Your ideas in the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Ideas Exchange help us learn from how you use ArcGIS Spatial Analyst in your everyday work. This post explains how Spatial Analyst ideas are organized using labels and offers guidance on how to write an idea with enough clarity and context to be meaningful to others reading it.
How Ideas are Organized in the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Ideas Exchange
Ideas in the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Ideas Exchange are organized using the following 7 labels that reflect key Spatial Analyst focus areas:
- Suitability Modeler
- Spatial Modeling
- Movement & Connectivity
- Surface & Terrain Analysis
- Pattern Analysis
- Statistical & Mathematical Operations
- Data Management & Conversion
These labels align with core Spatial Analyst capabilities and are also referenced across Spatial Analyst resources and documentation, like the Spatial Analyst Hub.
Below, you will find guidance on when to use each label and examples of the types of ideas that fit best within them.
| Label |
Description |
| Suitability Modeler |
Use this label for ideas relevant to the Suitability Modeler in ArcGIS Pro. This includes enhancements to the interactive modeling experience, criteria configuration, transformation functionality, weighting methods, sensitivity analysis and model comparison, model sharing and reporting. If your ideas are about the Suitability Modeler interface or workflow itself rather than a broader site selection work, this is the appropriate label. |
| Spatial Modeling |
Apply this label to ideas that combine spatial criteria and logic to identify optimal locations or evaluate alternative scenarios. It covers suitability modeling workflows beyond the Suitability Modeler, along-with Overlay-based approaches such as Weighted Sum, Weighted Overlay, and Fuzzy Overlay. Choose this label when your idea involves bringing multiple raster inputs together to support site selection, scenario comparison, or decision support. |
| Movement & Connectivity |
This label is for ideas related to distance analysis across the ArcGIS Platform. This is directly related to Distance toolset in ArcGIS Pro. Submissions might address accumulative cost surfaces, optimal paths and corridors, allocation, connectivity, or accessibility modeling. If your ideas concern how features move through space or how locations connect across a landscape, use this label. |
| Surface & Terrain Analysis |
Use this label for ideas that represent and related to modeling the physical landscape and environmental processes that shape it. It covers Hydrology, Surface, Solar Radiation, Viewshed, and Visibility analysis tools. Ideas and suggestions about Slope, Aspect, Contours, Watershed delineation, Flow Accumulation, or line-of-sight analysis all belong under this label. |
| Pattern Analysis |
Choose this label for ideas focused on detecting spatial patterns, concentrations, and overlaps among features. Density tools, Classification, and Multivariate Analysis tools fall in this category. Submissions about Kernel Density, pattern identification, Iso Cluster Unsupervised Classification, Principal Components analysis are a good fit here. |
| Statistical & Mathematical Operations |
This label covers ideas for Local, Focal, Zonal, Math, Logical, Conditional, and Multidimensional Analysis workflows. Submissions might propose enhancements to existing functionalities or new statistics, raster algebra enhancements, neighborhood operations, zonal summaries, conditional evaluations, or improvements to multidimensional raster analysis. Use this label when your idea focuses on the computation or analytical operation applied to raster data. |
| Data Management & Conversion |
Use this label for ideas related to extraction, conversion, generalization, raster creation and reading multidimensional datasets, including NetCDF. Ideas that improve how raster data is prepared, transformed, or moved between formats belong here.
|
Tips for Picking the Right Label
If your idea fits more than one label, start with the tool or workflow at the center of your suggestion rather than the broader problem you are solving. For example, an idea about improving Weighted Overlay belongs under Spatial Modeling, even if your end goal is site suitability analysis. An idea about a new zonal statistic belongs under Statistical and Mathematical Operations, even if you plan to use it for pattern analysis. When the tool is clear, the label use usually follows. If you are still unsure, pick the label that best matches the primary capability your idea would change, and feel free to mention related areas in the description.
How to Write a Strong Idea for ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
Clear ideas help other Esri Community members understand your need and make it easier to build on shared experiences. Below is a three step approach you can use when submitting an idea.
Step 1- Problem
Start with your experience. What is the challenge? Describing who you are or the type of work you do (for example, your industry, role, or specific tasks) helps to contextualize your request better.
Step 2- Context
Explain what you want to be able to do. Who is affected, and what is the situation or workflow behind it? Add context wherever possible. Screenshots of workflows, models, or outputs are especially helpful. Visuals can make complex analysis easier to understand and provide valuable clarity for others reading your idea.
Step 3- Impact
Share why this matters. What would improve if this changed?
Share Your Ideas
We invite you to share your ideas and join the conversation. Thank you for your contributions!
