20 ArcGIS Server Interview Questions and Answers

ArcGIS Server is a popular GIS platform used by many organizations to host their web GIS applications. If you are applying for a position that involves ArcGIS Server, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and skills with the platform. In this article, we will review some common ArcGIS Server interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

ArcGIS Server Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked ArcGIS Server interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is ArcGIS Server?

ArcGIS Server is a platform for creating and managing GIS web services. It allows users to share their GIS data and maps with others in a variety of ways, including through web mapping applications, web services, and mobile applications.

2. Can you explain what a GIS server is?

A GIS server is a computer system that is designed to process geographic information and make it available to users over a network connection. GIS servers typically provide access to data and tools for mapping, analysis, and data management.

3. What are the main components of ArcGIS Server?

The main components of ArcGIS Server are the GIS server, the Web server, and the database server. The GIS server is responsible for processing and storing geographic data. The Web server is responsible for hosting the ArcGIS Server applications and services. The database server is responsible for storing the data used by the ArcGIS Server applications and services.

4. What’s the difference between an ArcGIS Online account and an ArcGIS Enterprise account?

An ArcGIS Online account is a cloud-based subscription that allows you to create and store maps and data in the cloud. An ArcGIS Enterprise account is a on-premises solution that allows you to host your own maps and data on your own servers.

5. How can you scale your map services in ArcGIS Server?

There are a few ways to scale your map services in ArcGIS Server. One way is to use the ArcGIS Server Manager to create multiple instances of your service. Another way is to use the ArcGIS Server REST API to create a new service with a different URL. Finally, you can also use a third-party load balancer to distribute traffic across multiple instances of your service.

6. What do you understand by geoprocessing workflows? What are some examples of geoprocessing workflows?

Geoprocessing workflows are a series of steps that are followed in order to complete a geoprocessing task. A few examples of geoprocessing workflows include creating a new feature class from an existing feature class, converting a raster dataset to a vector dataset, or performing a buffer analysis.

7. What are some common applications of ArcGIS Server?

ArcGIS Server is used for a variety of purposes, including creating and sharing maps, analyzing data, and managing GIS resources. It is a powerful tool that can be used in a number of different ways, depending on the needs of the user.

8. Can you explain how to install ArcGIS Server using web-based deployment on Microsoft Windows?

The web-based deployment method for installing ArcGIS Server on Microsoft Windows involves using a web browser to connect to the machine where you will be installing the software. Once you have connected, you will be prompted to enter your ArcGIS Server license information. After that, you will need to select the components that you want to install, and then follow the instructions to complete the installation.

9. When would you use ArcGIS for Server versus ArcGIS for Desktop?

ArcGIS for Server is used when you need to share GIS resources, such as maps and data, over a network. It can be used to create web mapping applications that can be accessed by anyone with a web browser. ArcGIS for Desktop is used when you need to perform GIS analysis on your own data, or when you need to create GIS maps and data that will be used in ArcGIS for Server applications.

10. What are some key features of ArcGIS for Server?

Some key features of ArcGIS for Server include the ability to host GIS services, create and manage GIS web applications, and perform analysis on GIS data.

11. What is the best way to find out if a service is published or not?

The best way to find out if a service is published or not is to check the ArcGIS Server logs. If you see a message that says “Service is not published,” then the service is not published.

12. Can you explain the process used by ArcGIS for Server to publish maps, data, and documents?

The process used by ArcGIS for Server to publish maps, data, and documents is as follows: first, you need to create a GIS server and register it with ArcGIS for Server. Next, you need to create a map or document that you want to publish. Finally, you need to use the ArcGIS for Server Manager to publish the map or document to the GIS server.

13. What’s the difference between a Web Map Service (WMS) and a Web Feature Service (WFS)?

A WMS provides access to map images, while a WFS provides access to vector data.

14. What are image services and why are they important?

Image services are a type of GIS service that provides access to raster data, or images. These services are important because they allow users to view and analyze images from a variety of sources, including satellites, aerial photography, and scanned maps.

15. What do you understand by image compression? Why is it required?

Image compression is a process of reducing the file size of an image without compromising its quality. This is important for ArcGIS Server because it allows for faster loading times and reduced bandwidth usage.

16. What are dynamic layers?

Dynamic layers are layers that are generated on the fly by the ArcGIS Server. This means that the data that is being used to create the layer is not actually stored in the ArcGIS Server, but is instead being pulled from an external source, such as a database. This allows for the data to be updated in real time, which is why dynamic layers are often used for things like live traffic updates.

17. What is tiled layer pre-generation?

Tiled layer pre-generation is a process that can be used to improve the performance of ArcGIS Server. This process involves creating tiles, or small images, of the data that will be served by the ArcGIS Server. These tiles are then stored in a central location so that they can be quickly accessed by users when needed. This process can help to improve the speed and responsiveness of ArcGIS Server, especially when serving large amounts of data.

18. Can you list out the steps involved in creating a tile cache?

The steps involved in creating a tile cache are as follows:
1. Choose an appropriate tile size and tile format.
2. Decide on the extent and level of detail for the cache.
3. Create a map or globe document with the desired layers and symbology.
4. Use the Create Map Server Cache tool to create the cache.

19. Is it possible to create a tile cache from scratch? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to create a tile cache from scratch. The process involves creating a map document in ArcMap, adding the desired layers, and then setting the appropriate scale levels and tile sizes. Once the map document is saved, it can be published to ArcGIS Server as a cached map service.

20. What are the different levels of caching available with ArcGIS?

The different levels of caching available with ArcGIS are:

1. Tile caching – This is the most basic level of caching, and simply stores map tiles so that they can be quickly retrieved when needed.

2. Feature caching – This level of caching stores features so that they can be quickly retrieved when needed.

3. Raster caching – This level of caching stores raster data so that it can be quickly retrieved when needed.

4. Image caching – This level of caching stores images so that they can be quickly retrieved when needed.