Asset maps in mySidewalk help you visualize point-level data, empowering you to tell a story about your community or project using customizable layers and categories. Follow these step-by-step instructions to create an asset map.
Step 1: Prepare Your Data
To start, create a table of data with the necessary information:
Required Columns: Include latitude and longitude for each data point. These are essential for mapping.
Optional Columns: Add a column for point labels (e.g., organization name, project name). This allows viewers to see labels when hovering over points on the map.
Categorization: Consider adding a column to categorize data points (e.g., type of business, grant type, number of people served). This enables features like color-coding or adjusting point sizes.
Tip: Find Latitude and Longitude
Use online tools to get coordinates for specific locations. Simply search “Get Lat Long” to find free resources.
Copy the latitude and longitude into your table. You can include addresses in the file if desired, but they are not required.
Once your table is ready, save it as a CSV file.
Step 2: Upload Your Data to mySidewalk
Go to the Upload Data option in mySidewalk.
Select Upload Geography and choose your CSV file.
Open the uploaded file and configure the settings:
Rename the file if needed.
Assign a label for each point (e.g., organization name). This label will appear when users hover over points on the map.
Step 3: Create Your Map
Adding Your Points to a Map
Open a report or create a new one in mySidewalk.
Select Map, click Add My Layer, and choose your uploaded layer.
Your points will now appear on the map.
Optional: Customizing Your Map
Point Size: Adjust the size of all points for better visibility.
Color-Coding: Use the categorization column to assign colors based on data categories (e.g., arts, technology).
Point Transparency: Modify opacity for clarity.
Map Style: Change the map background (e.g., street view, light style) to make data stand out.
Title: Add a descriptive title to your map (e.g., “Kansas City Businesses”).
Optional: Add Contextual Layers
To provide more insights, overlay additional data layers:
Add a mySidewalk Layer.
Select a subgeography (e.g., zip codes, census tracts).
Click Style by data and select data to visualize alongside your points.
Adjust the visibility of your points and layers to tell a cohesive story.
Example Use Case
You can combine point-level data (e.g., business locations) with demographic data (e.g., income levels) to analyze patterns and highlight areas needing attention or resources.
By following these steps, you can create compelling and informative asset maps in mySidewalk to visualize and communicate meaningful data-driven stories.