Maps

Create map visualizations using geographic data.

To create a map chart in the Polyteia Platform, your data needs to include geographic locations—either as shapes (polygons) or points (coordinates). This overview explains how geographic data is structured (JSON and GeoJSON), and how to use it to create map visualizations.

Understanding geographic data formats

• JSON is a general format for structured data. It can include coordinates, but isn't automatically recognized as geographic unless the structure follows GeoJSON rules.

• GeoJSON is a special format for map shapes. It defines points, lines, and polygons using type and coordinates fields.

• The Polyteia Platform automatically detects GeoJSON features and converts them into a geometry column (geom) that can be used in map charts.\

→ See: Understanding JSON and GeoJSON

Create a map visualization

Once your dataset contains a geometry column, you can visualize it using the Maps chart type. The process includes:

1. Uploading a .geojson or properly structured .json file.

2. Joining other datasets (e.g. metrics, labels) using a shared key.

3. Selecting the right columns (geometry, label, value).

4. Choosing a layer:

   • Areas – color-coded shapes (e.g. districts).

   • Scatter – individual points (e.g. hotels).

   • Heatmap – density visualization of point data.

→ See: Create a map

Good to know

• Geometry columns must contain valid point or polygon data.

• Joins must use clean and matching values (e.g. district name or ID).

• You can add one or more layers, each with its own settings and legend.

• The Polyteia Platform supports automatic clustering and tooltips for interactivity.