Esri provides guidance on how their software and data can be used at a higher education institution. GIS software is appropriate for teaching, research, community service, and adminstrative use. Because it is sometimes unclear whether a particular use is permitted under the education licensing or may require a commercial license, Esri has developed a rubric for determining permitted use.

Esri Education License Rubric

Request Esri license
 

The information below reflects the unique UCSF Esri Education License agreement. Available products are negotiated each year and are subject to change.

Products: ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap) | ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Online

Esri announced the end-of-life for ArcGIS Desktop/ArcMap and no further releases will be provided. This product is no longer available by request at UCSF.

For those who need to transition to ArcGIS Pro, below is a brief description of the differences you may encounter when learning and using ArcGIS Pro. 

What is the difference?
ArcGIS Pro v1 was released in 2015 as the eventual successor to ArcGIS Desktop. ArcGIS Pro's project workflow, user-interface, and licensing approach are significantly different than that of ArcMap. Although the current version of ArcGIS Pro is nearly ArcMap equivalent in terms of functionality, it's not a perfect replacement. The following assumes a user is familiar with ArcMap:

Project Worflow: Pro uses "projects" or .aprx files to store all files associated with the project (map views, tools, scripts, layouts, data, etc). ArcMap .mxd files can be imported into a Pro .aprx project, although some limitations still exist. Also consider that while ArcMap Python scripts and models can be imported, that Pro uses Python 3.x and that Pro does not contain all the same tools as ArcMap -- a user should evaluate their scripts and models before considering ArcGIS Pro.

User Interface: Pro uses a "ribbon" interface similar to Microsoft Office products as well as panes to access geoprocessing tools and other tool windows. In addition, selecting a layer will drive ribbon actions such as labelling, symbols, editing, etc. Pro natively displays 3D and multiple layouts.

Licensing: Pro uses a named-user account to launch the product. The named-user account along with privileges, entitlements, extensions, and add-ons are driven by an ArcGIS Online for Organizations subscription.

Which product should I choose?
For existing ArcMap users there is no immediate or necessary reason to start using Pro unless an identified feature in Pro requires it. The logic to performing tasks in Pro (along with the new interface) has been altered just enough (or significantly in some instances) that a user should invest in training prior to using Pro for a project.

Overall, Pro presents a steeper learning curve compared to ArcMap and its tighter integration with ArcGIS Online adds another level of complexity and knowledge-base when working with both. Use this link for a quick-start tutorial on ArcGIS Pro basics.

The information below reflects the unique UCSF Esri Education License agreement. Available products are negotiated each year and are subject to change.

Sections: Analytics | Datasets | Field Worker | Web Application Builders | Community Planning & Engagement | Developers

Insights for ArcGIS is an ArcGIS Online premium application to explore data and perform advanced analytics such as spatial, statistical, predictive, and link analysis. Insights fuses location analytics with open data science and business intelligence workflows.

Business Analyst Web & Community Analyst Web is an ArcGIS Online premium application that provides location-based intelligence for planning, site selection, and customer segmentation. Combine demographic, lifestyle, and spending data with map-based analytics for accurate reports and dynamic presentations.

ArcGIS Maps for Office is an ArcGIS Online core application that adds interactive maps in your Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations. Easily map column data by geographic unit or geocode address records. Provides a dynamic map in the spreadsheet or slide.

Collector for ArcGIS is an ArcGIS Online premium application that provides location-based intelligence for planning, site selection, and customer segmentation. Combine demographic, lifestyle, and spending data with map-based analytics for accurate reports and dynamic presentations.

Esri Training
Esri offers free self-paced lessons through Learn ArcGIS and subscription-based self-paced and instructor-led training through the Esri Academy. Esri's GeoNet forum is also a site to learn about your questions or post questions yourself.

Occasionally, onsite workshops at UCSF campuses will be available through the UCSF Library's Data Science Initiative (DSI). Additional information about Esri training resources and more can be found on the Training webpage.

Department/Program Demonstrations
Geospatial @ UCSF can offer high-level overview of geospatial technologies, GIS concepts, and Esri products. Please make a request using the Geospatial Support Request form.

Support for troubleshooting Esri software, ArcGIS project assistance, or consultation are available but limited. Please submit a request using the Geospatial Support Request form.

