Point map
Updated 5 years ago to v2.2.0 by Flourish team
How to use this template
A template for creating fast and beautiful maps showing points or events (points revealed over time). Useful for any data with locations in latitude and longitude format, but especially well suited for data with timestamps, such as website traffic or financial transactions. Events are shown as pulses on an interactive map, optionally scaled and coloured based on the data.
How to get started
At a minimum, you just need a spreadsheet of events with columns for latitude and longitude:
| latitude | longitude |
| -6.081689835 | 145.3919983 |
| -5.207079887 | 145.7890015 |
| -5.826789856 | 144.2960052 |
This will display events on the map, but the timeline will be hidden without a timestamp binding for your events. Be sure to set the date format in the "Localisation" section of the settings panel so that it matches your data!
| timestamp |
| 2019-04-17T06:53:30.000Z |
| 2019-04-17T08:33:30.000Z |
| 2019-04-17T09:28:30.000Z |
The following bindings are also available:
- Category: used to track separate categories of events in the event counter, and determines the colours of your events when using a categorical color scale.
- End timestamp: the end time of the event in the same format as the main timestamp.
- Value (Scale): numerical data, used to determine the scale at which to draw the event.
- Value (Colour): numerical data, used to determine the colour of events when using a sequential or diverging colour scheme.
Customising the inset map
The inset map helps the viewer put the current map view in the context of a larger area: a country in the context of the world, say, or a city in the context of a country. By default, if enabled, the inset map shows a globe. But you can set the map to show any region you like by uploading one or more regions (in GeoJSON format) to the "Inset Map Regions" data sheet. Alternatively, if you just want one or more countries, you can copy the relevant row(s) from Regions datasheet of our Projection Map template.
Not sure how to upload your data to Flourish? See our handy guide
FAQ
I don't have lat or lng locations, only place names You'll need to geocode your data. Various online tools that can help with this. Paying customers can contact the Flourish team for more help and advice.
How do I reset the initial zoom and centre of the map? The map automatically sets its initial zoom and centre to contain all your icons. If you want to override this you have two options. First: restrict the bounds of the map (under Base Map > Viewport). Second, create a story: hit the "Create a story" button and drag the map into whatever zoom/pan state you like, and it will be automatically saved. If you don't want the navigation bar at the top, choose "None" from the "Navigation" menu.
How can I tell a story with my map? If you'd like to give the audience a tour of the data and highlight different locations or regions one by one, create a Flourish story from your visualisation, then add multiple slides to highlight different places, as in the example below.
Credits
Created by the Flourish team, using open source tools including twemoji by Twitter under CC-BY 4.0, regl and mapbox-gl-js.
Want to see additional features? Let us know at support@flourish.studio.
API information
This section documents API usage specific to this template, so for an introduction we suggest you refer to the generic API documentation instead.
template: @flourish/time-map
version: 2
Template data
There are three different formats in which you can supply data to this template. The most convenient for you to use likely depends on the source of your data, as described below.
1. Array of arrays, and a bindings object
You can supply arrays of arrays to opts.data, which might look
like:
{
data: {
events: [
[ "EventsColumn1Value1", "EventsColumn2Value1",
[ "EventsColumn1Value2", "EventsColumn2Value2",
[ "EventsColumn1Value3", "EventsColumn2Value3",
...
],
regions: [
[ "RegionsColumn1Value1", "RegionsColumn2Value1",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value2", "RegionsColumn2Value2",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value3", "RegionsColumn2Value3",
...
]
}
}
where each array of arrays represents the rows in a data sheet.
To tell the API how the values from each column should be
associated with the keys that the template is expecting, you must also supply
an object attached to opts.bindings. (The meanings of the
keys in the bindings object are documented
below.) The minimal bindings you can
supply for this template are as shown in this example:
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
bindings: {
events: {
lat: 0, // index of a column in your data
lon: 1, // index of a column in your data
},
regions: {
}
},
data: {
events: [
[ "EventsColumn1Value1", "EventsColumn2Value1",
[ "EventsColumn1Value2", "EventsColumn2Value2",
[ "EventsColumn1Value3", "EventsColumn2Value3",
...
],
regions: [
[ "RegionsColumn1Value1", "RegionsColumn2Value1",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value2", "RegionsColumn2Value2",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value3", "RegionsColumn2Value3",
...
