Tableau Map

What is Tableau Map?

The functionality to map and visualize certain features in the World map to further understand the dataset is a Tableau Map chart. You can view different functionalities and graphs, such as the profit and sales, which can be done using the Tableau Map layers for each feature.

There are various features in Tableau Map, as shown.

• Geocoding: Tableau can automatically geocode geographic data such as addresses, cities, or countries to plot them accurately on a map.
• Layering: You can layer different data sets on maps to visualize multiple dimensions simultaneously. For example, plotting sales and profit along with the cities shows how profitable each state is.
• Interactivity: You can zoom in and zoom out of the map and hover over data points to gain more info. You can also click on data points marked on the map and highlight them.
• Map Styles: You can customize it to various map styles, be it street maps or terrain maps. You can even create custom map styles in Tableau.

In this example, the profit of each state in the US can be calculated and better understood using the Tableau Map visualization.

Here, the State is taken as a feature along with the average measure of profit. It is color-coded concerning Profit.

How to create a Map in Tableau?

Follow these simple steps below to learn how to use Tableau Map charts.

Step 1: Create a new workbook by going to “File” and then selecting “New.”

Connect the required dataset by dragging and dropping it in the new workbook.

Step 2: Use the Airbnb dataset gathered from Austin, Texas, in the US.

Step 3: Go to the new sheet created by default.

Step 4: In the features section, select the features you want to visualize.

Step 5: Drag and drop the Latitude and Longitude features in the Rows and Columns component, respectively.

Here, you can see that Austin, Texas, is marked.

Step 6: Drag and drop the feature “Name” in the Detail tab.

Now, the map of Austin, Texas, looks like this.

Step 7: Drag and drop “Maximum Nights” in the Color component in the “Marks” tab.

Step 8: Change the measure of the feature “Maximum Nights” from “Sum” to “Average” by right-clicking on the feature, as shown.

It is the final graph of Airbnbs showing the average number of nights a guest spends there.

Examples

See the various map visualizations that are possible using Tableau map visualization techniques. Tableau can create various interactive visualizations given the geocodes of the locations to be analyzed.

Example #1: Choropleth maps (filled maps)

When you want to create maps with different color coding but do not want to make them heat maps, this kind of map is called a choropleth map. In this example, you can use the Sample-Superstore dataset to find the number of distinct customers in each state to find the most profitable states and the least profitable states.

Step 1: Connect the Sample-Superstore dataset to a new workbook.

Step 2: When you drag and drop the feature “State” in the feature “Country,” you create a hierarchy as shown.

Step 3: Drag and drop the feature “State” into the “Detail” tab in the “Marks” tab.

It creates a map, as shown.

Step 4: Similarly, drag and drop “State” in the “Text” component to show the viewer the name of the state.

Step 5: Under the “Tables,” right-click on “Customer ID”, and go to “Create” > ”Calculated Field” to create a calculated field based on the feature.

Step 6: In the Calculated field, select the function “COUNTD” (count distinct) to find the number of distinct customers.

Name the calculated field.

Step 7: Then, drag and drop the newly created calculated field into the “Color” tab in the “Marks” tab.

Now, the map changes to look like this.

Step 8: Similarly, drag and drop the calculate field to return the number of customers in each state in the “Text” tab in the “Marks” tab.

Step 9: Click on “Color” and click on “Edit Colors.”

Step 10: Change the color to your preference.

Now, check on “Stepped Color.”

Now, the Tableau Map chart looks, as shown below.

Step 11: Change the title to your choice.

It is the final look of the map.

Example #2: Heatmap (density maps)

To find the intensity and the difference between the highest and the lowest values can be visually seen using heatmaps usually made in Tableau. In this example, you can find the hosts of Airbnb distribution and create Tableau Map charts from them.

Step 1: In a new Tableau Workbook, connect to the Airbnb dataset of Austin, Texas.

Then, place the Longitude and Latitude values in the Columns and Rows sections, respectively.

Step 2: Drag and drop the feature “Host Neighborhood” into the “Details” tab in the “Marks” tab.

Step 3: Change the graphical representation to “Density.”

Step 4: Click on the “Color” tab and adjust the “Intensity” to your preferences.

Currently, the graph looks like this.

Step 5: Change the color to your preference. Here, the Green-Blue diverging colors were chosen.

It is the final result.

Example #3: Flow maps (path maps)

In reality, flow maps are generally used to calculate the passing of a particular event, be it a train, a storm, or a natural disaster. Over time, you can predict their paths and draw flow graphs out of them. Here is an example where the storm database of 2012 in the Pacific basin is used to create some of the most unique and interactive flow maps.

Step 1: In a new workbook, connect the dataset.

Here, the storm map dataset of 2012 is used.

Step 2: Get the map visualization started by placing the Longitude value in the columns and vice versa for the Latitude value.

