Create color-coded maps

A color-coded map provides information about an area of interest. You can identify important patterns in the area you are investigating by viewing information about key metrics on a map. You can map demographic information, consumer spending patterns, information about a business, and other variables.

1. On the Maps tab, click Create maps and choose Color-coded maps.

   The Color-coded maps pane appears.

2. Optionally, set the geography for the analysis using the following options:
   • Use the Analysis extent drop-down menu to define the extent of the analysis by searching for a standard geography, selecting Current map extent, or choosing a site. Selecting a standard geography or site locks the analysis extent to that area.
   • Use the Geographies or Hexagons tabs to switch between geography styles. To refine the level of detail for either geography style, do the following:
     • If you selected the Geographies tab, use the Level of detail drop-down menu to specify the geography level of the analysis. If you are using U.S. or Esri India data sources, click the Group menu and select a list of grouped geographies (such as census geographies or school district geographies) and choose a geography level to map.
     • If you selected the Hexagons tab, use the Level of detail drop-down menu to specify the hexagon resolution. For more information on hexagons, including hexagon resolutions, see Hexagons reference.
   • Click View glossary to read definitions for each geographic level. The glossary is only available for U.S. data sources.

   Note:

   You can modify the geography settings at any time in the Geography section.

3. Choose a variable to map. Find a variable in one of the following ways:
   • Click the Popular tab to view a set of curated variables. If an administrator in your ArcGIS Online organization has modified this list or added custom variables, those are also listed here.
   • Click the Favorites tab to view your favorite variables, as marked in the data browser.
   • Click the Recent tab to view your most recently used variables.
   • Click Browse all variables to use the data browser to search for variables or browse by category.

   • Click Create custom variable to use the data browser to create a custom variable that focuses on a specific type, range, or combination of data.

   When you choose a variable, the map automatically updates to show the distribution of the variable at the current zoom level and the Results pane appears displaying a summary of the results.

4. Adjust the map by zooming and panning to view different levels of geography or other parts of the map.

   The map automatically updates to show the distribution of the variable for the map extent, at the level of geography most appropriate for this extent. The Results pane also automatically updates to reflect the current extent.

5. To choose a different variable to map, click the Options button next to the variable and choose Replace variable . Use the data browser to choose another variable.

   Depending on the variable chosen, you can switch the vintage of the variable or select different calculation options.

6. To add a second variable, click Add variable.

   For example, if you created a color-coded map of the Total Population variable, you can click Add variable and use the data browser to add the Population Density variable to the map.

7. To define a range of values for a variable, click Show filter. Use the Filter slider to specify the range of values for the variable. Adjust the slider handles to define the minimum and maximum values included in the analysis or enter the values manually.
8. In the Style section, change the map style, and click Show style options to change styling, including colors, transparency, border, and labels.

   Changes made appear immediately on the map. The available map styles depend on the variables you are mapping. See the Map styles section below for more information.

9. In the Legend section, change the map colors, and work with classification by doing any of the following:
   • Depending on the map style, you can change the colors on the map. Click the color swatch and choose a color. The map automatically updates.
   • Depending on the map style, click Show class options to view and adjust the classification of the variable on the map. To change the class break values, move the sliders or enter new values. Use the Method drop-down menu to choose the classification method from one of the following and enter the number of classes:
     • Choose Quantile to create classes with the same number of features.
     • Choose Natural breaks to partition data into classes based on peaks and valleys in the data distribution.

     • Choose Equal interval to create classes with equal spacing on the number line between the lowest and highest values of the variable.

   For all classification methods, the maximum number of classes is 5.

10. In the Results pane, explore the color-coded map results as a summary, histogram, and table.

    See the Explore the results section below for more information

11. To save your color-coded map layer, click Save layer, give your layer a name, and click OK.

    Color-coded map layers are stored in the project pane, under Color-coded map layers. To reopen the color-coded map for editing, click the layer's Action menu and choose Edit layer.

Explore the results

The color-coded map results are displayed in the Results pane. To hide or show the pane, click Collapse or Expand .

To learn about the underlying calculations, see Results pane reference.

Explore the Results pane by doing any of the following:

1. Optionally if you are using hexagons, click the Hexagon label drop-down menu and pick from the following options:
   • Use the Cell ID option to label the hexagons with their cell ID number.
   • Use the geography option to label the hexagons with the name associated with its standard geography at that level of detail. This option automatically adjusts with the hexagon resolution.

     Note:

     For instance, if you are using resolution 2 hexagons in your analysis, use the State option to label the hexagons with the name of their associated state. If you are using resolution 7 hexagons in your analysis, use the ZIP Code option to label the hexagons with the name of their associated ZIP code.

   • Use the Detailed option to label the hexagons with both their cell ID number and associated geography.
2. Click Summary to view a summary of the results.

   Depending on the number and type of variables you mapped, the summary may include the count of areas, average value of the variable calculation, the top and bottom five areas, a statistical trends chart, and a relationship chart.

