ESRI Site License Agreement

April 2006

The University of Minnesota Duluth has recently secured a site license for ESRI software products ArcInfo and ArcView. ArcInfo is a complete Geographic Information Science (GIS) data creation, update, query, mapping, and analysis system. ArcView is a popular desktop GIS and mapping software. ArcView provides data visualization, query, analysis, and integration capabilities along with the ability to create and edit geographic data.

GIS is a growing field in a wide range of disciplines and UMD has joined the Minnesota State College and University System, University of Minnesota TC Campus, and St. Mary's University of Minnesota, along with hundreds of university and campus systems across the country and in 26 countries, in making GIS tools available to students by adding a campus wide agreement. This opens an exciting opportunity for new users to become familiar with the industry leading GIS software and integrate it into teaching and/or make it available for students to use.

UMD Information Technology Systems and Services (ITSS) has participated in this acquisition by negotiating the legalities and fronting part of the cost of this license. While the UMD community has demonstrated enough use of ESRI software already to make the site license a reasonable consideration, existing and new users must share the cost in order for the site license to be worthwhile in the future.

Where is GIS used?

GIS technology is coming to the forefront in education and research and is one of the fastest growing high-tech careers for students today. Skills in GIS may provide students with an advantage in the job marketplace in this age of electronic data dissemination, interdisciplinary problem solving, and global networking. In many fields this tool provides a specialty area which employers are desperately trying to develop.

GIS is also used as a tool by educators to teach history and geography and to demonstrate theories in the natural sciences and business. Students learn computer literacy, analytical approaches to problem solving, and communication and presentation skills while applying GIS techniques and solutions. These are just some of the industries and academic areas where GIS is commonly applied:

Biology: Natural Resource Management, Fisheries, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Water Resources Management, Botany, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Environmental Science

Business: Business Administration, Decision Support Systems, Economic and Management Research, Marketing, Operations Research, Real Estate Management, Retail Management, Transportation & Fleet Management

Communications and Journalism: Location-Based Services, Media, Telecommunications

Education: K-12 to University level, Libraries and Museums

Engineering: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, Telecommunications, Transportation Engineering

Geography: Cartography and Map Publishing, Economic Development, Elections, Land Records and Cadastral Solutions, Government Services, Sustainable Development, Urban and Regional Planning, Transportation Planning

Geological Sciences and Physics: Applied Physics, Geology, Geosciences, Earth Science, Geochemistry, Hydrology, Meteorology and Climatology, Paleontology, Quaternary Research, Seismology Research, Limnology, Resource Development

Humanities: Historic Preservation, History, Religion

Physical Education and Recreation: Parks and Recreation, Range Management, Natural Resource Management

Public Health and Medicine: Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Health Care Management, Public Health

Social Sciences: Ethnic Studies, Anthropology and Archaeology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Linguistics, Political Science, Sociology, Public Policy Advocacy

What does the site license mean for you?

The site license enables faculty and departments to access ESRI software in student computer labs or at their own desk at a significantly reduced cost from the cost of purchasing these licenses without a site license. For example, ArcView 3.3 is the most commonly used desktop GIS software. Available for $1500 commercially, this license is $250 for an educational version. Necessary extensions are separate purchases. The UMD cost-share for one copy of ArcView 3.3 AND ArcView 9.1 together is $150. The research level software, ArcInfo, is available for $550 when cost shared. The educational cost of this software is $1650 annually with the Spatial Analyst Extension.

Why is there an annual fee?

The site license works on an annual maintenance fee basis. This means that as long as the software agreement is kept up to date, any updates are immediately available. In addition, you have access to unlimited technical support and virtual campus courses.

What is the Virtual Campus?

The Virtual Campus is ESRI's own GIS education and software training courses. These courses are useful for faculty trying to learn specific areas of software, or students expanding their GIS education.

What is the cost to me / my department?

ArcGIS ArcView 3.3 (includes ArcGIS-ArcView 9.1 if wanted) Includes extensions, virtual campus, and associated products
Faculty/staff (individual) - $200	Department (unlimited) - $1800
ArcGIS-ArcInfo 9.1 (includes ArcView 9.1 and 3.3) annual fee Includes extensions, virtual campus, and associated products
Faculty/staff (invididual) - $500	Department (up to 15 concurrent) - $4500
ArcIMS
Each server - $800

Who do I contact?

The Geographic Information Sciences Lab in CLA is a resource available to students and faculty alike to see demonstrations, find literature, or tour the software. Services are available to you to help you learn GIS, integrate it into your own research, or demonstrate GIS to your class.

If you have questions about ESRI software, or are interested in obtaining ESRI software in your own department, please contact:

Stacey Stark

Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory Director

329 Cina Hall

slstark@d.umn.edu

218.726.7438