Introduction:
Filled maps in power bi are a powerful feature in Power BI that allow you to visualize data in a geographic context. By coloring regions or polygons on a map, filled maps provide a visual representation of data values across different geographical areas. This type of visualization is particularly useful for analyzing and comparing data based on location.
Advantages of Using Filled Maps in Power BI:
- Geographic Context: Filled maps provide a geographical context to your data, allowing you to visualize information in relation to specific locations. This spatial perspective enhances your understanding of data by showing patterns and relationships that are tied to geographic regions.
- Regional Analysis: Filled maps are particularly useful for conducting regional analysis. They enable you to compare data values across different regions, identify variations, and gain insights into regional trends or disparities. This can be valuable for understanding market dynamics, identifying target areas, or assessing regional performance.
- Data Comparison: Filled maps allow for easy comparison of data values between geographical areas. By using color gradients or patterns, you can visually represent the magnitude or proportion of data, enabling quick comparisons and identifying areas with higher or lower values. This makes it easier to spot outliers or areas of interest.
- Storytelling and Communication: Filled maps enhance data storytelling by providing a visually compelling way to communicate information. They engage viewers by presenting data in a familiar and relatable format, making it easier for them to connect with the insights being conveyed. Filled maps can effectively communicate geographic trends, regional variations, and spatial patterns to a wide audience.
- Drill-Down Capabilities: Power BI’s filled maps offer interactive features that allow users to drill down into specific regions or zoom in on areas of interest. This enables deeper exploration and analysis by providing more granular data for specific geographic subsets. Users can uncover detailed insights by navigating through different levels of geographical hierarchies.
- Integration with Other Visuals: Filled maps can be integrated with other visualizations in Power BI, allowing for a comprehensive view of your data. You can combine filled maps with charts, tables, or other visuals to provide a holistic understanding of your data, adding layers of information and context.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: By visualizing data on a filled map, decision-makers can make more informed choices based on spatial insights. Whether it’s identifying profitable regions, targeting specific markets, or optimizing resource allocation, filled maps help drive data-driven decisions that take geographic factors into account.
Step 1:
- Add a Filled Map Visual: From the Visualizations pane on the right side of the Power BI interface, click on the “Filled Map” icon.
This will add a new blank filled map visual to your report canvas.
Step 2:
- Configure the Filled Map: In the Fields pane, drag and drop the appropriate geographical field (e.g., country, state, region) into the “Location” well of the Filled Map visual. Power BI will automatically recognize and map the data to the correct geographic regions.
Step 3:
- Assign Data Values: Drag and drop the data field you want to visualize onto the “Values” well of the Filled Map visual. This will assign the data values to the respective regions on the map.
Note:
Interact and Explore: Use the interactive features of the filled map to explore your data. You can zoom in and out, drill down into specific regions, or filter data based on specific criteria. This allows for deeper analysis and discovery of insights within your filled map visual.