]
}
}
All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
bindings: {
events: {
lat: 0, // index of a column in your data
lon: 1, // index of a column in your data
start_timestamp: 2, // index of a column in your data
end_timestamp: 3, // index of a column in your data
metadata: [4, 5, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
category: 6, // index of a column in your data
scale: 7, // index of a column in your data
color: 8, // index of a column in your data
},
regions: {
geojson: 0, // index of a column in your data
}
},
data: {
events: [
[ "EventsColumn1Value1", "EventsColumn2Value1",
[ "EventsColumn1Value2", "EventsColumn2Value2",
[ "EventsColumn1Value3", "EventsColumn2Value3",
...
],
regions: [
[ "RegionsColumn1Value1", "RegionsColumn2Value1",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value2", "RegionsColumn2Value2",
[ "RegionsColumn1Value3", "RegionsColumn2Value3",
...
]
}
}
2. Array of objects with arbitrary keys, and a bindings object
This format is most likely useful when you have data from an external source,
such as CSV data loaded from d3-dsv.
You should supply this attached to the opts.data, which might look
like:
{
events: [
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
],
regions: [
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
]
}
... but with the keys being the column headers from your
source data instead. You must also supply an object attached to
opts.bindings. The minimal bindings you can
supply for this template are as shown in this example:
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
bindings: {
events: {
lat: "EventsHeader1",
lon: "EventsHeader2",
},
regions: {
}
},
data: {
events: [
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
],
regions: [
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
]
}
}
All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
bindings: {
events: {
lat: "EventsHeader1",
lon: "EventsHeader2",
start_timestamp: "EventsHeader3",
end_timestamp: "EventsHeader4",
metadata: ["EventsHeader5", "EventsHeader6", ...],
category: "EventsHeader7",
scale: "EventsHeader8",
color: "EventsHeader9",
},
regions: {
geojson: "RegionsHeader1",
}
},
data: {
events: [
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "EventsHeader1": ..., "EventsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
],
regions: [
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
{ "RegionsHeader1": ..., "RegionsHeader2": ..., ... },
...
]
}
}
(As before, the keys containing "Header" would be replaced by column names from your data source.)
3. Array of objects with template-defined keys
There is an alternative format you can use, which is likely to be easier to
use if your data is not from a spreadsheet source. With this alternative format
you supply your data to the template as
an array of objects, attached to opts.data, where the keys must
be those used by the template, as documented below. In this case
there is no need to supply a bindings object, since the key names are already
those expected by the template. The required properties in the data
object are as follows (scroll down for a
description of what each property is):
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
data: {
events: [
{
lat: ...,
lon: ...,
metadata: [...]
},
...
]
},
...
}
And the full list of all possible properties is as follows:
{
template: "@flourish/time-map",
version: "2",
data: {
events: [
{
lat: ...,
lon: ...,
start_timestamp: ...,
end_timestamp: ...,
metadata: [...],
category: ...,
scale: ...,
color: ...
},
...
],
regions: [
{
geojson: ...
},
...
]
},
...
}
Meanings of the template data keys:
- events.lat: lat
- events.lon: lon
- events.start_timestamp: Determines when the circles appear. If left blank all the events will appear at once. If selected, creates a time slider and shows dots over time. The date format must be specified in the settings panel.
- events.end_timestamp: Determines when the circles disappear. If not specified the circle remains for the default duration specified in the settings panel.
- events.metadata: One or more columns to show in the popups
- events.category: Used to categorise events, and to determine their colour when using a categorical colour palette.
- events.scale: Determines the size of the circles.
- events.color: Determines the colour of the circles when using sequential or divering colour palettes.
- regions.geojson: geojson
Template settings
Options for opts.state.
Events
event_style string
Appearance. Allowed values:
date_format string
Date/time format in data. The date/time format in your data sheet. If it isn’t in the list, you can enter a custom format using d3-time-format syntax. See npmjs.com/package/d3-time-format for details. Predefined values:
count_by string
Count by. Determines how much your event contributes to the values in the counter and timeline graph, if applicable. Choosing 'count' will use the total number of events, whereas choosing 'scale' or 'color' will accumulate the scale or color values of each event. Allowed values:
empty_category_include boolean
Fallback category. Creates a new "other" category for uncategorised events Allowed values:
empty_category_label string
Label.
display_below_labels boolean
Draw map labels in front of events.
default_size number
Default size.
min_size number
Min size.
max_size number
Max size.