3. Click Histogram to view the results for each variable in a histogram. To explore the histogram, do any of the following:
   • By default, the Chart settings pane is expanded. To close it, click the Close button . To expand it, click the Chart settings button . To modify the chart settings, do any of the following:
     • Use the Variable drop-down menu to choose the variable shown in the histogram.
     • Use the Show outliers toggle button to show and hide outliers on the chart.
     • In the Outlier calculation section, choose either the Percentage or Standard deviation option to display in the histogram. For Percentage, optionally change the Top & bottom percentage value. For Standard deviation, optionally change the +/- standard deviation value.
   • Hover over an item in the histogram and the corresponding area is highlighted on the map.
4. Click Table to view the results in a table. To explore the table, do any of the following:
   • Hover over an item in the table and the corresponding area is highlighted on the map.
   • If you are using standard geographies, you can click Export to Excel to export the data from the color-coded map to an Excel worksheet.
   • Use the Rows per page drop-down menu to change the number of rows displayed in the table. Click Next or Back to navigate the table pages.

Map styles

You can visualize your data through a variety of map styles. When you style a color-coded map, the type of data and number of variables determine the styling options. You can experiment with color ramps, line weights, transparency, symbols, and other graphic elements, and see your choices reflected immediately on the map. The map styles are described below.

Note:

Not all map styles are available for every color-coded map.

Map styles available for one variable	Map styles available for two variables
Counts and amounts (color) — default Counts and amounts (size) Color & Size Dot density Dot density with area color Dot density with dot color Predominant category Reliability score	Color & Size — default Relationship Dot density with area color Dot density with dot color

Style counts and amounts (color)

Styling counts and amounts by color can highlight data variances. For example, a light-to-dark color theme can show low-to-high data values. This style maps only one variable. If you have two variables on the map, you can click Switch variables to view the second one in this style. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. Use the Theme drop-down menu to choose a color theme.

   Each theme can tell a different story by matching colors to data in different ways.

   • Choose Default colors to use a color ramp that highlights the contrast between areas on the map with high and low values of the variable.
   • Choose High to low to apply a color ramp with a continuous gradient of a single color—this is suitable for mapping variables such as population density.
   • Choose Above and below to use a color ramp that applies two distinctive color gradients to the values above and below a value such as zero, or the average. This is suitable for mapping a variable such as population growth rate to highlight areas where the population is increasing (growth rate above zero) and declining.
2. Use the Color ramp drop-down menu to choose a color ramp. Click Reverse order to change the direction of the color ramp.
3. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
4. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
5. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style counts and amounts (size)

This map style uses an orderable sequence of proportional sizes to represent numerical data. Adjust the size of the symbols to clarify the story you're telling. For example, you can use proportional symbols to show the annual average daily traffic in a city. Higher values are drawn with larger symbols and lower values are drawn with smaller symbols. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. Use the Symbol drop-down menu to change the symbol.
   1. Choose from the available symbols or upload your own.
   2. Use the Fill color drop-down menu to modify the symbol color.
2. Use the Size (min & max) slider to adjust the values for the symbol sizes.
3. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
4. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
5. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style color and size

Map two variables and style the color and size of point symbols on the map. This is a good style to use to show count information (size) shaded by a rate (color)—for example, the number of people with no health insurance shaded by the percentage of the population that is uninsured. You can also map a single variable twice: once to set the size of the symbols and again to set the colors, based on which part of the data you want to emphasize. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. Use the Theme drop-down menu to choose a color theme.

   Each theme can tell a different story by matching colors to data in different ways.

   • Choose High to low to apply a color ramp with a continuous gradient of a single color. This is suitable for mapping variables such as population density.
   • Choose Above and below to use a color ramp that applies two distinctive color gradients to the values above and below a value such as zero or the average. This is suitable for mapping a variable such as population growth rate to distinctly highlight areas where the population is increasing (growth rate above zero) and declining.
   • Choose Centered on to add transparency to the outliers in the data, visually highlighting the values within +/- 1 standard deviation of the mean of all the values. This is suitable when you want to map the values at the center of the range, for example, areas with household incomes close to the mean.
   • Choose Extremes to apply focus to the tail ends of the range, that is, the values outside +/- 1 standard deviation of the mean. This is suitable when the values at the extremes are of interest, for example, when mapping variables pertaining to poverty levels or crime.
2. Use the color sliders to adjust the theme's color gradient.
3. Use the Size (min & max) slider to adjust the values for the symbol sizes.
4. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
5. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
6. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style relationships

Map two variables using a single grid color ramp to classify both attributes on the map. Relationship maps show the quantitative relationship between two variables. Relationship symbology is best used to emphasize the highest and lowest values on the map or to find correlations. This map style applies a distinct graduated color ramp to the classified data in each attribute and combines the color ramps, allowing you to see where the attributes may be related. This map style requires two different variables. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. In the Grid section, choose a grid size for your color ramp.
   1. Use the Grid colors drop-down menu to choose a color ramp.
   2. Use the Rotate color ramp button to rotate the colors in the grid.
2. Use the Distribution type drop-down menu to choose a classification method.
   • Choose Natural breaks to partition data into classes based on peaks and valleys in the data distribution.
   • Choose Equal interval to create classes with equal spacing on the number line between the lowest and highest values of the variable.
   • Choose Quantile to create classes with the same number of features.
3. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
4. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
5. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style dot density

This map style displays the variable as a collection of equally sized dots within each polygon on the map. With this style, each dot represents a count of something or someone, such as citizens, sales, or crimes. When you apply this map style, you select the quantity represented by each dot—for example, one dot represents 20 trees. The Density and Dot value controls are not independent but inversely related to each other. Lowering the Density value proportionately increases dot value, and vice versa.

