The Geoprocessing library contains the objects that implement the unified geoprocessing framework. The geoprocessing framework is intended to meet the functional requirements to perform many GIS tasks and to provide a flexible framework for tool use, tool creation, and tool sharing.

Geoprocessing is a fundamental part of ArcGIS. Geoprocessing provides the data analysis, management, and conversion tools necessary for all geographic information system (GIS) users.

 

Geoprocessing consists of operators, called tools, that operate on the data within ArcGIS (tables, feature classes, rasters, TINs, and so on) and perform tasks that are necessary for manipulating and analyzing geographic information across a wide range of disciplines. Each geoprocessing tool performs an essential operation on geographic data, such as projecting datasets from one map projection to another, adding fields to a table, or creating buffer zones around features. ArcGIS includes more than 400 geoprocessing tools. A geoprocessing tool takes ArcGIS datasets as inputs (such as feature classes, tables, rasters, and computer-aided design [CAD} files), applies an operation against this data, and creates a newly derived dataset as output as shown in the following diagram.

 

 

Many GIS uses involve the repetition of work, and this creates the need for a framework to provide automation of workflows. Geoprocessing answers this need by providing a rich set of tools and a mechanism to combine a series of tools in a sequence of operations using models and scripts.

 

The core idea behind geoprocessing is to provide a flexible framework to allow you to quickly and easily turn your ideas into new geoprocessing tools.