The Map in Meado is a comprehensive geospatial visualization platform that allows you to explore, analyze, and interact with your geographic data. It provides powerful tools for data visualization, spatial analysis, and geographic insights.
How to Access the Map
- Navigate to your project
- Click on the "Map" tab in the project navigation
- The map interface will load with your project's datasets
- Use the expandable toolbar on the left to configure and interact with your data
Interactive Map Examples
Explore these interactive examples to see how different types of data are visualized on the Meado map. Each example shows the pure visualization without UI controls, focusing on how your data will appear.
Basic Map Interface
The standard Meado map interface with OpenStreetMap base layer. This shows the clean map visualization without any UI controls, focusing purely on the map display.
Map Controls and Buttons
Custom Map Buttons
The map includes several custom control buttons positioned in the top-left corner:
Download the current map view as an image file
Remove all manually drawn polygons and shapes from the map
Increase the resolution of H3 hexagon visualization for more detail
Decrease the resolution of H3 hexagon visualization for broader view
Switch between H3 hexagons and individual markers for data visualization
Conditional Buttons
Additional buttons appear based on your current dataset and tool selection:
Show or hide facility markers (appears when dataset is selected)
Show or hide connection lines between facilities (appears with CoG/CF tools)
Show or hide text labels on H3 hexagons (appears when dataset is selected)
Show or hide imported shapefile objects (appears when shapefiles are loaded)
Show or hide the data legend (appears when weighted data or heatmap is displayed)
Base Layer Control
The base layer control is positioned in the bottom-left corner and provides access to different map backgrounds:
Available Base Layers
- OpenStreetMap: Standard street map with roads and city information
- OpenStreetMap Humanitarian: Humanitarian-focused map with simplified styling
- OpenStreetMap France: French-focused OpenStreetMap styling
- OpenTopoMap: Topographic map showing elevation and terrain features
- Carto Light: Clean, light-colored map background
- Carto Dark: Dark-themed map background for better contrast
Interactive Map Controls
- Mouse Wheel: Zoom in and out by scrolling
- Click and Drag: Pan around the map by clicking and dragging
- Double Click: Zoom in on a specific location
- Right Click: Access context menu for additional options
- Keyboard Shortcuts: Use arrow keys to pan, +/- to zoom
Data Visualization
- Markers: Display individual data points as customizable markers
- H3 Hexagons: Aggregate data into hexagonal grid cells for density visualization
- Heatmaps: Show data density using color gradients
- Shapefiles: Import and display custom geographic boundaries
- Drawing Tools: Create and edit polygons directly on the map
Data Point Markers
Individual data points displayed as customizable markers with size based on data values. Notice how the markers are color-coded by group and sized by value. Click on markers to see detailed information.
H3 Hexagon Aggregation
Data aggregated into hexagonal grid cells for density visualization. This is how Meado displays large datasets efficiently, with hexagons colored by group and sized by data density.
Heatmap Visualization
Density-based visualization using color gradients and opacity to show data intensity across geographic areas. High-intensity areas appear in red/orange, while low-intensity areas appear in blue/green.
Center of Gravity Analysis
Shows the Center of Gravity tool in action with demand points connected to the optimal facility location. This demonstrates how Meado visualizes facility optimization results with connecting lines.
Closest Facility Analysis
Demonstrates the Closest Facility tool showing demand points connected to their nearest facility. This is how Meado visualizes service coverage optimization with assignment lines.
Map Toolbar
The expandable toolbar on the left provides access to all map functionality:
- Settings: Configure datasets, colors, and visual options
- Tools: Access analysis tools (Center of Gravity, Closest Facility, Heatmap)
- Analytics: View performance metrics and data insights
- Shapes: Manage imported shapefiles and drawn polygons
- Export: Download maps and data in various formats
- Bulk Edit: Perform batch operations on multiple data points
Working with Datasets on the Map
Loading Data
- Open the Settings tab in the map toolbar
- Select a dataset from the dropdown menu
- Choose a weighting field to determine marker size or color intensity
- Configure grouping and labeling options
- Apply any filters to focus on specific data subsets
Visual Customization
- Marker Size: Adjust the radius of data point markers
- Marker Opacity: Control the transparency of markers
- Color Scheme: Choose from various color palettes
- Primary/Secondary Colors: Set custom colors for your visualization
- Base Layer: Select the background map style
Advanced Features
H3 Hexagon Visualization
H3 hexagons provide a powerful way to aggregate and visualize data density. They automatically group nearby data points into hexagonal cells, making it easier to identify patterns and hotspots in your data.
