Glossary of Mapping Software Terms

Basemap

A background map that provides context and colour to your data. These range from simple plan maps with country outlines to detailed road network maps.

Bottom Up Territory

Build your territories at the bottom level and these changes will be automatialy update the parent territories.

Boundary Data

These are outline datasets that usually define administrative or geographic areas such as states, countries and territories.

Bubble Map

Bubble maps are a simple, fast, and effective way to discover and reveal data trends. They can summarize and aggregate data derived from specific geographic regions, reducing it to a single expression (a bubble can represent anything from a zip code to an entire country).

Buffer

A zone around a map feature measured in units of distance or time. A buffer is useful for proximity analysis.

Buffer Map

A map that contains proximity analysis using buffers. This is a great way to show your coverage and highlight gaps in service.

Choropleth Map

A choropleth map is a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measurement of the statistical variable being displayed on the map, such as population density or per-capita income.

Clusters

Clusters allow you to group a number of nearby data points together on a map. As you zoom in on the map, the cluster will break up until all map points are plotted individually.

Color By Value

Use color range to highlight the range between the value of your data. For example, red for high-value accounts, yellow for low-value accounts.

Color Palette

You can save a palette of styles (colors or symbols) for matching range values. This is great when you want to create similar maps on a regular basis. You can define a set of styles that work best with your data and then easily reuse these styles as you update and reload new versions of your data.

Control Panel

This appears on the top left of your eSpatial Workspace and is where you can add data, intiate analysis, access the style and routing options or share, save and export your map.

Custom Area

This is an area drawn freely on the map using the Polygon tool. It allows you to filter your data to the area you have drawn.

Data Filters

Data filters allow you to narrow down your data to focus on what is important to achieving your analysis objective. There are three types of filters; numeric, text and location.

Dataset

A Dataset is a layer of data on your map that you have uploaded into eSpatial or added to your map from the eSpatial Datastore. There are two types of datasets; points datasets and boundary datasets.

Datastore

The eSpatial Datastore is where you can find an extensive list of third party data such as demographics and boundary data to enhance your analysis.

Demographic Data

Demographic data is data that contains demographic information. eSpatial has demographic data such as Age/Sex, Population, Education, Income, Housing, Rent/Mortgage and Race for many locations such as USA, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia. You can also upload your own demographic data.

Draw Areas Free Hand

TThis is an area drawn freely on the map using the Polygon tool. It allows you to filter your data to the area you have drawn.

Drop a pin

You can drop a pin on your map to mark a location. You can then run proximity and route analysis from this point, or create a new dataset from dropped pins which you can then export to CSV.

Embed Map on Webpage

Embedding a map on a webpage means you can embed an eSpatial map on your webiste using some eSpatial code.

Export Map as CSV

After analysis and filtering on your map, you can export your findings in a CSV format for further analysis.

Export Map as Dataset

After analysis and filtering on your map, you can export your filtered data as a dataset to use on another map or to share with other users on your account.

Export Map as MapBook

You can export your maps to a MapBook. This is a PowerPoint presentation that contains images of all the maps within your workspace.

Export Map as PDF

You can export your map to PDF for reports and presentations.

Geocode

A process to convert an address into a location or pin on a map.

Hot Spot Heat Map

A hot spot heat map is otherwise known as a point density heatmap. It highlights areas of a high density of points using a gradient of colors from blue (cool, low density of points) to red (hot, high density of points).

Labels

Labels are used to identify important aspects of the data such as company name, sales value, or whatever you deem to be most important.

Label Placement

This refers to the options you have with the placement of labels. In eSpatial there are 4 options; No Labels, All Labels, Non-Overlapping Labels and Optimized Labels.

Legend

The legend serves as the decoder for the symbology in the data frame. Therefore, it is also commonly known as the key. Descriptions detailing any color schemata, symbology or categorization is explained here.

Library

This is where your workspaces, maps and datasets are stored.

Link to Boundary

Upload your data and map to a polygon instead of a point. For example if you have state information, instead of uploading as a point to the map, you can upload this information to match the state boundary instead such as Sales targets and population.

Map Analytics

This is a term used to define analysis of data with geography being a main element of the data. There are many types of analysis you can do on a map. Radius, Heat Map, Bubble Map, Aggregate By Value, Nearest Neighbor.

Map Carousel

This is a visual carousel of all your maps within the workspace you are working in.

Map Chart

You can create a chart from the data in your table in eSpatial to add another layer of viusalization which will also help viewers get another view of the data in front of them.

Map Description

This is where you describe your map. It is useful if you are creating multiple views of the same map.

