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.
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.
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Shweta Shukla
Pitney Bowes Software India
Noida
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