Technology Overview

Advanced Spatial Data Server

One of the cornerstones of ArcGIS is the ability to access GIS data in any format and to use data from multiple database management systems and file-based data sets concurrently. ArcSDE is the gateway that fuses ArcGIS application logic with information management in a RDBMS.

ArcSDE is an advanced data server, providing a gateway for storing, managing, and accessing spatial data in any of several leading RDBMSs from any ArcGIS application. It is a key component in managing a shared, multiuser geodatabase in a RDBMS. When you need a large geodatabase that can be edited and viewed simultaneously by many users, ArcSDE adds the necessary capabilities to ArcGIS.

Advantages of SDE Technology

ArcSDE offers a number of important advantages for geodatabase users.

• High performance
  
  
• Extremely large data volumes
  
  
• Spatial data integrity to ensure data fidelity
  
  
• Integrated transaction model for multiuser GIS
  
  
• Comprehensive geographic information management of all geodatabase types (vectors, rasters, survey, terrains, geoprocessing models, database schemas, metadata, and others)
  
  
• Common database interface to all leading RDBMSs
  
  
• Support for the geodatabase and ESRI's industry data models
  
  
• Reduced cost of ownership

ArcSDE is an advanced geographic application server for relational databases. It allows you to manage geographic information in any of several RDBMSs and to serve your data openly to all ArcGIS applications.

Simultaneous Access to Multiple GIS Databases

Many GIS data compilation, analysis, mapping, and management tasks require data to be integrated from many file and RDBMS sources. ArcSDE provides a common gateway to all data types, irrespective of their format and location. It also facilitates portability between different RDBMSs.

Why Use ArcGIS Server?

ArcSDE supports high-performance management of spatial data on the leading database configurations (IBM DB2 Universal Database, IBM Informix Dynamic Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle). It enables the same capabilities on all RDBMSs.

Although all relational database vendors support SQL and will process simple SQL in similar ways, there are significant differences among database vendors in the details of their database server implementation. These relate to performance and indexing, the supported data types, the integrity management tools, and the execution of complex queries.

• ArcSDE is designed to deal with the diversity and complexity in the underlying RDBMS framework. The ArcSDE architecture provides great flexibility and options for use. Its architecture allows an open choice of database vendors and physical schemas as well as highly tuned data access and spatial integrity on each relational database engine. ArcSDE allows you to leverage the unique capabilities that each RDBMS vendor offers such as support for extended spatial types.
  
  
• A connection between the ArcGIS geodatabase application logic and the capabilities of a RDBMS. Geographic information management, like many other applications such as enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management, requires advanced logic that resides in the application tier above the RDBMS (e.g., ArcGIS Desktop or ArcIMS/ArcGIS Server).
  
  Learn more about the relationship between RDBMSs, ArcSDE, and the ArcGIS Geodatabase.

Fitting GIS Into a Coherent IT Strategy

Many users require that their GIS fit into a coherent information technology strategy for their organization. Simply put, their GIS must adhere to information technology (IT) standards; the GIS information should be managed as an integral part of the organization's valuable data holdings, the data must be secure, and access to the data must be restricted to only those users that need it. These are standard advantages of a RDBMS that GIS users need.

Since ArcSDE provides the means for storing and using GIS data in a RDBMS with various GIS and non-GIS applications, ArcSDE plays an important role in fitting GIS into an IT strategy.

Who Uses ArcSDE?

ArcSDE is used worldwide by thousands of organizations that have a need to store and manage their spatial data in RDBMS and easily disseminate it. ArcSDE is deployed in all levels of government, defense, utilities, communications, natural resources, transportation, insurance, financial institutions, and many other industries.

Any ArcGIS user who wants to manage geographic information in a RDBMS is a potential user of ArcSDE.