Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro: The Essential Step-by-Step GIS Workbook

Why This Book Matters

Geographic information systems (GIS) professionals, students, and analysts face a steep learning curve when transitioning from traditional desktop GIS to Esri’s modern, ribbon-based ArcGIS Pro platform. Without a structured, hands-on guide, users waste hours navigating unfamiliar tools, struggle to build efficient geodatabases, and fail to leverage the full power of 3D visualization and map automation. Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro eliminates this friction by providing a proven, exercise-driven path to mastery.

Inside Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro: The Essential Step-by-Step GIS Workbook: A Full Overview

Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro is a comprehensive textbook and desk reference written by Esri Press authors Michael Law and Amy Collins. It teaches readers how to build a geodatabase, use 3D GIS, create publication-quality maps for presentations, and perform advanced spatial analysis—all within the ArcGIS Pro environment. This edition, published in 2016, remains a foundational resource for anyone seeking practical, project-based instruction in modern GIS workflows.

The book is structured around real-world exercises that mirror professional GIS tasks, making it ideal for both classroom use and self-directed learning. Each chapter builds on the previous one, ensuring a logical progression from basic data management to sophisticated cartographic output.

Is This Book Right for You?

This book is designed for a broad audience of GIS learners and practitioners. It is especially valuable for:

• GIS students enrolled in university or community college programs who need a reliable lab manual
• Professional analysts migrating from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro who require efficient upskilling
• Urban planners, environmental scientists, and geographers who use spatial data daily
• Self-taught learners who prefer structured, step-by-step tutorials over fragmented online resources
• Instructors seeking a proven curriculum with ready-to-use exercises and data

No prior experience with ArcGIS Pro is assumed, though basic familiarity with GIS concepts is helpful.

Key Takeaways

By working through the exercises in this book, you will acquire these essential skills:

• Build and manage a geodatabase — Create feature classes, tables, domains, and subtypes to organize spatial data efficiently
• Create stunning 3D visualizations — Use ArcGIS Pro’s 3D scene capabilities to display terrain, buildings, and subsurface data
• Design professional maps for print and digital presentation — Apply cartographic principles, symbology, and layout tools
• Perform spatial analysis and geoprocessing — Execute buffers, overlays, clipping, and proximity analysis using ModelBuilder and Python
• Automate repetitive workflows — Build models and scripts to streamline data processing and map production

How It Compares

Unlike scattered online tutorials or outdated textbooks, this book offers a cohesive, publisher-backed learning system. Esri Press is the official publishing arm of Esri, the company behind ArcGIS Pro, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with current software capabilities. Competitor resources often lack structured progression or fail to cover the full workflow from data creation to final map output. This book bridges that gap with a logical chapter sequence, downloadable exercise data, and clear step-by-step instructions that build real competence.

Furthermore, the 2016 edition captures a stable, mature version of ArcGIS Pro, avoiding the confusion of rapid beta changes. It serves as a reliable desk reference long after the initial training is complete.

About the Author

Michael Law and Amy Collins are experienced GIS professionals and authors with deep ties to the Esri community. Their combined expertise spans curriculum design, technical writing, and real-world GIS implementation. Esri Press, the publisher, is the gold standard for GIS literature, producing authoritative texts used in thousands of university courses worldwide. This institutional backing provides a level of trust and accuracy that self-published guides cannot match.

Final Assessment

For any GIS learner or professional making the move to ArcGIS Pro, this book is an indispensable investment. Its exercise-driven format ensures you learn by doing, not just reading. The 2016 edition remains highly relevant because it covers core workflows that have not fundamentally changed in subsequent releases. At a fraction of the cost of formal training courses, this single volume can save you dozens of hours of trial-and-error learning. We confidently recommend it as the first resource to purchase alongside the software.

Download Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro: The Essential Step-by-Step GIS Workbook Now

If you are a student preparing for a GIS career or a professional upgrading your skills, this book provides the fastest, most reliable path to proficiency. Order your copy now to start building real-world geodatabases, creating compelling 3D maps, and automating spatial analysis—all with the confidence that comes from an Esri Press resource. Add to cart today and accelerate your GIS expertise with the trusted guide used in classrooms and offices worldwide.