WaterGEMS CONNECT provides three environments in which to work: WaterGEMS CONNECT Stand-Alone Mode, AutoCAD Integrated Mode, and ArcMap Integrated Mode. Each mode provides access to differing functionality—certain capabilities that are available within WaterGEMS CONNECT Stand-Alone mode may not be available when working in ArcMap Integrated mode, and vice-versa. In addition, you can use ArcCatalog to perform actions on any WaterGEMS CONNECT database. Some of the advantages of working in GIS mode include:

• Full functionality from within the GIS itself, without the need for data import, export, or transformation
• The ability to view and edit multiple scenarios in the same geodatabase
• Minimizes data replication
• GIS custom querying capabilities
• Lets you build models from scratch using practically any existing data source
• Utilize the powerful reporting and presentation capabilities of GIS

A firm grasp of GIS basics will give you a clearer understanding of how WaterGEMS interacts with GIS software. Click one the following links to learn more: