1. Navigating the GIS Web
Proprietary ESRI Software (ArcGIS) cf. Free and(/or) OpenSource (FOSS) (QGIS)

2. ArcGIS Desktop http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgis-for-desktop
Traditional GIS package/application/program on lab/standalone/desk PC
Variety of licences: Basic, Standard, Advanced
(formerly ArcView, ArcEditor, ArcInfo)
ArcGIS Desktop (now up to v10.4) refers to traditional ArcGIS applications (ArcMap, ArcScene, ArcCatalog), and now also…
ArcGIS Pro (now up to v1.2)

3. ArcGIS Pro http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis-pro
New (dedicated 64-bit) Desktop GIS Program
Context-Driven (i.e. ribbon toolbar a la modern MS Office)
2D and 3D combined!
Licensed through ArcGIS Online/My ESRI account (see later)
ESRI claim to have re-invented Desktop GIS…

4. ESRI Web GIS: ArcGIS Online; ESRI StoryMaps; JS API
My ESRI - Account servicing -
ArcGIS Online -
Or from
Also includes links to lessons and featured AGISOL maps and ESRI Storymaps
ESRI Storymaps -
JavaScript API -
Cf. Google Maps API, OS API, OpenLayers, Leaflet, other JS – 3D.js, etc.
JS Developer Sandbox (or just use Text Editor and Web Browser!)
Extensive tutorials online cf. Google Maps API, OpenLayers, also OS OpenSpace API

5. ArcGIS Plugins, Freebies, Apps A-Z at http://www. esri
Plugins/Extensions:
Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst, Network Analyst, Geostatistical Analyst
Data Interoperability, Data Reviewer, Workflow Manager
Free Viewer Progs:
ArcReader, ArcExplorer, ArcEarth
ESRI Apps:
Collector (cf. EDINA Fieldtrip GB), ArcPad (Professionals) on GPS/PDA
Others:
CityEngine, ArcGIS Editor for OpenStreetMap, many others – see list

6. The ArcGIS ‘Book’; Online Lessons/Help
Interactive web pages / PDF (i.e. includes links to tutorials)
Tutorials cover ArcGIS Online and Desktop (where more advanced)
Online Tutorials/Help
Online Lessons – linked from ArcGIS Online -
ESRI MOOCs
Desktop Help and Selected Tutorials -
ESRI Knowledge Base -
GeoNet incl. ArcGIS Ideas -
My Training -
ESRI Virtual Campus (Free in HE/UoE)/ Instructor-led Training £££ / $$$

7. QGIS and Open Alternatives
QGIS - (Quantum GIS)
Free Download / Extensible (plugins) / Open-Source
Huge User Community (and partic. Creative user community)
Generally bundled with a set of FOSS software (OSGeo Project)
E.g. GRASS, gvSIG, GDAL/OGR, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Map/GeoServer, MapGuide Open
OSGeo
Desktop: QGIS (+GRASS, SAGA)
DBMS/Web: PostgreSQL/PgAdmin, Apache, MapServer, GeoServer
Code Libs: GDAL, extend with Python plugins
QGIS integration with numerous modules: PostGIS, LASTools, TauDEM (well-known to many ArcGIS users)
Live DVD: OSGeo Live

8. Free Mapping OpenStreetMap
Compare with Google in e.g. developing nations
Community Effort; Disaster Relief
Editor available; Editors; Contributors (Surveyors)
Also ‘underlies’ various JavaScript powered map ‘libraries’
OpenLayers, Leaflet, etc.
Free online ESRI account (non-commercial/trial)
Usual Streetmap (E-N), Bing, Google*
*Be aware of commercial companies providing ‘free’ services – pull plug…
MapTiler – Incorporate Paper Maps into Google, OpenLayers or Leaflet

9. Hosted Web Mapping Services
MapBox / MapBox Studio
MBTles Format, Vector Tiles – NEW!!!

10. Hosted Web Mapping Services
MapBox / MapBox Studio
MBTles Format, Vector Tiles – NEW!!!

11. Hosted Web Mapping Services
CartoDB
Map Academy -

12. Hosted Web Mapping Services
CartoDB
Map Academy -

13. Open (Development) Platforms
Python
Scripting language of choice for ESRI ArcGIS *and* QGIS
Use e.g. ArcGIS or other 3rd party code outside ArcGIS via Python directly
Easy to get started; Object-oriented
Language of choice – also used by modern web development, e.g. GeoDjango R
Superior stats handling
Integrates well with e.g. GRASS (which can be used via QGIS)
Processing (Visual Analytics) – now available in School!
Java default mode, but also Python, JavaScript, and Android versions (App Development)

14. A final word on JavaScript…
Your friend:
Runs in web browser; just need a text editor (Notepad will do, Notepad++ better)
Client-side (fast, no server hit nor cross-web lag or delay)
Multiple 3rd party libraries/APIs
D3.js, Three.js, p5.js
Mapping JS APIs: OpenLayers (plus Tutorials online), Leaflet, Google, OS, other…
Traditional server-side approaches still valid and easy
Perl/PHP scripts to dynamically generate HTML/graphics e.g. SVG (write your own GIS)
Web URL APIs in address bar: Web Mashups using 3rd party web mapping services
Ordinary ‘map’ website: e.g. StreetMap, Vision of Britain
Dedicated WMS: e.g. BGS, Gov Data services (Can display WMS in GIS direct from web)

15. Get Mapping!... Have a go, have fun!