A
licenseA
qualityC
maintenanceEnables AI assistants to control ArcGIS Pro through natural language, executing geoprocessing tools, editing data, and automating GIS workflows via a persistent ArcPy session.
12
1
Apache 2.0
arcpro-mcp
by qiobn
Controls ArcGIS Pro, allowing inspection of projects, layers, attributes, coordinate systems, and execution of geoprocessing tasks and layout exports via natural language.
Click on "Deploy Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@arcpro-mcp List the layers on the active map."
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
arcpro-mcp
Control ArcGIS Pro with natural language through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Works with Cursor, Claude, and Codex — bring your own LLM, keep your data local.
arcpro-mcp lets an AI agent drive a live ArcGIS Pro session: inspect projects,
explore layers and attributes, check coordinate systems, and (soon) run geoprocessing
and build layouts — all from a chat prompt in your favorite MCP client.
Unlike Esri's built-in assistant, this is open source, connects to any LLM via your MCP client, and acts on your actual open session rather than only generating code.
Architecture
ArcGIS Pro hosts arcpy, and arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") only works inside
the running app. So the MCP server (a separate process started by your client) talks to a
small bridge running in ArcGIS Pro's Python window over a local socket:
Cursor / Claude / Codex
│ stdio (MCP)
▼
arcpro-mcp (this package, separate process)
│ TCP socket, length-prefixed JSON (127.0.0.1:18748)
▼
arcpro_bridge.py (runs in ArcGIS Pro's Python window)
│ arcpy / arcpy.mp
▼
ArcGIS Pro (live session)Design choices vs. existing tools:
Socket, not file polling — lower latency, cleaner framing for big payloads.
Layered + tested —
src/package, dependency-free bridge, pytest, CI.Safety first — read-only by default; destructive tools ask for confirmation;
execute_pythonis off unless explicitly enabled; every call is audit-logged.Great UX — structured output, MCP resources, and live layer-name auto-complete.
Related MCP server: ArcGIS Pro MCP
Requirements
ArcGIS Pro 3.x (provides
arcpy)Python 3.10+ for the MCP server (the
arcgispro-py3conda env works well)An MCP client: Cursor, Claude Desktop, or Codex
uvrecommended (or plainpip)
Install
git clone https://github.com/qiobn/arcpro-mcp
cd arcpro-mcp
uv sync # or: pip install -e .Usage
1. Start the bridge in ArcGIS Pro
Open ArcGIS Pro with a project, open the Python window, and run:
exec(open(r"C:/path/to/arcpro-mcp/bridge/arcpro_bridge.py").read())You should see [ArcPro MCP Bridge] Listening on 127.0.0.1:18748.
2. Configure your MCP client
See examples/mcp-config.example.json. For Cursor or
Claude Desktop:
{
"mcpServers": {
"arcgis-pro": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["--directory", "C:/path/to/arcpro-mcp", "run", "arcpro-mcp"]
}
}
}3. Talk to it
"Ping ArcGIS Pro and tell me what's in the project." "List the layers, then show me the first 10 rows of the roads layer." "What's the coordinate system of C:/data/parcels.shp?"
Tools
Read-only
Tool | Description |
| Connectivity + project status |
| Project path, default GDB, maps |
| List files (confirm paths before loading) |
| Data type, geometry, extent, CRS |
| Feature classes in a workspace |
| Layers on the active map |
| Fields of a dataset/layer |
| Row count of a layer |
| Preview attribute rows |
| Distinct values of a field |
| Inspect workspace / layouts |
Write / map-modifying
Tool | Description |
| Add data to a map |
| Remove a layer (asks for confirmation) |
| Toggle / navigate |
| Map and project management |
| SQL-based selection |
| Set default GP workspace |
| Run any ArcPy tool by dotted name |
| Build and export print layouts (PDF/PNG/...) |
execute_python (arbitrary arcpy) exists but is disabled unless you set
ARCPRO_MCP_ALLOW_EXEC=1 in both the client env and the ArcGIS Pro env.
Configuration
Variable | Default | Description |
|
| Bridge host |
|
| Bridge port |
|
|
|
| (off) | Enable |
|
| Audit log path (empty to disable) |
|
| Server log level |
Safety
Read-only tools are annotated
readOnlyHintand are always safe.Destructive tools (coming next) require confirmation via MCP elicitation.
execute_pythonis opt-in and double-gated (client + bridge).Every requested operation is appended to an audit log for review/replay.
Roadmap
v0.1 — socket bridge, read-only tools, audit log, CI, tests
v0.2 — write tools (add/remove layer, selection, geoprocessing) with HITL confirm
v0.3 —
execute_pythonhardening, reflection middleware (CRS/units sanity), layouts & exportv0.4 — main-thread dispatch queue / optional .NET Add-In (QueuedTask) for rock-solid
arcpy.mpv1.0 — installer, multi-client docs, compound tool mode to cut tokens
License
MIT — see LICENSE.
Acknowledgements
Architecture informed by the excellent nkarasiak/qgis-mcp, jjsantos01/qgis_mcp, geo2004/MCP-ArcGISPro, and the safety patterns in gdal-mcp.
Available Tools
25 toolsadd_raster_layerAdd Raster LayerB
Add a raster layer (GeoTIFF, IMG, ...) to the active map (or a named map).
Inputs: path (required), map_name. Returns: object
add_vector_layerAdd Vector LayerA
Add a vector layer (shapefile, feature class, GeoJSON, GeoPackage, ...) to the active map (or a named map). Confirm the path with list_directory first.
Inputs: path (required), map_name. Returns: object
clear_selectionClear SelectionAIdempotent
Clear the active selection on a layer.
