Getting Technical – March 2026
If you blinked, you might’ve missed a flurry of new technical knowledge from Esri Canada. Let’s rewind and explore the key insights published this past month that are worth your attention. Inside this edition you’ll learn about the Esri Canada User Conference call for presentations, how ModelBuilder in ArcGIS Online can generate a workflow to analyze data and improve school safety and how to create a map template in ArcGIS Field Maps. Get the complete rundown and more in this month’s edition of Getting Technical.
Must Reads
The Esri Canada User Conference is fast approaching, and we’ve put out a call for presentations for our users. What does this mean? If you have an inspiring story that illustrates how you are using Esri technology, submit a presentation abstract for consideration before April 17, 2026. Check out the Esri Canada User Conference page for all the details.
Submit your presentation abstract here.
Blogs
Building safer school routes with ArcGIS Online
ModelBuilder workflow in Map Viewer
How can planners and school boards make walking and biking routes safer for students? This blog post shows how ArcGIS Online turns open data into actionable insights using ModelBuilder, Arcade and tessellation. Learn step-by-step techniques to analyze collision data and visualize safety risk around schools.
Upgrading enterprise geodatabases
You can view the geodatabase version under Database Properties > Geodatabase Version > Upgrade Status
Did you know that enterprise geodatabases have versions? Getting stuck on an old version of the geodatabase can lead to compatibility headaches and challenging upgrade pathways. This blog aims to cover the key things you need to know when considering and planning for geodatabase upgrades.
How to renew your Cityworks 15.8.x and Office Companion license
Cityworks Office Companion Installer showing all prerequisite checks passed before installation.
If your licensing has changed, you may need to activate or reactivate your Cityworks license key. This guide explains how to renew your Cityworks 15.8.x or Office Companion license by running the correct installer and following the activation steps.
From static to dynamic: Transforming official plans with ArcGIS StoryMaps
ArcGIS StoryMaps are legible and accessible on any screen size
Learn how the City of Grand Forks leveraged ArcGIS StoryMaps when updating their Official Community Plan to become an online resource.
View all additional blogs on the Esri Canada Blog site.
Videos
How to make a map template in ArcGIS Field Maps
Have you ever wanted to duplicate a project for another year of data collection in ArcGIS Field Maps, but you didn’t want to have the same data from the original? In this video, you’ll learn how to make a template in ArcGIS Field Maps. This will not only duplicate the map but also the data.
Stay updated with Software Announcements in ArcGIS Pro
Stay in the loop with Software announcements in ArcGIS Pro! In this GeoSnap, you’ll learn how ArcGIS Pro keeps you informed about updates, new features and important changes right inside the application. Learn where announcements appear, how to revisit them in the Notifications pane and how the Learn More option helps you dive deeper into any message.
How to recover ArcGIS Field Maps data from your phone
Have you ever had problems where you are unable to sync your data to ArcGIS Field Maps but you can’t deduce the problem in the field? In this video, we share a method to retrieve that data and sync it using your desktop or append it directly to your database using ArcGIS Pro once you return to the office.
Stay up to date on all our GeoSnaps by visiting the YouTube playlist.
Training
Get started with ArcGIS Arcade
Enable customized content across the ArcGIS system
Discover the unique role of the Arcade expression language within ArcGIS and explore concepts that underlie writing and executing Arcade expressions that can be used across the ArcGIS system (ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS apps). In course exercises, you’ll become familiar with Arcade scripting environments and build expressions to customize map labels and pop-ups, create field calculations, enable data validation and more. You’ll leave class with a strong understanding of Arcade capabilities and community resources.
This course is for GIS professionals who want to learn about the benefits of Arcade scripting and how to write, apply and share Arcade expressions.
Esri Canada Seminars & Webinars
How Great Basemaps Help Canadian Communities Prepare, Protect and Rebuild
April 14, 2026
Disaster resilience comes from good planning, response and recovery capabilities. While not the only tool in the toolbox, the Community Map of Canada provides a solid basemap for risk analysis, response and recover management. This session will demonstrate the simplicity of using an accurate basemap for wildfire or flood emergency management, and we will discuss the value that our contributors bring to public safety by publishing the most up-to-date and trusted foundational geography.
Efficiency Unlocked: AI Assistants Across the ArcGIS Ecosystem
April 30, 2026
AI assistants are now available across the ArcGIS ecosystem, empowering users with intuitive, conversational ways to work with their maps, data and tools. These capabilities open the door to faster insights, smarter decision making and more efficient use of your favorite ArcGIS Products. In this webinar, we will introduce you to the world of ArcGIS AI assistants, including where they are accessed and how they function within ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. Through live demonstrations, participants will gain an understanding of how these assistants can be used to streamline common tasks and workflows.
Missed last month’s recording? No problem, check out the archive: View recorded seminars | View recorded webinars
Service Packs, Patches & Product Support Updates
Esri Support App
Download the Esri Support app to subscribe to important product updates and bug-related notifications. Also, try its newest feature – scan and solve error messages. You can also take advantage of Esri’s in-app generative AI chatbot to answer some of your questions. This Esri Support AI Chatbot can also be accessed on the Esri Support website.
ArcGIS Trust Center
Visit the ArcGIS Trust Center for critical security announcements and updates to privacy and compliance information.
ArcGIS Desktop to User Type Transition Administrator Action Guide
ArcGIS Desktop officially retired on March 1, 2026, and customers are being transitioned from ArcGIS Desktop maintenance to ArcGIS user types. Many organizations are using Creator user types and add-on licenses for ArcGIS Pro that were included as entitlements with their ArcGIS Desktop maintenance. These entitlements will expire when their maintenance term ends. Esri has created an action guide for administrators to mitigate over-assigned licenses in your organization and ensure continuity.
ArcGIS Notebooks Runtime versions 8 and 9 Removal
ArcGIS Notebooks Runtime versions 8 and 9 have been deprecated since June 2025 and October 2025, respectively and will be removed with the ArcGIS Online Q2 2026 update, which is currently planned for June 2026.
Retiring Apps and Features
Below you’ll find more information about the upcoming retirement of several apps and features included in ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise.
ArcGIS Workforce Will Retire in Q4 2026
ArcGIS Workforce, both the mobile and web applications, will be officially retired in the ArcGIS Online Q4 2026 update and in the ArcGIS Enterprise 12.2 Q4 2026 release.
The functionality previously provided by ArcGIS Workforce is now available through the Tasks capability in ArcGIS Field Maps. Customers currently using ArcGIS Workforce or Workforce for ArcGIS must begin planning their transition to using the new Tasks capability in ArcGIS Field Maps to ensure continuity. For more information, read the deprecation notice.
ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Will Retire in Q2 2027
ArcGIS Web AppBuilder in ArcGIS Online will be retired in the second quarter of 2027 with the following phases:
- Q1 2026—Creating new Web AppBuilder apps will no longer be possible.
- Q4 2026—Updating existing Web AppBuilder apps will no longer be possible.
- Q2 2027—Existing Web AppBuilder apps will be retired and will no longer function.
Apps will continue to work after retirement. However, we recommend you migrate your apps to ArcGIS Experience Builder as updates to browsers could introduce functional or security issues which will not be addressed by Esri. For more information, read the retirement announcement.