Map Notifications

If you are using a multi-user eSpatial account, you will receive notifications when maps are shared with you and of any changes made to the shared maps.

Map Pin

A symbol or icon that represents your data point on your map.

Map Pin Symbol Library

A library of over 50 symbols that can be used to represent data points on your map, including industry-specific symbols for various industries.

Map Styling

Map styling refers to the many ways you can style your map to highlight your data and enhance the understanding of your findings.

Map Table

The Map Table contains all the data you uploaded to eSpatial with the same column headers. You can use this table to sort and filter your data as you would in Excel.

Map Title

The title is important because it instantly gives the viewer a succinct description of the subject matter of the map.

Mapping Software

Mapping software is software that allows you to visualize and analyze your data based on geographical information. You can plot your sales or service staff, plot your company locations and customer locations and run analysis to better serve or expand your market.

Nearest Neighbor Analysis

Find points nearest to your locations, e.g. 10 nearest clients to each office.

Numeric Filter

A numeric filter is a filter based on numbers. You can set a range between two numbers to narrow down your data.

Optimized Label Placement

With “Optimized Labels” you will have the option of automatic optimized label placement. This means labels will be placed automatically to show as much information as possible while not obscuring information already on your map.

Optimized Routing

Optimized routing means to find the best route to visit a number of locations or waypoints in the most efficient way possible.

Point Dataset

A point dataset is data that you want to be represented on your map as points. For example, customers and sales staff are best represented as points data.

Point Density Heat Map

A point density heat map, also known as a hot spot heat map, looks at how close your points are together regardless of any values associated with them; the redder the area the higher the point density.

Polygon

A polygon is a closed area including the boundaries making up the area. These can be administrative boundaries such as states or countries or custom boundaries such as custom sales territory boundaries.

Polygon Map

A polygon map is a data object used to store spatial geographic information that consists of polygons, i.e. closed areas including the boundaries making up the areas. The areas are either codified by IDs, class names or values; this is determined by the domain of the map.

Pop Up Information Box

Each row of data you upload into eSpatial is represented by a pin on your map. All of the information contained in that row is accessible in the data information box that pops up when you click on a pin. This can include email addresses and URLs to make your map even more interactive and embed into your business workflows.

Private Map

A map that is only accessible by you.

Radius Maps

Radius maps, also known as buffer maps, are useful when you need to understand your data in relation to its proximity to other features. They are often used as coverage maps to see where you may have gaps or overlap of coverage of your shops, services, and operations. Find points within a distance, e.g. customers within 10 miles of your store.

Region Dataset

A regional heat map, which is a form of choropleth map, is one that uses graded differences in shading or color in order to indicate the aggregate or average values of some property or quantity in particular areas.

Regional Heat Map

A regional heat map, which is a form of choropleth map, is one that uses graded differences in shading or color in order to indicate the aggregate or average values of some property or quantity in particular areas.

Share Map Publicly

You can share your map publicly by changing the setting in the Share panel. You can choose whether you include the table or not and whether you would like to prevent search engines from indexing your map. A URL is generated and you can share this link via social media or email.

Share Map within Team

You can share maps and workspaces within your team if you are using a multi-user eSpatial account. You can do this from the Share Panel or from Your Library.

Shared Maps

Shared Maps are maps that have been shared with others, whether they are shared publicly or within a team.

Size By Value

Reveal your data value by pin size. The larger the value, the bigger the Pin size on the map. Below is an example of using different-sized pins to reveal volumes.

Symbol By Value

Using Symbol by Value allows you to add a different symbol to each point of data. For example, customers in different industries can be given a symbol that matches their industry.

Territory

A territory is a geographic region which has been assigned to a sales or service rep.

Territory Manager

The Territory Manager allows you to build territories quickly and easily either manually or from a file.

Territory Hierarchy

Create hierarchical territories to match your company’s structure. E.g. national, regional and local level definitions of your sales territories.

Text Filter

A Text Filter allows you to filter columns in your Map Table that contain text. If there are less than 60 distinct values, a tick box system will appear for you to select your filter options. If there are more than 60 distinct values, you will have to type in your chosen filter option using an equals or contains method.

Thematic Map

A thematic map is a type of map specifically designed to show a particular theme connected with a specific geographic area.

Top Down Hierarchy

Define top level hierarchy first and then divide at lower levels.

Waypoint

A waypoint is an intermediate point or stop point on a route or line of travel.

Workspace

A Workspace is the area in eSpatial where you work on your maps. You can have multiple maps within a workspace. It is like a folder or project of maps.

Workspace Name

This is the name you give your workspace. We recommend always naming your Workspace with something descriptive of the analysis or objective of the map.