- Automatic Aggregation: Data points are grouped by geographic proximity
- Density Visualization: Hexagon color intensity shows data density
- Resolution Control: Adjust hexagon size for different levels of detail
- Interactive Exploration: Click hexagons to see aggregated data
Shapefile Support
Import custom geographic boundaries and regions using shapefiles. This allows you to visualize data within specific administrative areas, territories, or custom geographic regions.
- Import Shapefiles: Upload .shp, .dbf, and .prj files
- Custom Boundaries: Display administrative areas, territories, or regions
- Data Overlay: Combine shapefile boundaries with your datasets
- Styling Options: Customize the appearance of imported shapes
Drawing Tools
Create and edit polygons directly on the map for custom analysis areas, service territories, or geographic regions.
- Polygon Creation: Draw custom shapes by clicking points on the map
- Edit Existing Shapes: Modify previously drawn polygons
- Delete Shapes: Remove unwanted polygons
- Save Shapes: Persist custom shapes for future use
Map Navigation and Controls
Zoom and Pan
- Mouse Wheel: Zoom in and out by scrolling
- Zoom Controls: Use the +/- buttons in the map corner
- Double Click: Zoom in on a specific location
- Drag to Pan: Click and drag to move around the map
- Reset View: Return to the optimal view of your data
Base Layer Options
- Street Map: Standard road and city information
- Satellite: Aerial imagery for detailed geographic context
- Terrain: Topographic view showing elevation and landforms
- Light/Dark Themes: Choose between light and dark map themes
Data Interaction
Click Interactions
- Marker Click: View detailed information about individual data points
- Hexagon Click: See aggregated data for hexagonal regions
- Shapefile Click: Access information about geographic boundaries
- Popup Information: Detailed data displays in popup windows
Filtering and Search
- Field Filters: Filter data based on specific field values
- Range Filters: Set minimum and maximum values for numeric fields
- Text Search: Find specific text within your data
- Geographic Filters: Focus on specific geographic areas
Export and Sharing
Map Export Options
- Image Export: Save the current map view as PNG or JPG
Real-World Use Cases
Supply Chain Optimization
Use the map to visualize your supply chain network, identify bottlenecks, and optimize distribution routes. The interactive examples below show how different visualization types help in supply chain analysis.
Facility Network Analysis
Visualize warehouses, distribution centers, and storage facilities to understand your network coverage and identify gaps.
Demand Density Mapping
Use H3 hexagons and heatmaps to identify high-demand areas and optimize facility placement.
Logistics Planning
Plan delivery routes, analyze service coverage, and optimize vehicle assignments using interactive map tools.
Route Optimization
Visualize delivery points and use map tools to find optimal routes and reduce transportation costs.
Service Coverage Analysis
Analyze which areas are well-served and identify opportunities for expansion or optimization.
Best Practices
Performance Tips
- Use filters to limit the number of data points displayed
- Adjust marker size and opacity for better performance with large datasets
- Use H3 hexagons for better visualization of dense data
- Consider data aggregation for very large datasets
Visualization Tips
- Choose appropriate base layers for your data context
- Use contrasting colors for better visibility
- Adjust marker opacity to show overlapping data points
- Use grouping and labeling to organize complex datasets
Analysis Tips
- Start with a broad view, then zoom into areas of interest
- Use multiple datasets to identify correlations and patterns
- Combine map tools with data visualization for comprehensive analysis
- Export results for further analysis in external tools