The integration of Artificial Intelligence into Geographic Information Systems has taken an evolutionary leap with the arrival of the Model Context Protocol (MCP). In this tutorial, you will learn how to configure Claude Desktop to take full control of ArcGIS Pro, allowing you to execute geoprocessing tasks, manage layers, and analyze data using natural language.
Prerequisites
To establish this connection, make sure you have the following:
- ArcGIS Pro 3.2 or higher installed on your computer. Cracked versions may fail.
- ArcGeek Tools Add-in: Download it from arcgeek.com/arcprotools (section “Descargar Free”). Unzip the .zip file and run
ArcGeekTools.esriAddInXto install it. - Claude Desktop: The Windows desktop application from claude.ai/downloads.
- Claude Pro Account (paid): It is mandatory to enable developer features and MCP usage.
Step 1: Installing the UV Utility
We will install uv, the Python package manager that will run the MCP server. Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command (also available on the ArcGeek Tools website):
powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"Important: After the installation finishes, note the path shown in PowerShell: there you will see your Windows username (e.g., C:\Users\your_username). Write it down; you will need it in Step 3. Do not close PowerShell yet.
Step 2: Start the MCP Server in ArcGIS Pro
Open ArcGIS Pro and create a new map (or open an existing project). You will see the ArcGeek tab in the ribbon:
- If this is your first time using the add-in, when you click on any tool in the ArcGeek tab, the system will ask for permission to copy files to
C:\ProgramData\ArcGeek Tools. Accept by clicking Yes. - Click on Start MCP Server.
- In the pop-up window, the default port (27172) will appear. Press Start Server. A message will appear confirming that the system is listening on that port.
Step 3: Configuring Claude Desktop
Now we need to edit Claude’s configuration file. Go to Profile → Settings → Developer → Edit Config. The folder containing the claude_desktop_config.json file will open; you can edit it with Notepad.
To avoid syntax errors (missing commas or brackets), especially if you already have other MCPs configured, the best approach is to copy the current content of your JSON file and paste it into the Claude chat along with the example code block you will find at arcgeek.com/arcprotools and your Windows username (the one you noted in Step 1). Ask Claude to generate the complete and correct JSON. The block to be added has this structure:
"arcgis_pro": { "command": "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\.local\\bin\\uv.exe", "args": [ "--directory", "C:\\ProgramData\\ArcGeekTools\\mcp_server", "run", "arcgis_mcp_server.py" ] }Replace YOUR_USERNAME with your actual Windows username. Once you have the corrected JSON, paste it into the file and save with File → Save.
Step 4: Restart and Verification
This step is critical for the connection to work properly:
- Close ArcGIS Pro and Claude Desktop.
- Open Task Manager (
Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and make sure to end any Claude processes still running in the background (right-click → End task). - It is recommended to restart your computer to avoid connection conflicts.
- When you open Claude Desktop again, go to Settings → Developer. You should see “ArcGeek Pro” with a blue circle and the Running status.
Testing the Connection
With both programs open and the MCP server started in ArcGIS Pro, try typing in the Claude Desktop chat:
- “ping arcgis pro mcp” — Claude will confirm that it is connected and ready.
- “What layers do you currently have?” — Claude will analyze your project and list the layers present.
- Add points: Paste a list of coordinates (latitude/longitude) and ask Claude to add them to the map.
- Run geoprocessing: For example, “Create a 10-meter buffer and add it to the current view.”
From here, Claude can execute geoprocessing tools, query layers, and manage your ArcGIS Pro project directly from the chat.