Chapters

Tableau Tutorial

Map Charts in Tableau

Learn how to create map charts in Tableau

Map Charts in Tableau are powerful visualizations used to display geographical data. They allow you to plot data points on a map, enabling you to analyze and present location-based information such as sales by region, customer distribution, or any metric tied to geographic locations.

Key Features of Map Charts in Tableau

  1. Geographical Data Representation:
    Map charts allow you to visualize data tied to locations, such as countries, states, cities, or even custom geographic areas.
  2. Automatic Geocoding:
    Tableau can automatically recognize geographical fields like country, state, city, and postal codes and map them onto a map chart without requiring external geographic data. It uses built-in geographic roles for this purpose.
  3. Data Layers:
    You can add data layers, such as population, sales figures, or any measure, to the map. Tableau can color-code regions, plot circles, or create heat maps to represent varying data values.
  4. Interactivity:
    Map charts in Tableau are interactive, allowing users to zoom in/out, pan across areas, and hover over data points to get more details (tooltips).
  5. Customization:
    You can customize map charts by adjusting colors, labels, map styles (such as satellite or streets view), adding map layers like borders and coastlines, or using custom geographic roles.

Types of Map Charts in Tableau

  1. Symbol Maps:
    In a symbol map, data points are represented by symbols (circles, squares, etc.) placed on a geographical map. The size or color of the symbol can represent different data values, such as population or sales volume. Example:
    A map of the United States with circles of varying sizes representing sales volume in different cities.
  2. Filled Maps (Choropleth Maps):
    In a filled map, geographical areas (countries, states, regions) are shaded or colored based on a measure. This type of map is useful for showing how a particular metric varies by region. Example:
    A filled map of the world where countries are color-coded based on total sales.
  3. Density Maps (Heat Maps):
    A density map visualizes concentrations of data points in specific areas. Areas with more data points appear more intense or “hot,” while areas with fewer data points appear lighter. Example:
    A heat map showing customer density across different regions.
  4. Path Maps:
    Path maps visualize data with a sequence or flow between geographic points, such as shipping routes or migration patterns. It connects data points using lines that represent movement. Example:
    A map showing the delivery routes of packages between cities.

How to Create a Map Chart in Tableau

  1. Connect to Data:
    Start by loading your dataset into Tableau. Ensure that the data contains geographic fields, such as country, state, city, or latitude/longitude coordinates.
  2. Drag the Geographic Field to the View:
    Drag the geographical field (like “Country” or “City”) into the “Rows” or “Columns” shelf, or into the “Marks” card. Tableau will automatically generate a map visualization.
  3. Add Data to the Map:
    Drag a measure (like “Sales” or “Population”) to the “Color” or “Size” shelf in the Marks card to display your data visually on the map. You can choose to represent this data using symbols, colors, or shades.
  4. Customize the Map:
    You can adjust the map’s appearance by clicking on the “Map” menu at the top of the Tableau interface. This allows you to change the map style (e.g., street view, dark, satellite), add layers (like borders and coastlines), or adjust the map projection.

When to Use Map Charts

  • Geographical Comparisons: Use map charts when your data is tied to specific geographic locations, such as comparing sales across regions or visualizing population density.
  • Spatial Analysis: If you need to analyze data distribution across space, like identifying hotspots for customer growth or locating underperforming areas, map charts are ideal.
  • Route or Flow Analysis: Use path maps for analyzing routes or patterns that involve geographical movements, such as delivery routes or airline traffic.

Conclusion

Map charts in Tableau are a dynamic way to present geographical data, offering rich visual insights into spatial relationships and patterns. Whether you’re comparing regions, analyzing data concentrations, or plotting routes, Tableau’s map charts help bring location-based insights to life.

Map Charts in Tableau

Learn how to create map charts in Tableau

Map Charts in Tableau are powerful visualizations used to display geographical data. They allow you to plot data points on a map, enabling you to analyze and present location-based information such as sales by region, customer distribution, or any metric tied to geographic locations.

Key Features of Map Charts in Tableau

  1. Geographical Data Representation:
    Map charts allow you to visualize data tied to locations, such as countries, states, cities, or even custom geographic areas.
  2. Automatic Geocoding:
    Tableau can automatically recognize geographical fields like country, state, city, and postal codes and map them onto a map chart without requiring external geographic data. It uses built-in geographic roles for this purpose.
  3. Data Layers:
    You can add data layers, such as population, sales figures, or any measure, to the map. Tableau can color-code regions, plot circles, or create heat maps to represent varying data values.
  4. Interactivity:
    Map charts in Tableau are interactive, allowing users to zoom in/out, pan across areas, and hover over data points to get more details (tooltips).
  5. Customization:
    You can customize map charts by adjusting colors, labels, map styles (such as satellite or streets view), adding map layers like borders and coastlines, or using custom geographic roles.

Types of Map Charts in Tableau

  1. Symbol Maps:
    In a symbol map, data points are represented by symbols (circles, squares, etc.) placed on a geographical map. The size or color of the symbol can represent different data values, such as population or sales volume. Example:
    A map of the United States with circles of varying sizes representing sales volume in different cities.
  2. Filled Maps (Choropleth Maps):
    In a filled map, geographical areas (countries, states, regions) are shaded or colored based on a measure. This type of map is useful for showing how a particular metric varies by region. Example:
    A filled map of the world where countries are color-coded based on total sales.
  3. Density Maps (Heat Maps):
    A density map visualizes concentrations of data points in specific areas. Areas with more data points appear more intense or “hot,” while areas with fewer data points appear lighter. Example:
    A heat map showing customer density across different regions.
  4. Path Maps:
    Path maps visualize data with a sequence or flow between geographic points, such as shipping routes or migration patterns. It connects data points using lines that represent movement. Example:
    A map showing the delivery routes of packages between cities.

How to Create a Map Chart in Tableau

  1. Connect to Data:
    Start by loading your dataset into Tableau. Ensure that the data contains geographic fields, such as country, state, city, or latitude/longitude coordinates.
  2. Drag the Geographic Field to the View:
    Drag the geographical field (like “Country” or “City”) into the “Rows” or “Columns” shelf, or into the “Marks” card. Tableau will automatically generate a map visualization.
  3. Add Data to the Map:
    Drag a measure (like “Sales” or “Population”) to the “Color” or “Size” shelf in the Marks card to display your data visually on the map. You can choose to represent this data using symbols, colors, or shades.
  4. Customize the Map:
    You can adjust the map’s appearance by clicking on the “Map” menu at the top of the Tableau interface. This allows you to change the map style (e.g., street view, dark, satellite), add layers (like borders and coastlines), or adjust the map projection.

When to Use Map Charts

  • Geographical Comparisons: Use map charts when your data is tied to specific geographic locations, such as comparing sales across regions or visualizing population density.
  • Spatial Analysis: If you need to analyze data distribution across space, like identifying hotspots for customer growth or locating underperforming areas, map charts are ideal.
  • Route or Flow Analysis: Use path maps for analyzing routes or patterns that involve geographical movements, such as delivery routes or airline traffic.

Conclusion

Map charts in Tableau are a dynamic way to present geographical data, offering rich visual insights into spatial relationships and patterns. Whether you’re comparing regions, analyzing data concentrations, or plotting routes, Tableau’s map charts help bring location-based insights to life.