What improvements were made in ArcGIS Schematics at 9.3?

ArcGIS Schematics is an extension for automatically generating schematic diagrams. Originally this technology was developed as an independent solution, but over the last three years it has been integrated into core ArcGIS. Although traditionally this application was used to diagram utility networks (electric, telecom, water), users have recently discovered its value for applications including epidemiology, social networks, hydrology, and transportation.

At 9.3, ArcGIS Schematics includes a new XML Builder. This new Builder allows data coming from external systems to be used to generate diagrams. Any data from any system will be able to be displayed via ArcGIS Schematics as long as it follows the schematic diagram XML schema definition.

Geoprocessing tools to create and update diagrams are now available. Customers with thousands of diagrams will find this addition particularly useful as it will allow them to batch process diagrams by date range. Users will also be able to model scenarios, e.g., create a route with ArcGIS Network Analyst, automatically create a schematic diagram of that route, and display it as a straight line diagram similar to a bus time schedule.

ArcGIS Schematics 9.3 adds a new Label Placement Optimizer to improve the initial label placement in diagrams.

The new Partially Overlapping Links Algorithm (POLA) better displays partially overlapping links or links within close proximity to one another. This highly-requested algorithm pushes overlapping lines apart on a map to better show assets at that location.

Q & A

ArcGIS Extensions