Upload files in minutes and start exploring patterns, sharing visuals, and making better decisions with your local data.
Here’s how:
1. Prepare your file
Use CSV, SHP, GeoJSON, GML, or GDB. We recommend CSV.
Include one header row, no blank rows/columns
Add geography: ZIP, city, latitude/longitude, street address, GEOID, etc.
Remove symbols like %, $, and commas from numbers
Optional: Learn all about our formatting guidelines here.
🛑 Don’t want to format your file first? Try Smart Upload – it'll format your data for you!
2. Upload it
Click “Upload Data” from your home screen
Drag in your file and choose how to match geography (we’ll try to auto-match based on the contents of your file)
You can skip this step if your file doesn’t contain geographic information or you’re in a hurry. Don’t worry—you can always reassign geography later.
3. Match geography
Required if you want to map your data or use it alongside mySidewalk data. Don't need or want to map this data? You can skip matching places.
mySidewalk takes a look at your column names (like ZIP Codes, place names, addresses, lat and long, GEOIDs, and SHIDs) and makes an initial guess at the method that will work best for your file.
Keep this recommendation, or pick a different method.
Review suggested matches and edit if needed.
🌐 Geography Examples
Here are some examples of the kinds of data you can upload for immediate mapping in mySidewalk:
Place names such as "Denver" or "Los Angeles, CA" (avoid abbreviations and typos)
GEOIDs or SHIDs (i.e., mySidewalk feature IDs)
Latitude and longitude coordinates
Street addresses like "1911 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108"
If your file contains Health Department service areas, campuses, hospital catchment areas, or other custom-defined areas, you’ll want to create Custom Boundaries.
4. Finalize and visualize
Name your layer and add tags (optional)
Create maps, charts, or callouts using your uploaded data right from the Layer page by going to the Visualizations tab.
Video tutorials
Coming soon!
💬 Need help?
Chat with us by clicking the question mark for Support in the main menu, then Chat with us.