scale_with_zoom boolean
Scale with zoom. Allowed values:
min_scale_zoom number
Min zoom. Max: 24
max_scale_zoom number
Max zoom. Max: 24
default_color color
Default color.
event_opacity number
Opacity. Max: 100
default_color_is_zero boolean
Fallback to zero. When enabled, invalid or missing colour values are treated as zero. When disabled, these values will fall back to the default colour value intead.
blend_mode string
Blend mode. Determines how event colors mix with the map or events beneath them. Additive adds the colours together making events appear to glow, and works best on darker maps. Subtractive subtracts colours from their background like ink on paper, and works best on lighter maps. Allowed values:
color_palette.scale_type string
Scale type. Allowed values:
color_palette.categorical_type string
Allowed values:
- palette (Palette)
- generated (Generated)
color_palette.categorical_palette colors
Palette.
color_palette.categorical_extend boolean
Auto-extend. Automatically generate additional colours when needed to avoid the palette colours being used more than once.
color_palette.categorical_seed_color color
Seed color. Initial color in generated sequence (avoid shades of grey).
color_palette.categorical_rotation_angle number
Hue rotation angle. Angle, in degrees, between one generated colour and the next. The default value, ~360/(Golden ratio), ensures adjacent hues are not too similar. Max: 360
color_palette.categorical_color_space string
Allowed values:
- hcl (HCL)
- hsl (HSL)
color_palette.categorical_custom_palette text
Custom overrides. Type the name of the entity whose colour you want to set, a colon and then a colour (using a name, hex-code or rgb declaration). Multiple colours can be set using multiple lines. For example:
Party 1: red
Party 2: #4455AA
Party 3: rgb(30,168,26)
color_palette.sequential_palette string
Palette. Allowed values:
color_palette.sequential_custom_min color
Minimum color.
color_palette.sequential_custom_max color
Maximum color.
color_palette.sequential_color_space string
Allowed values:
- rgb (RGB)
- lab (LAB)
- hcl (HCL)
- hsl (HSL)
color_palette.sequential_reverse boolean
Reverse scale.
color_palette.diverging_palette string
Palette. Allowed values:
color_palette.diverging_custom_min color
Minimum color.
color_palette.diverging_custom_mid color
Midpoint color.
color_palette.diverging_custom_max color
Maximum color.
color_palette.diverging_color_space string
Allowed values:
- rgb (RGB)
- lab (LAB)
- hcl (HCL)
- hsl (HSL)
color_palette.diverging_reverse boolean
Reverse scale.
Timeline
timeline.enabled boolean
Allowed values:
- true (Enabled)
- false (Disabled)
timeline.margin number
Margin.
timeline.color_axes color
Axes color.
timeline.date_format_display string
X axis date format. Predefined values:
timeline.axis_nice_x boolean
Clean X axis. Rounds out the X axis so that its start and end values are nice, round numbers
timeline.axis_nice_y boolean
Clean Y axis. Rounds out the Y axis so that its start and end values are nice, round dates
timeline.graph boolean
Visibility. Allowed values:
timeline.color_background color
Background.
timeline.curve boolean
Curved lines.
Counter
counter_enabled boolean
Enable counter. Allowed values:
counter_position string
Position. Allowed values:
counter_layout string
Layout. Allowed values:
counter_hide_values boolean
Hide counter values.
counter_colorize boolean
Colour values based on category.
counter_category_order_enabled boolean
Manually select category order.
counter_category_order text
Category order. Include your categories in the order you want them to appear, with one category per line.
counter_options_type string
Allowed values:
- auto (Auto)
- custom (Custom)
counter_options_seconds boolean
Seconds.
counter_options_minutes boolean
Minutes.
counter_options_hours boolean
Hours.
counter_options_days boolean
Days.
counter_options_weeks boolean
Weeks.
counter_options_months boolean
Months.
counter_options_years boolean
Years.
counter_bin_mode string
Aggregation options. Allowed values:
counter_color_text color
Colour.
counter_color_shadow color
Shadow.
counter_alpha_shadow number
Shadow opacity. Max: 100
counter_color_text_legend color
Text colour.
counter_legend_background color
Background color.
counter_label_rate string
"Rate" button.
counter_label_total string
"Total" button.
