Have You Ever Seen a Bar Chart on a Map?
Welcome to the fascinating world of data visualization, where even maps can take the form of bar charts! I prefer to call this visualization a Skyscraper Map because you can picture these bars on a map as skyscrapers. Also known as a Bar Chart Map, this type of visualization brings your geodata to life, giving it the appearance of skyscrapers dotting a cityscape.
Why Use a Skyscraper Map?
You can use a skyscraper map to display geodata along with its corresponding values. This innovative visualization combines a map indicating various locations (be it a city, a country, or any geographical place) with a bar chart. Like a traditional bar chart, the height or volume of each bar in a skyscraper map is proportionate to the values it signifies.
Crafting a Skyscraper Map with Azure Maps in Power BI
First, you need to make sure that the Azure Maps preview feature is enabled in Power BI to create a skyscraper map. Here’s a step-by-step guide using the Retail Analysis Sample dataset:
Step 1. Click on the Azure Map icon in the Visualization pane.
Step 2. Drag the lower right corner to extend the filled map visual.
Step 3. From the Fields Plane, select PostalCode.
Step 4. Now, choose TotalSales from the Fields Plane.
Step 5. Head over to the Format your Visual section.
Step 6. Toggle off the Bubble layer switch.
Step 7. Enable the Bar chart layer switch.
Step 8. Expand the Bar chart layer pane.
Step 9. Expand the Size pane.
Step 10. Under the Size pane, set the Height to 4 px.
Step 11. Under the Size pane, set the Width to 3 px.
With these steps, you’ve created a skyscraper map showing sales by zip codes in your dataset. Want to try it out? Download the PBIX file here.
If you’re keen on diving deeper into Power BI, don’t miss my book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Power BI (Amazon), filled with more insightful tutorials like this one. Got any feedback, ideas, or questions about creating bar chart maps in Power BI? I’d love to hear from you:
