a File Geodatabase are created with the same name. This enables users to organize their data and customize their projects in one location. The default File Geodatabase does not have to be utilized if you are connecting to existing data.
  1. Consumption of web content via services
    1. Easy consumption of web services, asusers can add data from a URL with ease.
  1. Integration with Portal and ArcGIS Online
    1. Users can sign directly into ArcGIS Portal and ArcGIS Online in ArcGIS Pro. Once they add a Portal in Pro, they can set it as their Active Portal which enables them to consume all content shared with their user.
  1. Optimized for 3D Data Modeling and Editing
    1. Pro is designed with tools and graphics for editing and modeling 3D data.
  1. Branch Version Feature Service Editing
    1. Enabling work from anywhere in the world.
    2. Once a Feature Service is published and enabled for branch version feature editing, users sign into their ArcGIS Portal account and add the feature service to their ArcGIS Pro project. This allows for users to edit referenced data in Enterprise databases without having a direct connection to the instance.
    3. Enables collaboration and shared editing between organizations.
  1. Projects can have multiple maps and layouts
    1. ArcGIS Pro enables users to have multiple Maps and Layouts in a project. This is different from ArcMap which required users to maintain individual Map documents for content.
      *We recommend keeping all your published maps in one project.
  1. Multiple data sources can be edited at one time.
    1. This includes Enterprise geodatabases, file geodatabases, and feature services to name a few.
    2. Users do not have to start and stop editing sessions to switch data sources. By default, ArcGIS Pro is always in edit mode. Users can determine which layers are editable in the Content pane’s List by editing section.
  1. Attribute Rules
    1. Automated user-defined rules written in Arcade. They can be leveraged to calculate values and transfer data from other layers as well as streamline manual data entry workflows and can help to maintain data integrity.
  1. Named User Licensing
    1. The Named User Model enables licensing through ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Portal.
    2. The GIS Administrator manages and grants licensing through those interfaces.
    3. Users license ArcGIS Pro by establishing their licensing Portal and signing into their ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Portal account.
    4. This enables more flexibility with licensing.

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The 5 challenges

 

Transitioning to ArcGIS Pro comes with its own set of challenges. We’ve identified the top 5 you should be aware of to ensure a smoother migration.

  1. Training
    Editors will need time to adjust to ArcGIS Pro. Their day-to-day workflows will be different, and this takes time to adjust. Enlist the help of a vendor. We recommend customized, structured training. We will take your data and talk with your team to build out an agenda that familiarizes your team with ArcGIS Pro including tips for optimizing your workflows.
  1. ArcMap Users
    ArcMap users are accustomed to all their toolbars being docked and visible on the interface. While the interactive ribbon design of ArcGIS Pro can be seen as an advantage, it can pose a challenge for users transitioning from ArcMap. ArcGIS Pro enables users to create custom ribbons. For editors that utilize the same tools for all their workflows, we recommend adding them to a custom ribbon and primarily keeping that ribbon open.
  1. No stand-alone ArcCatalog
    ArcGIS Pro was designed as an all-in-one product. Therefore, there is no longer a stand-alone ArcCatalog application for managing data. We recommend creating an ArcGIS Pro Project Catalog template project and using it for managing your data. This will help mitigate potential schema locks and other issues that can arise when working within an ArcGIS Pro project that contains multiple maps.

  2. It’s a one-way street.
    Moving to ArcGIS Pro is a one-way journey. Adding Attribute Rules and upgrading Annotation to ArcGIS Pro are two examples that make data no longer usable to ArcMap. ArcMap will be retired in March 2026. Organizations should be considering their plan for getting all their workflows and data into ArcGIS Pro now. We recommend when moving individual departments to Pro to evaluate all downstream processes and evaluate interruptions to editing workflows if data is shared with departments still utilizing ArcMap.

  3. Hardware and Software
    ArcGIS Pro requires powerful PCs for editing. Esri provides documentation for minimum requirements for running ArcGIS Pro on PCs and Servers. When planning the transition to ArcGIS Pro, make sure your machines are capable. The version of ArcGIS Pro, Server, and Enterprise is also an important consideration. Do the homework before installing to make sure all components are compatible.

Conclusion

 

With ArcMap nearing its end-of-life, transitioning to ArcGIS Pro is essential to ensure your organization stays secure and efficient. While challenges like training and hardware upgrades exist, the benefits of modern tools, enhanced workflows, and integration with ArcGIS Online make the move worthwhile.

 

Want to learn more about Avineon’s past experiences for migrating data assets from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro? Download our latest case study The journey to ArcGIS Pro. We will share our journey and the challenges we faced in transitioning Ashe County's Parcel Fabric data from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro.

 

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