Animation
timeline.duration number
Timeline duration (s). Total duration of the timeline during normal playback.
timeline.duration_pulse number
Pulse duration (s).
timeline.duration_time number
Time transition duration (s). Duration of transitions between different points in time on the timeline.
popup_periodic_enabled boolean
Cycle through popups over time.
popup_periodic_interval number
Cycle interval (s). Min: 0.5
Base map
map.style_enabled boolean
Allowed values:
- true (Enable)
- false (Disable)
map.style_base string
Map style. Allowed values:
map.style_monochrome_color color
Map base color.
map.style_custom_json code
Custom JSON style data. Include your own custom mapbox-gl-js style for full control over your maps' appearance. Note that we use tiles that match the OpenMapTiles schema, so it's recommended that you use Maputnik to create your styles.
map.style_show_borders boolean
Display borders.
map.style_show_roads boolean
Display transport.
map.style_show_labels boolean
Display labels.
map.style_show_landuse boolean
Display land use.
map.style_show_water boolean
Display water.
map.map_language_auto boolean
Detect language. Automatically changes the language used on the base map to match the viewer's language settings.
map.map_language_alts boolean
Display alternatives. Whether or not to display latin alternatives for non-latin languages (or vice versa)
map.map_language string
Language. Allowed values:
map.map_zoom_min number
Min zoom. Max: 22
map.map_zoom_max number
Max zoom. Max: 22
map.map_bound_position boolean
Limit viewport bounds.
map.map_lat_min number
Min latitude. Min: -90 Max: 90
map.map_lat_max number
Max latitude. Min: -90 Max: 90
map.map_lng_min number
Min longitude. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_lng_max number
Max longitude. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_initial_type string
Initial viewport. By default, the initial viewport of the map is automatically set to include every visible object. The "centroid" option allows you to select a custom latitude, longitude and zoom. The "bounds" option lets you specify a custom bounding box for the viewport to enclose. Allowed values:
map.map_initial_pitch number
Pitch. Max: 60
map.map_initial_bearing number
Bearing. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_initial_lat number
Latitude. Min: -90 Max: 90
map.map_initial_lng number
Longitude. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_initial_zoom number
Zoom. Max: 22
map.map_initial_bounds_lat_min number
Min latitude. Min: -90 Max: 90
map.map_initial_bounds_lng_min number
Min longitude. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_initial_bounds_lat_max number
Max latitude. Min: -90 Max: 90
map.map_initial_bounds_lng_max number
Max longitude. Min: -180 Max: 180
map.map_interactive boolean
Allow user interaction.
map.map_hijack_scroll boolean
Require cmd/ctrl to zoom when scrolling.
map.controls_geolocator_enabled boolean
Use geolocator control.
map.controls_geolocator_alignment string
Geolocator control position. Allowed values:
map.controls_fullscreen_enabled boolean
Use fullscreen control.
map.controls_fullscreen_alignment string
Fullscreen control position. Allowed values:
map.animation_enabled boolean
Enable animation.
map.animation_speed number
Speed. Min: 0.01 Max: 4
Inset map
minimap.minimap_display boolean
Display map.
minimap.minimap_rotate boolean
Rotate with camera.
minimap.minimap_custom_colors boolean
Customise colours.
minimap.minimap_fill color
Region fill color.
minimap.minimap_ocean_color color
Ocean color.
minimap.minimap_stroke color
Region stroke color.
minimap.minimap_outline color
Outline color.
minimap.minimap_show_bounds boolean
Display viewport bounds.
minimap.minimap_bounds_color color
Region bounds color.
minimap.minimap_bounds_opacity number
Region bounds opacity. Max: 1
minimap.minimap_size_type string
Size units. Allowed values:
minimap.minimap_size_desktop_pixels number
Pixels (desktop). Min: 1
minimap.minimap_size_mobile_pixels number
Pixels (mobile). Min: 1
minimap.minimap_size_desktop_viewport number
Screen % (desktop). Min: 1 Max: 100
minimap.minimap_size_mobile_viewport number
Screen % (mobile). Min: 1 Max: 100
Popups
popup.show_popups boolean
Popups. Allowed values:
popup.is_custom boolean
Popup contents. Allowed values:
popup.custom_template text
Popup content. The text to appear in the popup. You can use {{column_name}} to add a value from your data. It must be in a selected column, but you can add columns to “Metadata” if you just want to include them for use in the popup. Advanced users can include HTML to apply layouts, formatting, images, etc.
popup.show_pointer boolean
Pointer.
popup.show_shadow boolean
Shadow.
popup.style_popups boolean
Custom styling.