Step 3: Place the feature “Storm Name” in the “Detail” tab in the “Marks” tab. 

Now, the map graph changes to the points, as shown.

Step 4: Change the visualization type to “Line” by clicking on the dropdown in the “Marks” tab.

The graph changes to look like this.

Step 5: Take the “Date” value and place it in the “Line” tab in the “Marks” tab.

This tab pops up if you have selected a line graph visualization. Now, the graph changes to resemble a flow graph.

Step 6: Take the “Storm Name” feature and place it in the “Color” tab in the “Marks” tab to visually distinguish the path of every storm in the Pacific.

These are the colors.

It is what the graph looks like.

Step 7: Drag and drop the “Avg. Wind speed (kt)” into the “Size” tab in the “Marks” tab.

This is the path graph successfully created to visualize the different storms, their wind speed, and their pathways in the Pacific Basin in 2012.

Example #4: Spider maps (origin-destination maps)

When you want more detailed path maps with a clear start and ending point along with the different stops, you can use the spider maps. These maps are created using the Tableau Map dual-axis method to show the different stops and view various intersections to give the viewers an idea of how interconnected the map is, similar to a spider web. You can see this example using the metro traffic station dataset in Ile-de-France.

Step 1: Connect the metro station database to a new Tableau workbook.

Step 2: Start by placing the Latitude and Longitude values in the Rows and Columns field respectively.

Step 3: Drag and drop the feature “Line Group (Path ID)” onto the “Details” tab in the “Marks” tab. Since it is shown as a numeric value, first, click on “Dimension” after right-clicking on the feature. Then right-click again and select “Discrete.”

The map will expand and include these points.

Step 4: In the “Marks” tab, change the visualization type to “Line.”

Step 5: Drag and drop the feature “Point Order” in the “Line” tab in the “Marks” tab.

Remove its statistical measure by right-clicking on it and selecting “Dimensions”.

Step 6: Similar to the “Line Group” feature modified in Step 3, create another “Line Group (Path ID)” feature that is discrete and then drag and drop it in the “Color” tab in the “Marks” tab.

The Tableau Map chart looks like this.

Step 7: Copy another Longitude value in the columns.

This creates a new map that is identical.

Step 8: In the “Marks” tab, go to the second longitude graph and change the visualization type from “Line” to “Circle.” When you want to create maps with different color coding but do not want to make them heat maps, this kind of map is called a choropleth map.

Step 9: Drag and drop the “Line Group” in the “Detail” tab to the “Size” tab.

Step 10: Create a Tableau Map dual axis by right-clicking on the Longitude value in the columns tab and selecting “Dual Axis.”

This is the completed spider graph of the metro station connections in Ile-de-France.

Example #5: Proportional symbol maps

When you want to see the total sales and profits, you can see that using the Symbol Maps in Tableau. These are not similar to Heatmaps but will symbolically show whether the given strategy is viable in a given place. One of the best places to use this is to compare the Sales made in each state with the Sample-Superstore dataset.

Step 1: Connect a workbook to the dataset.

Step 2: Click on “Show Me” in the top-right corner of the application and click on “Symbol Maps.”

You need one geo-dimension and 0-2 numerical measures.

Step 3: To satisfy these requirements, choose “State,” a geo-dimension and “Sales,” a numerical dimension.

Step 4: Drag and drop the “Sales” feature to the “Size” component in the “Marks” tab.

Similarly, drag and drop “State” in the “Detail” component in the “Marks” tab.

Step 4: To show the values of sales in the map, drag and drop “Sales” in the “Text” component in the “Marks” tab.

Step 5: Then, drag and drop the “Quantity” in the “Color” component in the “Marks” tab.

Step 6: Edit the colors of the graph by right-clicking on the legend on the right corner of the Worksheet and then selecting “Edit Colors”.

Select the Color of your choice.

Step 7: Then, adjust the size of the circles if you are unable to see some of them in the default size. Click on the “Size” component and drag the slider to the right or left, depending on your preferences.

It is the completed symbol map of the Sample-Superstore dataset showing both the total number of sales and the total “Quantity” of the products.

Important Things To Note

• Use the drag-and-drop functionality to quickly create interactive visualizations.
• Utilize Tableau’s built-in mapping capabilities for simple point or filled (polygon) maps.
• You need to use geographic fields to create a map view.
• For additional customization, use dual-axis maps.
• Don’t expect Tableau to automatically suggest geographical maps or data formats.
• Tableau cannot handle complex table calculations without incorporating other scripting languages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to What Is Tableau MAP. Here we explain how to create interactive Map visualizations with features, examples and points to remember. You can learn more from the following articles –

• Tableau Tooltips
• Tableau Waterfall Chart
• Tableau Dual Axis Chart