A geographical information system (GIS) is a computerized system for creating, analyzing, and displaying spatial data. It is typically used to create maps that show information such as population characteristics, the location of facilities across a region, or the geographic relationship between variables (for example, wildlife habitats within 10 miles of water sources). Seeing relationships and identifying patterns in new ways helps organizations make better decisions and solve problems faster.

This donation from Esri includes the latest version of ArcView software with one user license and the web-based training course Learning ArcGIS Desktop for one student.

Esri urges organizations to spend two to four hours in background research in order to fully understand the scope and requirements of using this product offering before they place a request. Good places to start are GIS.com and the Esri ArcView page. They can also try the free online courses. Courses labeled Web Course have exercises and require access to ArcView. Courses labeled Training Seminar are recorded and have demonstrations but no exercises.

ArcView is the entry-level core desktop product of Esri's ArcGIS suite of products. It provides these capabilities:

• Mapping: Author maps using simple wizards and an extensive suite of map elements. Create interactive maps from file, database, and online sources. Save, print, export, or embed completed maps in other documents or applications.
• Spatial analysis: Solve problems involving spatial data. Visually model and spatially analyze a process or workflow.
• Data creation, management, and integration: Use a wide variety of data types including demographics, facilities, CAD drawings, imagery, Web services, and multimedia. Directly read or import more than 70 different formats.
• Data query and exploration: Use tools such as Identify, Find, Measure, Hyperlink, and Magnifier Window to discover information not available when working with static paper maps.

Optional extensions can be requested through TechSoup or purchased directly from ESRI to add such functionality as advanced spatial modeling and analysis or three-dimensional visualization.

The included Esri Data & Maps downloadable collection contains more than 24 GB of data, including worldwide base and thematic maps, U.S. census data, U.S. zip codes, the 90-meter Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) dataset, and commercial datasets from several different sources.

Training Course

The online training course Learning ArcGIS Desktop introduces fundamental concepts of GIS and the major functionality of ArcGIS Desktop software. In course exercises, students follow the GIS analytical process and work with a variety of tools to solve realistic problems. The course takes about 24 hours to complete.

Free Data

To supplement the extensive data provided with ArcView, Esri also provides free online access to thousands of spatial data sets.

Free Add-ons

The ArcScripts website contains thousands of free user-created extensions, tools, and add-ons for any Esri product.

Single-User Version

This license is for a single-user version. Organizations that already own concurrent-user versions of any Esri software will not be able to use the product offered here with their concurrent-user version. Further, on a given computer, no single-user product can be used at the same time as any concurrent-user product.

This product must be installed and activated on only one computer.

Support and Maintenance

Esri will provide one year of product support and maintenance to recipients of this donation. In addition to telephone and online support, maintenance includes new software releases, service packs, patches, and hot fixes.

Before this year of free software maintenance and support expires, Esri will send a quotation for continuing software maintenance for the following year. Organizations have the option of purchasing the software maintenance from Esri, terminating the maintenance agreement and using the product without support, or applying to the Esri Conservation Program for a maintenance grant at http://www.conservationgis.org/grant/maintenancegrants.html. If the agreement is terminated and later reinstated, the organization will be billed for the lapsed maintenance period and the new annual maintenance period.

Choose Carefully

The administrative fee for this product is not refundable, and the product cannot be exchanged.

Obtaining This Product

Expect three emails. When your donation request has been approved, TechSoup will send a message to your organization email address with preliminary information about obtaining this product. Shortly after, the donor partner will send two emails with information needed to complete the installation or activation.

• Hardware:
• 2.2-GHz or higher Pentium 4, Core Duo, or Xeon processor
• 2 GB or more RAM
• 2.4 GB available hard-disk space
• 1024x768-pixel (or higher) display with 24-bit color
• 24-bit-capable graphics accelerator
• OpenGL 2.0–compliant video card (or higher) with at least 128 MB video memory; 512 MB recommended
• Software:
• Windows XP Home, Professional with SP2 or SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit); Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise, Ultimate with SP1 or SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit); Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit); Windows Server 2003 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter with SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit); Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter with SP2 (32-bit and 64-bit); Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter; Windows Terminal Services supported
• .NET Framework 3.5 with SP1 or higher
• Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher
• Other:
• The capacity to download several gigabytes of data
• For the License Manager — simple TCP/IP, network card, or Microsoft Loopback Adapter

• Donated product will be distributed under this program to qualifying organizations only, not to individuals.
• Two donations of ArcView and ArcPad and any number of donations of other Esri products may be requested within a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). These requests need not be made at the same time.
• This donation is available to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) designation and public libraries. Public libraries must either have valid 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or be listed in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) database.
• Organizations requesting any Esri product other than ArcView must already have and use a single-user version of ArcView or ArcEditor or request ArcView at the same time.
• Recipient organizations must be willing and able to provide information to Esri for the purposes of creating a case study or testimonial on this program.
• Organizations that advocate, support, or practice discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background are not eligible to participate in this program. Organizations must be willing and able to attest that they do not discriminate on any of these grounds in order to receive donations.
• Esri products may not be transferred, assigned, or resold.