Mapping the Future with Esri’s Powerhouse Trio of New GIS Books
Esri, the global heavyweight in location intelligence, has just upped the ante with a trio of powerful new publications that blend storytelling, technical mastery, and educational depth into one compelling package. Whether you’re a seasoned GIS professional, a data-driven policymaker, or an educator trying to inject life into your lessons, there’s something here for everyone.
From teaching the nuts and bolts of ArcGIS Pro to unlocking advanced Python coding tricks and redefining storytelling with maps, Esri’s latest offerings aim to spark imagination, enhance skills, and transform the way we perceive our world.
Python Gets Practical
Let’s start with a title that’s sure to make the hearts of GIS developers beat faster: Esri Advanced Guide to Python in ArcGIS. Written by in-house experts Dave Crawford and Daniel Yaw, this hands-on guide offers more than just dry code. It’s built around real-world projects, helping users apply complex Python techniques to solve genuine workplace challenges.
Through clear instructions and intuitive tutorials, readers will discover:
- The fundamentals of object-oriented programming
- How to craft efficient GIS Python solutions
- Tips for harnessing the power of ArcPy and the ArcGIS API for Python
- Advanced use cases for geospatial AI and imagery
- Best practices for data engineering, concurrency, and parallel processing
- Deliverables across multiple formats, including Jupyter Notebooks and ArcGIS Pro tools
Each chapter concludes with a project-based challenge. These mirror real-world tasks such as performing market analysis or automating ArcGIS Online administration. This isn’t just theory; it’s a bootcamp in book form.
“We wanted to provide readers with more than just code snippets. This book teaches the logic and context needed to build robust, efficient, and scalable geospatial solutions,” said co-author Dave Crawford.
Available in paperback (ISBN: 9781589488236) and ebook (ISBN: 9781589488243) formats for US$89.99, it’s ideal for intermediate users looking to take their scripting skills to the next level.
GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro 3.4
If you’re new to GIS or looking to brush up on your ArcGIS Pro chops, GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro 3.4 is the go-to learning companion. Written by award-winning educators Wilpen L. Gorr and Kristen S. Kurland of Carnegie Mellon University, this guide walks learners through essential ArcGIS Pro skills in a way that’s methodical, interactive, and, most importantly, effective.
The book covers:
- Map design principles
- Using geodatabases and geoprocessing tools
- Geocoding workflows
- Creating dashboards and interactive narrative maps
- Handling raster and 3D data
- Performing robust spatial analysis
What sets this book apart is its balance of structure and creativity. Exercises are thoughtfully sequenced and designed to build knowledge incrementally. It’s not just about learning buttons and tools. It’s about mastering workflows.
“This book supports not only technical learning but also critical thinking about spatial problems and solutions,” said Kristen S. Kurland.
Educators will appreciate the bonus materials available in the VitalSource edition: lecture slides, grading rubrics, homework solutions, and video transcripts. Self-learners will find the clear writing and step-by-step practice assignments especially welcoming.
Priced at US$119.99 for both the paperback (ISBN: 9781589488151) and ebook (ISBN: 9781589488175) versions, this is a serious investment in your GIS future.
Storytelling Reimagined
Maps are more than just visual aids. They’re a universal language, one that Esri’s Telling Stories with Maps seeks to translate into powerful narratives. Authored by Allen Carroll, former chief cartographer at National Geographic and founder of Esri’s ArcGIS StoryMaps team, this title explores the evolving art and science of geospatial storytelling.
Carroll draws on his rich experience to guide readers through how maps, when paired with multimedia, can convey complex topics with clarity and emotional impact. The book is packed with vibrant illustrations, real-world examples, and case studies from traditional and digital mapping eras.
Readers will learn to:
- Develop compelling narratives using ArcGIS StoryMaps
- Incorporate motion, images, video, and interactivity
- Choose the right map for the right message
- Blend science with story to create meaning
Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet, pens the foreword, reminding readers that storytelling is at the heart of exploration, understanding, and empathy.
“The digital revolution has opened up extraordinary opportunities for place-based narratives,” Carroll explains. “StoryMaps allow us to engage audiences in ways that were previously unimaginable.”
Whether you’re a journalist, urban planner, conservationist, or academic, this book offers a masterclass in crafting stories that resonate.
Telling Stories with Maps is available in paperback (ISBN: 9781589487970) and ebook (ISBN: 9781589487956) for US$44.99.
A Broader View of Esri’s Vision
Esri’s publishing strategy clearly goes beyond mere documentation. It reflects the company’s broader mission: to empower users to tell better stories, make smarter decisions, and solve real-world problems through spatial awareness.
Founded in 1969, Esri now supports over 100 countries with solutions that span everything from disaster response and public health to urban planning and environmental conservation. Their software suite, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS StoryMaps, is used by organisations of every stripe: from government agencies to Fortune 500 companies, universities to non-profits.
This latest batch of books amplifies that reach by enabling anyone—regardless of their technical background—to participate in the global movement toward smarter geospatial thinking.
Making Learning Stick
It’s worth noting that all three books blend theory with action. They encourage readers to not just learn, but to apply. That’s a welcome change from the often passive experience of digital learning. With these books, Esri positions itself not only as a technology provider but as an educational leader in the ever-expanding geospatial landscape.
And that’s a message worth mapping.
