Get Started with ArcGIS in Forest Management Webinar: Your Questions Answered
Thank you to everyone who attended our recent webinar, Get Started with ArcGIS in Forest Management. We had an engaged audience, with many thoughtful questions being asked during the session. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most relevant questions along with answers and additional insights to help you apply GIS more effectively in your forestry workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions from the Webinar, and Key Takeaways
Q: How often are some of these tree data layers and canopy layers updated?
A: For this specific layer, the last update was in June 2025. Update frequency depends on the data source, but ArcGIS makes it easy to integrate updated layers as they become available.
Key Takeaway: Staying current with authoritative datasets ensures better accuracy for planning, monitoring, and reporting on forest conditions.
Q: Why is Google satellite imagery not accessible in ArcGIS?
A: Google imagery isn’t licensed for integration within ArcGIS. However, ArcGIS provides access to a wide variety of high-quality imagery basemaps, including Esri’s World Imagery and other commercial and governmental sources.
Key Takeaway: ArcGIS offers built-in, readily available basemaps that support forestry operations without licensing limitations.
Q: Do these workflows support both ArcGIS Online and Enterprise?
A: Yes, the same tools and workflows can be applied whether you are using ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. This flexibility allows organizations to choose the deployment model that best fits their needs.
Key Takeaway: Whether you are cloud-based or running in your own environment, ArcGIS can scale to meet forestry requirements.
Q: Where do the species and canopy height layers come from?
A: Esri provides access to curated content that can be shared after the session. These layers are typically derived from remote sensing and other authoritative data sources.
Key Takeaway: Pre-built content accelerates forestry workflows by reducing the need for organizations to generate everything in-house.
Q: What are the next steps for Esri to keep improving forestry solutions?
A: With continued advancements in Web GIS, data management, and AI-driven analysis, Esri is working to expand forestry workflows that connect the field and the office, streamline inventory management, and improve efficiency.
Key Takeaway: The Esri platform is evolving to help forestry professionals leverage modern analytics, automation, and collaboration tools.
Watch the webinar here: https://link.esri.com/forestrywebinar/getstartedrecording
We appreciate the questions, comments, and participation during and after the webinar. If you have additional questions or would like to explore forestry solutions with Esri, please join the discussion here, in the Esri Community or connect with us in the Esri Forestry LinkedIn Group.