Esri Software Troubleshooting
Users should exhuast all other resources (product support documents, online forums, general web searches, etc.) to resolve their issue or question before submitting a request. Please note that response to requests may take 3-5 business days.

Contacting Esri directly will unlikely result accessing thier support analysts. UCSF site license only permits Site License Administrator(s) to submit tickets on behalf of students, faculty, and researchers.

More information at Geospatial @ UCSF Support

Product

Business Analyst vs. Community Analyst
Community Analyst and Business Analyst Online are very similar in terms of features and data. The data and features in the two products are organized a bit differently to better serve the different audiences and intended analysis goals of the products. Business Analyst Online is intended for commercial audiences focused primarily on site selection, whereas Community Analyst is focused on policy issues and enabling understanding of communities from a "social issues" perspective.

Collector vs Survey123 vs GeoForm

Survey123 is form-centric with the ability to add a "geopoint" question and designed to feel more like a SurveyMonkey to the end-user. It allows for "nested" options so one question can prompts additional questions or changes the form. Survey123 is intended to collect NEW data although editing exisitng data is possible.

Collector for ArcGIS is map-centric and designed for the collection and editing of layers/data when in the field. The form creator for Collector is not as flexible as Survey123, think of it as Survey123 light.

Geoform is a configurable app template (ArcGIS Online only) for form based data editing of a Feature Service. This application allows users to enter data through a form instead of a map's pop-up while leveraging the an AGOL Web Map and editable Feature Services.

Esri's comparison matrix.

Accounts

Esri Account vs ArcGIS Online (AGOL) Accounts
Most users will be familiar with the ArcGIS Online (AGOL) account used at https://www.arcgis.com to access their AGOL organization. Esri has a few other accounts to be aware of.

Esri Account: Accessed at MyEsri.com. This is your customer account for Esri. If you have purchased a product or item from Esri then you will likely have had to create an Esri Account to access downloads, request support, or manage conference registration. In addition, this account is used for Esri's Academy (training courses) and Esri's GeoNet forum.

You do not need an Esri Account to access ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online.

ArcGIS Online Organization named-user Account (Subscription): Accessed at your subscription url (example: https://<org-name>.maps.arcgis.com). This is your identity in the AGOL Organization you either purchased, signed up for the 21-day Trial, or were invited to by an AGOL administrator. This account stays with the organization unless the organization deletes the account, it then becomes an ArcGIS Online Public Account.

This account type can also manage a user's Esri Academy (Training) history and GeoNet access (if enabled by a user's institution). Therefore, if a user wishes to maintain control over their training history and GeoNet posts, then they should create an Esri Account using a personal email address. Training history can be migrated to their personal Esri Account by contacting Esri Support.

ArcGIS Online Public Account (Free): This is a free account to access a limited version of ArcGIS Online. This account type can be invited into an ArcGIS Online Organization but be aware that any data/items associated with the account then become the property of the Organziation and is subject to thier policies.

Review Esri's explanation on account differences.

What will happen to my UCSF ArcGIS Online Organization account if I leave UCSF?

Your account is NOT deleted and is retained in case you return. If you wish to have others take ownership of your data you must coordinate with those users to transfer ownership. This must be done prior to your UCSF account being deactivated.

Can I move or copy my content from the UCSF ArcGIS Online Organization account to another Organizaton account or to a AGOL Public Account? What about from a Trial Subscription to the UCSF ArcGIS Online Organization?

Not really. You can "download" your datasets and upload them into the other org but the Web Maps or Apps you create can not be transfered. Esri has not created a tool to easly migrate account data between Organizations.

Public Accounts only provide a limited version of AGOL and only accept data, the Web Maps and Apps you create cannot be transferred. In addition, any premium data or layers added to maps will no longer work outside of an Organization account.

No support will be provided to users who begin projects in a trial version of ArcGIS Online. Please request an AGOL account through the Geospatial Support form.

Technical Support

How do I contact Esri Support?

Please perform due diligence to investigate the issue. Users should exhuast all resources (product support documents, online forums, general web searches, etc.) before submitting a request to Geospatial @ UCSF. Please note that response to requests may take 3-5 business days.

If Geospatial @ UCSF cannot assist then we will submit a ticket on your behalf to work directly with Esri Technical Support.