By default, the dot value dynamically changes when the map extent is changed. You can lock your extent by changing the settings in the Geography section. This style maps only one variable. Settings for this map style include the following:

1. Use the Dot size slider to adjust the size of the dots.
2. Use the Density slider to adjust the density of dots on the map.
3. For Dot value, enter a value that a dot represents.
4. Use the Dot color swatch to choose the color of the dots.
5. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
6. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
7. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style dot density with area color

Choose two variables and use dot density to map the first variable and a color ramp to classify the other variable in the background. You can use the same attribute twice, represented as a collection of equally sized dots in the foreground and classified with the color ramp in the background. For example, you can map the total population as dots and shade the background according to per capita income. To do so, select Total Population and Per Capita Income as the variables. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. In the Dot density section, follow the instructions above for the Dot density map style.
2. In the Area color section, use the Theme drop-down menu to choose a color theme.
   Each theme can tell a different story by matching colors to data in different ways.
   • Choose Default colors to use a color ramp that highlights the contrast between areas on the map with high and low values of the variable.
   • Choose High to low to apply a color ramp with a continuous gradient of a single color. This is suitable for mapping variables such as population density.
   • Choose Above and below to use a color ramp that applies two distinctive color gradients to the values above and below a value such as zero, or the average. This is suitable for mapping a variable such as population growth rate to highlight areas where the population is increasing (growth rate above zero) and declining.
3. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
4. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
5. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style dot density with dot color

Choose two variables and use dot density to map the first variable and dot color to classify the other variable. First finalize settings for dot density, representing the first variable, and the color ramp for the dot color, representing the second variable. You can use the same variable twice, classified by both dot density and dot color. For example, you can map the total population and shade the dots by a color-classified variable, such as per capita income. To do so, select Total Population and Per Capita Income as the variables. It is recommended that you use the Dark Gray Canvas basemap to achieve the best visualization experience. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. In the Dot density section, follow the instructions above for the Dot density map style.
2. In the Dot color section, use the Theme drop-down menu to choose a color theme.

   Each theme can tell a different story by matching colors to data in different ways.

   • Choose Default colors to use a color ramp that highlights the contrast between areas on the map with high and low values of the variable.
   • Choose High to low to apply a color ramp with a continuous gradient of a single color. This is suitable for mapping variables such as population density.
   • Choose Above and below to use a color ramp that applies two distinctive color gradients to the values above and below a value such as zero, or the average. This is suitable for mapping a variable such as population growth rate to highlight areas where the population is increasing (growth rate above zero) and declining.
3. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
4. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
5. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Style predominant category

When mapping Tapestry segments, the predominant category map style displays the predominant segment for each area. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. Use the Show as drop-down menu to choose how to display the segments.
   • Choose Life mode to show the life mode groups and use the Color drop-down menu for each category to change the color.
   • Choose Tapestry segment to show the individual segments in each life group.
   • Expand each group to view the individual segments and use the color drop-down menu for each category to change the color.
   • Click Reset colors to reset all colors.
2. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
3. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
4. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Map reliability score

When mapping a variable's reliability score, such as with ACS variables, the map style displays the reliability as High, Medium, and Low. The colors used to represent each reliability level cannot be changed. Optionally, do any of the following to adjust settings for this map style:

1. Use the Transparency slider to adjust the color transparency.
2. In the Outline section, use the Color drop-down menu to choose the outline color and enter a width.
3. Use the Geographic areas and Roads and highways toggle buttons to turn labels on or off for these geographical features.

Set preferences

You can set preferences for Business Analyst Web App in the app preferences. For the color-coded maps workflow, you can set color, transparency, and border preferences for the map and choose preferences for data breaks. Administrators can set preferences for the entire organization.

To set the workflow preferences, complete the following steps:

1. On the app header, click My preferences .

   The Preferences window appears.

2. Expand the Maps section, expand the Create maps section, and click Color-coded maps.
3. Optionally, set the following preferences:
   • Use the Colors drop-down menu to choose a color ramp.
   • Use the Color order drop-down menu to use the default or reversed color order for the chosen color ramp.
   • Use the Transparency slider to set the color-coded map transparency.
   • Use the Border drop-down menu to choose the border weight. Click the color swatch to choose a border color.
   • Use the Breaks slider to set the number of classes.
   • Use the Method drop-down menu to choose a preferred classification method.
4. In the Geography section, use the drop-down menu to choose a default analysis extent.

   You can restore the default settings by clicking Restore defaults.

5. To save your changes, click Save or, optionally, click Save and close to close the Preferences window. To view your changes, refresh the app.

Workflow video

To see a video of the workflow, watch Create a color-coded map in Business Analyst Web App.