Power User Wishlist: From Email

Nuno and I got together to put some thoughts down as use cases for charting. Our context includes product and projects such as Living Atlas (demographics, urban systems, landscape) and Urban Observatory.

Use case 1: “Map, talk to me” a.k.a. “extent popup"
I zoomed the map to this area. While it is useful to use the popup to query parts of the map, I really want the chart to instantly tell me something about the data using this map’s extent.

Example: in Urban Observatory, I see three population density maps side by side, but I really want to know how many people are represented, in total, for each map’s extent:


Bar Chart underneath each map showing
124,000 people 3.6 million people 231,000 people

The bar chart updates as map extent changes (zoom or pan)
If user pans away from content, chart shows something friendly, or disappears after showing a friendly message. No “NaN” or other cryptic messages.

Authoring note: The bar chart uses the popup’s chart definition to “clue in” to what the map author already knows is important. This is not the only way to define new charting options, but it is critical we leverage knowledge already expressed in good popups.

Use case 2: Add Context by Comparing
User is looking at a map of Utah. They have never been to Utah. They click on the map. They get back a comparative chart showing median household income for multiple goegraphies, in this case: the country, state, county, and ZIP code where they clicked.

This explicitly puts geographies into the chart, a key distinguishing characteristic of Esri software.


Note: it is also useful sometimes to enter a “fixed” value that appears in the chart as a reference point. Examples: a national average, 98.6 degrees, index = 100, or other “anchor” value.

Good example: Census Reporter http://censusreporter.org/ and its embeddable charts as in this news story: http://yorkandfig.com/

Use case 3: a map tip chart
For a defined chart, the user can move the mouse along the map and the chart self-updates, like a tooltip or maptip, based on the chart’s geographic definition (e.g. 1 mile ring, 10 minute drive, nearest facility, find similar). If no geographic analysis is defined, the map tip chart simply uses lat long, like a speedy popup that requires no click. (Like NY Times maps’ maptips, but with a smart chart associated).

Example where speedy tips are sexy but don’t help create knowledge:
http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map

Bonus: let the user “hang on” to a chart in session, so that they can easily build a comparison side by side visually, not just in their head. So, as I move around the map, if I want it to “stick” just click. That allows a user to see pie charts side by side for example.

Single-chart variation: as the user clicks, build a column chart or line chart one record per click, so that the user is building a story (and its chart) as they go.

Use case 4: sketch n chart
User is looking at a map of their city. They want to sketch an area on the map. They draw a polygon, and a chart appears, summarizing the data for the area they sketched. They draw another polygon. The chart expands to include a second element that summarizes the data for the second polygon.

Use case 5: chart what I want, not just what the data has
When comparing multiple features, I should be able to aggregate two columns into a new column. For example, I want to see the combined total of households making between $0-$15,000 and $15,000-$30,000 in an area in order to understand who may need support services in an emergency situation. Why: currently the database schema dictates what can be mapped or charted. Sometimes the user needs to see charts based on simple arithmetic of the raw data.

Use case 6: chart across layers
Example: I have total population in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2014. Each is in its own layer or service. I want to show a simple chart that depicts total population from each of these services, brought together as a line or bar chart.

Use case 7: show me key values
From the chart I can see some useful information. If I touch the chart, the map highlights some key values (e.g. Features with the min or max value, features in a particular class, etc)

Use case 8: Sync map and chart
The map’s legend can inform the chart’s definition. If the map legend for income has 5 breaks, use those breaks and colors in the chart.

If the user touches the chart, chart author can choose to configure the chart to “light up” those features on the map, using a selection indicator or heat map. Easy undo.

Highlighter mode: let the user apply a digital highlighter pen to the chart, the corresponding features on the map are highlighted. Eg. Highlight the steepest part of a race course.

Chart author can configure the chart allow the user to instantly apply a filter to the map by touching the chart. Easy undo.

If I combine chart groups on the chart, combine them on the map and its legend also

Observations about charting contexts

What can I use to author a chart?
From a web map in AGOL (leverages legend info, popup info, AGOL item description/summary/credits)
From a map layer in AGOL (leverages legend info, popup info, AGOL item description/summary/credits)
From a REST endpoint (leverages legend info, item description/summary/credits)

Where can the chart appear?
Charts can appear on the map, or be directed to appear elsewhere on the map app, or be embedded independent of a map (like the Census example above)

Smart Charting
If customer wants to add a chart to a map, it should work like smart maps. Meaning, these are the 2 charts that best fit the data, please select one, or chose other for more options.

Where charts work
It would be great if the charts were available on desktop and online.