ARC GIS software and learning plans

[umerIdrees]

Hello Everyone. I am new to ESRI. I am using the 1 year student license of ARC GIS PRO. Main objective of installing this software was for my final year project. I am very confused as to which software to use because we have Arc gis pro, Arc Gis online, and much more. Just to give you an idea about my project, I want to show certain coordinates on the map and make it look like a hot spot map. Moreover, in the "Learning plan" series, should I be starting with "GIS fundamentals" or "ArcGis online" fundamentals? Thank you.

[JayantaPoddar]

You may use ArcGIS Pro for hot spot analysis. Optimized Hot Spot Analysis (Spatial Statistics) 

Instead, if you just want to create heatmaps, you could just use symbology to do it in both ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online.

In case the Lon(X)/Lat(Y) values are in a table, you may convert the XY Table to Point Features prior to executing hot spot analysis.

For learning plans, please check the topics covered in it, and proceed accordingly. GIS Fundamentals sounds like a good place to start with. 

You may also explore Learn ArcGIS - New User.

[HeatherSmith · Accepted solution]

Hello @umerIdrees 

You can find instructions on how to download ArcGIS Pro here: https://community.esri.com/t5/learn-arcgis-documents/frequently-asked-questions-for-learn-arcgis/ta-...

However, if you're just getting started with GIS, I recommend you start with ArcGIS Online and wait until later to try ArcGIS Pro. You do not need to download anything for ArcGIS Online, you use it in a browser.

You can make the map that you describe in ArcGIS Online. Here's a lesson that shows how to do the heat map part: https://learn.arcgis.com/en/projects/map-a-historic-cholera-outbreak/  Here's some instructions on  how to add data from a csv or other table file: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/data-management/turn-raw-data-into-feature-l.../

ArcGIS Online is currently experiencing some changes. At the moment there are two versions of the map viewer: Map viewer classic, and the new map viewer. You can use either one. If you are following a lesson/tutorial/course, I recommend using whichever one is shown in the instructions.

As for the training courses, I think you will be fine starting with either one. I would probably choose GIS Fundamentals, but I haven't completed either course so I can't give you a very clear answer.

[umerIdrees]

Thank you very much @HeatherSmith . I highly appreciate you taking the time and explaining everything in detail. 

[Suzanne-Boden · Accepted solution]

Hi, if you haven't already taken these, I'd suggest you take the GIS Basics web course followed by the ArcGIS Online Basics web course, followed by the ArcGIS Pro Basics web course. These are all free, relatively short, courses that step you through using the software. And here's a web course that shows how to map coordinate data: Displaying Coordinate Data on a Map.

[umerIdrees]

Thank you very much @Suzanne-Boden . I do agree with you that to start something new, I need to understand the basics first so I'll begin with as suggested above.