Inputs: layer (required). Returns: object
count_featuresCount FeaturesBRead-only
Count the features (rows) in a layer in the active map.
Inputs: layer (required). Returns: object
create_layoutCreate LayoutC
Create a print layout with a map frame already added. units: INCH (default), CENTIMETER, MILLIMETER, POINT. Then call export_layout to write it to disk.
Inputs: name, map_name, width, height, +2 more. Returns: object
create_mapCreate MapB
Create a new map in the project. Open it in ArcGIS Pro to view it.
Inputs: name. Returns: object
describe_dataDescribe DataARead-only
Describe a dataset: data type, geometry/shape type, feature count, extent, and coordinate system (name, WKID, geographic vs projected, linear unit). Always check this before any distance- or area-based geoprocessing.
Inputs: path (required). Returns: object
export_layoutExport LayoutAIdempotent
Export a layout to a file. format: PDF (default), PNG, JPG, BMP, TIF, SVG, EPS. dpi applies to raster formats (default 150). output is a full file path.
Inputs: name (required), output (required), format, dpi. Returns: object
get_layer_featuresGet Layer FeaturesARead-only
Preview rows from a layer's attribute table. limit caps rows (default 10, max 50). fields optionally restricts which columns are returned.
Inputs: layer (required), limit, fields. Returns: object
get_project_infoGet Project InfoARead-only
Get the current project: .aprx path, default geodatabase, and the maps it contains (with their spatial reference).
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
get_unique_valuesGet Unique ValuesARead-only
Return distinct values of a field — useful before building where-clauses or categorized symbology. limit caps the number of values returned.
Inputs: layer (required), field (required), limit. Returns: object
get_workspaceGet WorkspaceARead-only
Get the current arcpy.env.workspace (default location for GP inputs/outputs).
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
list_directoryList DirectoryARead-only
List files in a directory, optionally filtered by a glob pattern (e.g. '*.shp'). Use this to confirm exact filenames before loading data — never guess paths.
Inputs: path (required), pattern. Returns: object
list_feature_classesList Feature ClassesARead-only
List feature classes in a workspace (folder, file geodatabase, or feature dataset). pattern filters by name; geometry_type filters by Point/Polyline/Polygon.
Inputs: workspace, pattern, geometry_type. Returns: object
list_fieldsList FieldsARead-only
List the fields of a dataset or layer (name, alias, type, length). Use before building SQL where-clauses or attribute operations.
Inputs: dataset (required). Returns: object
list_layersList LayersARead-only
List layers in the active map (or a named map). Returns each layer's name, visibility, and whether it is a feature/raster/group layer.
Inputs: map_name. Returns: object
list_layoutsList LayoutsARead-only
List print layouts in the project with page size and units.
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
pingPingARead-only
Check connectivity to the ArcGIS Pro bridge and read project status: ArcGIS Pro version, project path, list of maps, the active map, and whether a map view is open. Always call this first.
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
remove_layerRemove LayerADestructive
Remove a layer from a map by name. This cannot be undone.
Inputs: layer (required), map_name. Returns: object
run_geoprocessingRun GeoprocessingA
Run any ArcPy geoprocessing tool by its dotted name with positional parameters. Examples: tool='analysis.Buffer', params=['roads', 'roads_buf', '500 Meters']; tool='management.Project', params=[input, output, 32650]. ALWAYS check the input coordinate system with describe_data before distance/area operations — reproject first if the data is geographic (degrees). Outputs are overwritten if they already exist. Returns tool outputs and arcpy messages.
Inputs: tool (required), params (required). Returns: object
save_projectSave ProjectBIdempotent
Save the current ArcGIS Pro project (.aprx).
Inputs: no named parameters. Returns: object
select_by_attributeSelect by AttributeAIdempotent
Select features in a layer using a SQL where-clause (e.g. "population > 100000"). selection_type: NEW_SELECTION (default), ADD_TO_SELECTION, REMOVE_FROM_SELECTION, SUBSET_SELECTION. Returns the selected feature count. Use list_fields and get_unique_values first to build a valid clause.
Inputs: layer (required), where_clause (required), selection_type. Returns: object
set_layer_visibilitySet Layer VisibilityCIdempotent
Show or hide a layer on the map.
Inputs: layer (required), visible (required), map_name. Returns: object
set_workspaceSet WorkspaceAIdempotent
Set arcpy.env.workspace — the default location for inputs/outputs when a full path is not given (e.g. a folder or a file geodatabase path).
Inputs: workspace (required). Returns: object
zoom_to_layerZoom to LayerAIdempotent
Zoom the active map view to a layer's full extent. Requires an open map view.
Inputs: layer (required), map_name. Returns: object
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
Loading tool schema changelog…
TDQS
A3.7/5.0
Scored across 25 tools
Disambiguation5/5
Each tool targets a distinct operation or data type. 'list_*' tools operate on different entities (directory, feature classes, fields, layers, layouts), and 'get_*' tools retrieve different information. No overlapping purposes.
Naming Consistency5/5
All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern in snake_case (e.g., add_raster_layer, list_layers, select_by_attribute). Even 'ping' fits as a common verb. No mixing of conventions.
Tool Count4/5
With 25 tools, the server covers a broad range of ArcGIS Pro functionalities without being excessive. It is slightly on the high side but well-scoped for the domain.
Completeness3/5
The set covers core workflows: data loading, querying, selection, geoprocessing, and layout creation. However, it lacks tools for spatial selection, feature editing, symbology control, and other advanced operations common in GIS.
Maintenance
ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessNo recent community issues
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