You can add custom boundaries to mySidewalk to better visualize data that may not be covered by standard Census and other boundaries included in mySidewalk. Common custom boundaries include economic districts, traffic analysis zones, neighborhood improvement areas, or buffer zones around project sites. After you add the boundary, you can visualize it as a layer on a map and/or use it to apportion data from the mySidewalk library.

The mySidewalk platform includes the following boundaries:

If you need a boundary outside of these options, you can create a custom boundary using one of the following methods: Upload, Draw, or Travel Time/Distance.

You have three main ways to add a custom boundary in mySidewalk:

You can upload a custom geography in .csv or GIS layer format. Follow these steps:

You can manually draw a custom boundary using tools like multi-select, polygon, radius, line, and box. Here’s how:

This option allows you to create boundaries based on travel time (e.g., a 15-minute drive) or a specific distance (e.g., a 10-mile radius). To do this:

Whether you upload or draw your custom boundary, the boundary will be available as a Layer in your Layer Library.

You can use your custom geography to apportion mySidewalk data to the shape you created. If you're working in a Report or Dashboard, set your custom boundary as your Geography in the global default or from within the component editor. (In the example below the custom boundary is called "KC Streetcar Buffer.")

Open up data search and filter by data that is Available For: Custom Layers.

Make your data selection.

After you've built your map - like the one below showing population by census tract in Kansas City, MO - select Add Layer, My Layer, and choose your layer.

In Seek, select Regions from any view.

Select Custom and choose your layer. (In this example, the custom boundary we'll choose is "Example Custom Boundary.")

After adding your layer, click Finish selecting.

And now you can view the selected data for your custom boundary.