MapInfo Pro

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  • 1.  Heatmap in v2019

    Employee
    Posted 11-11-2019 09:27

    The 2019 release of MapInfo Pro sees an improved Create Raster tool with Heatmap creation coming in 5 different flavors with MapInfo Pro Advanced.

    Heatmaps are a visual representation of data using a color spectrum to depict the variations in data. The darker the shade, the more the volume or intensity, depending on the data quantity. Data visualizations through Heatmap greatly enhance key data insights that can be promptly communicated to the user and make them a relevant and effective way to tell exactly what the data in a map or a spreadsheet is intended to say giving the spatial data a more meaningful context. They have a precise and scientific approach using various interpolation methods and the underlying algorithm.

    It is an excellent way of storytelling and the visual appeal makes a direct connect with its users. You can see them everywhere. Weather reports, e-commerce sites, real estates, performance scorecards and data analytics. It has become very trending and is an apt tool to comprehend consumer sentiment.

    Be it any industry - sales, financial services, transportation, healthcare, insurance, retail, telco, marketing to name a few, heatmaps are very easy to assimilate, print and use in decision making.

    In the Insurance industry companies must understand risks associated with natural or man-made hazards and therefore exposure to their book of business. Event management is a critical aspect of their business to assess anticipated loses or expand to offer new products. Even for Insurance Marketing, land use and crime analysis drive policy offer and rates.  A quick initial assessment when working on large volumes of data can be very effectively shown through a Heatmap.

    Heatmaps can also be effectively used by the local Police departments across the world to study the criminal patterns, determine their root causes and have the preparedness to tackle any such incident with appropriate responses. It gives the ability to improve planning, operational awareness and field mobility.

    People understand that crime is not evenly distributed. Each city can talk about its crime prone areas and as data suggests, studying the Heatmaps, the pattern can be used for Resource optimization, effective law enforcement and crime management. The local authorities can make more informed decisions.

    Below is the data for all the Crime Incidents in 2018 for the Washington DC area, opened in the Browser window in MapInfo Pro v2019.


    Below is the Heatmap created for the same data.


    Local governments can also use it for public safety and urban planning, road networks and sidewalks.  In many countries, a high percentage of fatal road accidents occur on a very small percentage of roads. Crash Analysis can be used to identify the streets and intersections where such accidents occur. The results can be used to plan safer roadways and intersections and can also be shared with the public for general awareness.

    Studying the historical data can help improve the transportation infrastructure and improve public safety. 

    Below is the data for all the Crashes that occurred in the DC area for the year 2017.  The Heatmap is created in MapInfo Pro v2019.



    Data for the above heatmaps has been downloaded from https://opendata.dc.gov/datasets

    A spreadsheet with raw data vs a heatmap for tactical and strategic analysis. The visualization of Heatmaps helps in quick understanding and decision making.

    MapInfo Pro Advanced provides several Heatmap options that you can adjust to reveal more information from your data. You can select one of the options from the Heatmap group, depending upon the type of analysis you want to perform on your point data.

    There are 5 types of Heatmaps that can be created. Each interpolation method produces a different representation of the point data.

    Estimate - In this method, each raster cell value is the sum of the contributions from all sample points that lie within a specified distance (radius) from the center of the cell. It is weighted by the kernel density function.

    Weighted Estimate - In this method, each raster cell value is the sum of the contributions from all point samples that lie within a distance of the center of the cell, weighted by the product of the kernel density function and the count at each sample. The "count" for each sample is acquired from a chosen data column in the table.

     So, while the "Estimate" method assumes every sample in the table represents a single event, the "Weighted Estimate" method allows each sample to represent any number of events. The result is a Heatmap that is biased towards samples where many events have been recorded.

    Sample Count - Each raster cell value is the count of all point samples that lie within a distance of the center of the cell. Sample count Heatmaps are generally not smooth and will be used for analysis rather than visualization.

    Sample Density - In this method, each cell value is the density, measured as sample count over search area, of the point samples that lie within a distance of the center of the cell. Sample density Heatmaps are generally not smooth and will be used for analysis rather than visualization. Each point sample represents a single event. If you wish to compute a weighted sample density then use the "Advanced" method.

    Advanced - The Advanced method works the same way as the "Hotspot Density" method of interpolation. We have renamed the Hotspot Density method and placed it under Heatmap category of Create Raster tool.

    The new Heatmap tool can be accessed in the following ways:

    1. On the RASTER tab, in the Create Raster group, click the Heatmap button to open the Heatmap dialog box.



    2. On the MAP tab, in the Content group, click the Heatmap button to open the Heatmap dialog box. This dialog provides pre-defined styles for the Heatmap.


    3.  Right-Click on the Layer Control window and click Heatmap from the contextual menu.

    The last two options give users with MapInfo Pro licenses access to a lighter version of the Heatmaps. You can perform the operation on a point data and the output will be saved in the MRR format.

    The usual controls will be predefined for the User. You can however choose from 4 different styles namely Standard, Detailed, Smooth and Optimal.


    The slider tool allows you to increase or decrease the search radius. In case greater details and control is required, it is recommended to upgrade to the Advanced license.


    Heatmap on a POI data for the city of New York in MapInfo Pro v2019



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    Shweta Shukla
    Pitney Bowes Software India
    Noida
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  • 2.  RE: Heatmap in v2019

    Employee
    Posted 11-18-2019 09:14
    Great article on the new Heat Map functionality coming in Pro, Shweta!
    Thanks!

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    Dave Sepowski
    Support Analyst
    Pitney Bowes
    Troy, NY
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