How to Create a Skyscraper Map in Power BI using Azure Maps: a Guide to Bar Chart Mapping

Skyscraper Map in Power BI, aka. bar chart map, or bar chart on a map
Skyscraper Map in Power BI, aka. bar chart map, or bar chart on a map

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.

Power BI assigned Country to the Location field.
Power BI assigned Country to the Location field.

Step 4. Now, choose TotalSales from the Fields Plane.

Power BI assigned Sales to the Bubble size field.
Power BI assigned Sales to the Bubble size field.

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.

Power BI with enabled Bar chart layer switch.
Power BI with enabled 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.

Power BI showing a skyscraper map.
Power BI showing a skyscraper map.

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.

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Power BI book cover

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:

„How to Create a Skyscraper Map in Power BI using Azure Maps: a Guide to Bar Chart Mapping“ weiterlesen

Mastering Power BI: A Step-by-step Guide to Enabling Power BI’s Preview Features Including Azure Maps

Power of Power BI's Preview Features: Power BI Desktop running on Windows 11
Power of Power BI’s Preview Features: Power BI Desktop running on Windows 11

Explore the Power of Power BI’s Preview Features

Microsoft’s Power BI is known for its data visualization capabilities, but many exciting features are not enabled by default. These under-the-radar features are known as Power BI Preview Features, and they often have the potential to significantly enhance your data analysis efforts. Some of these exciting features include Azure Maps, which is essential for creating impactful Skyscraper Maps with Power BI.

Follow this Step-by-step Guide

To leverage the power of these Preview Features, you need to enable them in your Power BI interface. Here is a quick guide to help you activate Azure Maps and other Preview Features:

Step 1: Navigate to the File tab on Power BI’s menu bar. Note: There is no need to have a data connection, the opening modal can be closed.

File tab on Power BI's menu bar.
File tab on Power BI’s menu bar.

Step 2: Choose Options and Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: From the subsequent options, click on Options.

Power BI's Options and Settings menu.
Power BI’s Options and Settings menu.

Step 4: In the new dialogue box, select Preview Features from the list on the left-hand side.

Power BI's Options dialogue box.
Power BI’s Options dialogue box.

Step 5: Check the box next to Azure Map Visual to enable it.

Step 6: Confirm your changes by clicking the OK button.

Power BI's Preview Features section.
Power BI’s Preview Features section.

If you change the Preview feature settings, Power BI may require you to restart the application to implement the changes. Once done, you are ready to start creating your Skyscraper Map using the Azure Maps feature!

Current Power BI Preview Features

Power BI’s Preview Features evolve over time, with new features continuously being tested and added. As of now, the current preview features you can enable in Power BI include:

  • Shape Map Visual
  • Spanish Language Support for Q&A
  • Q&A for Live Connected Analysis Services Databases
  • Azure Map Visual
  • DirectQuery for PBI Datasets and AS
  • Modern Visual Tooltips
  • Power BI Desktop Infrastructure Update
  • Web Page Connector Infrastructure
  • Modify Visuals Settings for Mobile Layout
  • Sparklines
  • Scorecard Visual
  • Field Parameters
Teach Yourself VISUALLY Power BI book cover

For more such enlightening tutorials, check out my latest book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Power BI (Amazon)!

The world of Power BI is a treasure trove of powerful capabilities waiting to be explored. Share your experiences, creative applications, and insights as you navigate this exciting realm:

„Mastering Power BI: A Step-by-step Guide to Enabling Power BI’s Preview Features Including Azure Maps“ weiterlesen

Meetup #19 – Chart Choice & Anomaly Detection for Warranty Cases

Dilyana's session: Chart Choice - many ways to visualize data
Dilyana’s session: Chart Choice – many ways to visualize data

Recently we had the 19th edition of our Data & AI Meetup. This meetup focused on Chart Choice & Anomaly Detection for Warranty Cases. Let’s have a quick recap!

Agenda:

Meetup discussion: Sven, Alexander, and Shubham
Meetup discussion: Sven, Alexander, and Shubham

  1. Intro & announcements: our 5th anniversary
  2. Chart Choice
    by Dilyana Bossenz, Business Analytics and Enablement Manager at M2.
  3. New Book: Decisively Digital – From Creating a Culture to Designing Strategy
    by Alexander Loth, author & executive advisor at Microsoft
  4. Anomaly Detection for warranty cases with an example of the automotive industry
    by Shubham Agarwal, Lead Data Scientist at ATCS
    and Frank Schlemmbach, Sr. Consultant at ATCS
    and Sven Sommerfeld, Managing Director at ATCS
  5. Wrap-up

Session recording:

Further information:

The next Data & AI Meetup?

The next Data & AI Meetup will be announced on the Data & AI LinkedIn group and on the Data & AI Meetup page. Feel free to join!

If you’ve dreamed of sharing your Data & AI story with many like-minded Data & AI enthusiasts, please submit your session proposal.

Recap of the 17th Data & AI Meetup: Data & AI in Healthcare

Analyzing Medical Images: Detecting Pneumonia with Custom Vision
Analyzing Medical Images: Detecting Pneumonia with Custom Vision AI

Recently we had the 17th edition of our Data & AI Meetup. This meetup focused on Data & AI in Healthcare. Let’s have a quick recap!

Agenda:

16:00 – Willkommen & Intro
16:05 – BI as a Service für eine bessere Healthcare Supply Chain
Christopher Glogger, Sana Einkauf & Logistik
16:35 – AI Trends und Use cases
Andreas Kopp, Microsoft
17:20 – Visuelle Datenanalyse rund um CoViD-19
Markus Raatz, Ceteris AG
17:55 – Wrap up

Session recording:

Further information:

The next Data & AI Meetup?

The next Data & AI Meetup will be announced on the Data & AI LinkedIn group and on the Data & AI Meetup page. Feel free to join!

If you’ve dreamed of sharing your Data & AI story with many like-minded Data & AI enthusiasts, please submit your session proposal.

Recap of the 16th Data & AI Meetup: Azure Bootcamp

Azure Synapse Analytics Screenshot
Azure Synapse Analytics demo shown during the meetup

Yesterday we had the 16th edition of our Data & AI Meetup. This meetup was a hands-on Azure Bootcamp. Let’s have a quick recap!

Agenda:

  1. Welcome & Intro
  2. Azure SQL DB
  3. Azure Data Factory
  4. Azure Synapse Analytics
  5. Visual Analytics with Power BI on Azure

Session recording:

Further information:

The next Data & AI Meetup?

The next Data & AI Meetup will be announced on the Data & AI LinkedIn group and on the Data & AI Meetup page. Feel free to join!

If you’ve dreamed of sharing your Data & AI story with many like-minded Data & AI enthusiasts, please submit your session proposal.