ArcGIS MCP Server for Windsurf 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Windsurf brings agentic AI coding to a purpose-built IDE. Connect ArcGIS through Vinkius and Cascade will auto-discover every tool. ask questions, generate code, and act on live data without leaving your editor.
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Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.
Vinkius Desktop App
The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install ArcGIS and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.
{
"mcpServers": {
"arcgis": {
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure
About ArcGIS MCP Server
Connect your ArcGIS account to any AI agent and take full control of your location and spatial intelligence through natural conversation.
Windsurf's Cascade agent chains multiple ArcGIS tool calls autonomously. query data, analyze results, and generate code in a single agentic session. Paste Vinkius Edge URL, reload, and all 10 tools are immediately available. Real-time tool feedback appears inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor.
What you can do
- Geocoding & Reverse Geocoding — Convert street addresses to coordinates instantly or discover the closest address to a specific longitude/latitude pair
- Batch Geocoding — Process bulk batches of up to 1000 geographical addresses in a single AI operation
- Route Solving — Calculate the optimal route between multiple stops, complete with turn-by-turn directions, travel time, and precise distances
- Vehicle Routing — Solve complex Vehicle Routing Problems (VRP) to optimize fleets and logistics deliveries
- Service Area Analysis — Calculate drive-time, walk-time, or travel-distance polygons reachable from a specific facility
- Origin-Destination Matrices — Compute travel constraints and cost matrices between multiple origins and tracking destinations
The ArcGIS MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Windsurf in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.
How to Connect ArcGIS to Windsurf via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the ArcGIS MCP Server with Windsurf.
Open MCP Settings
Go to Settings → MCP Configuration or press Cmd+Shift+P and search "MCP"
Add the server
Paste the JSON configuration above into mcp_config.json
Save and reload
Windsurf will detect the new server automatically
Start using ArcGIS
Open Cascade and ask: "Using ArcGIS, help me...". 10 tools available
Why Use Windsurf with the ArcGIS MCP Server
Windsurf provides unique advantages when paired with ArcGIS through the Model Context Protocol.
Windsurf's Cascade agent autonomously chains multiple tool calls in sequence, solving complex multi-step tasks without manual intervention
Purpose-built for agentic workflows. Cascade understands context across your entire codebase and integrates MCP tools natively
JSON-based configuration means zero code changes: paste a URL, reload, and all 10 tools are immediately available
Real-time tool feedback is displayed inline, so you see API responses directly in your editor without switching contexts
ArcGIS + Windsurf Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Windsurf combined with the ArcGIS MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Automated code generation: ask Cascade to fetch data from ArcGIS and generate models, types, or handlers based on real API responses
Live debugging: query ArcGIS tools mid-session to inspect production data while debugging without leaving the editor
Documentation generation: pull schema information from ArcGIS and have Cascade generate comprehensive API docs automatically
Rapid prototyping: combine ArcGIS data with Cascade's code generation to scaffold entire features in minutes
ArcGIS MCP Tools for Windsurf (10)
These 10 tools become available when you connect ArcGIS to Windsurf via MCP:
batch_geocode_addresses
Addresses must be provided as an ArcGIS-compatible JSON array string. Geocode a bulk batch of up to 1000 addresses
calculate_od_matrix
Calculate travel time and distances between multiple origins and destinations
calculate_service_area
Facilities specified as lon,lat. Calculate drive-time, walk-time, or travel-distance service areas
find_address_candidates
Use this to turn text addresses into latitude and longitude. Find an address or place using ArcGIS Geocoding
find_address_country
g., USA, BRA, FRA). Ensures results are geographically bounded. Find an address filtered by a specific country
reverse_geocode
Coordinate format must be lon,lat (e.g. -117.19,34.05). Discover the closest address to a specific location (lon,lat)
solve_nav_route
Point sequence must be provided as lon,lat;lon,lat. Returns detailed turn-by-turn directions, travel time, and distance. Find the best route between two or more locations
solve_vehicle_routing
Takes an ArcGIS Orders JSON mapping string detailing the stops. Solve a Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) for a fleet
suggest_geocoding
Use this to help users select valid addresses before performing a full geocode request. Get autocomplete suggestions for partial addresses or place names
suggest_location_bias
Get autocomplete suggestions biased towards a specific location
Example Prompts for ArcGIS in Windsurf
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Windsurf agent to start working with ArcGIS immediately.
"What is the closest address to coordinates -117.19, 34.05?"
"Find the optimal driving route visiting stops -122.4,37.7 and -122.5,37.8."
"Resolve the coordinate location for 'Central Park' but restrict the search strictly to the USA."
Troubleshooting ArcGIS MCP Server with Windsurf
Common issues when connecting ArcGIS to Windsurf through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not connecting
ArcGIS + Windsurf FAQ
Common questions about integrating ArcGIS MCP Server with Windsurf.
How does Windsurf discover MCP tools?
mcp_config.json file on startup and connects to each configured server via Streamable HTTP. Tools are listed in the MCP panel and available to Cascade automatically.Can Cascade chain multiple MCP tool calls?
Does Windsurf support multiple MCP servers?
mcp_config.json. Each server's tools appear in the MCP panel and Cascade can use tools from different servers in a single flow.Connect ArcGIS with your favorite client
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Connect ArcGIS to Windsurf
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 10 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.