popup.text_color color
Text colour.
popup.align string
Alignment. Allowed values:
popup.font_size number
Font size. Min: 1
popup.fill_color color
Fill colour.
popup.opacity number
Fill opacity. Max: 1
popup.padding number
Padding.
popup.border_radius number
Radius. Corner radius of popup
popup_click_to_select boolean
Selection type. Allowed values:
Localization
localization.input_decimal_separator string
Decimal separator in data sheet. Used for interpreting your data. Only change if data is not displaying on the chart as expected. Allowed values:
localization.output_separators string
Number format to display. How the numbers should appear on chart labels Allowed values:
formatter.prefix string
Prefix. Text to place in front of number
formatter.suffix string
Suffix. Text to place after number
formatter.n_dec number
Decimal places. Use negative integers to round to positive powers of ten (eg -2 rounds to the nearest 100) Min: -10 Max: 10
formatter.strip_zeros boolean
Remove trailing zeros.
formatter.strip_separator boolean
Hide thousands separator below 10,000. Turn off if you want four-digit numbers to include a separator, e.g. “1,234” rather than “1234”.
formatter.transform_labels boolean
Multiply/divide values.
formatter.transform string
Allowed values:
- multiply (Multiply by)
- divide (Divide by)
- exponentiate (×10 to the power of)
formatter.multiply_divide_constant number
formatter.exponentiate_constant number
Layout
layout.body_font font
Font.
layout.max_width number
Maximum width. Leave blank to stretch to container width Min: 50
layout.background_color_enabled boolean
Color. Allowed values:
layout.background_image_enabled boolean
Image. Allowed values:
layout.background_color color
Color.
layout.background_image_src url
Image URL.
layout.background_image_size string
Size. Allowed values:
layout.background_image_position string
Position. Allowed values:
layout.layout_order string
Layout order. Allowed values:
layout.space_between_sections string
Space between sections. Allowed values:
layout.space_between_sections_custom number
Custom. Max: 100
layout.margin_top number
Top.
layout.margin_right number
Right.
layout.margin_bottom number
Bottom.
layout.margin_left number
Left.
layout.border.enabled boolean
Show borders around visualisation.
layout.border.top.width number
Top.
layout.border.top.style string
Style. Allowed values:
layout.border.top.color color
Color.
layout.border.right.width number
Right.
layout.border.right.style string
Style. Allowed values:
layout.border.right.color color
Color.
layout.border.bottom.width number
Bottom.
layout.border.bottom.style string
Style. Allowed values:
layout.border.bottom.color color
Color.
layout.border.left.width number
Left.
layout.border.left.style string
Style. Allowed values:
layout.border.left.color color
Color.
Header
layout.header_align string
Alignment. Allowed values:
layout.title string
layout.title_styling boolean
Styling.
layout.title_size string
Size. Allowed values:
layout.title_size_custom number
Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3
layout.title_weight string
Weight. Allowed values:
layout.title_color color
Color.
layout.title_line_height number
Line height. Max: 3
layout.title_space_above string
Space above. Allowed values:
layout.title_space_above_custom number
Custom. Max: 100
layout.subtitle string
layout.subtitle_styling boolean
Styling.
layout.subtitle_size string
Size. Allowed values:
layout.subtitle_size_custom number
Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3
layout.subtitle_weight string
Weight. Allowed values:
layout.subtitle_color color
Color.
layout.subtitle_line_height number
Line height. Max: 3
layout.subtitle_space_above string
Space above. Allowed values:
layout.subtitle_space_above_custom number
Custom. Max: 100
layout.text string
layout.text_styling boolean
Styling.
layout.text_size string
Size. Allowed values:
layout.text_size_custom number
Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3
layout.text_weight string
Weight. Allowed values:
layout.text_color color
Color.
layout.text_line_height number
Line height. Max: 3
layout.text_space_above string
Space above. Allowed values:
layout.text_space_above_custom number
Custom. Max: 100
layout.header_border string
Allowed values:
- top (Top)
- bottom (Bottom)
- none (None)
layout.header_border_width number
Width.
layout.header_border_color color
Color.
layout.header_border_style string
Style. Allowed values:
layout.header_logo_enabled boolean
Allowed values:
- true (Enabled)
- false (Disabled)
layout.header_logo_src url
URL.
layout.header_logo_height number
Height.
layout.header_logo_align string
Align. Align logo inside header or outer visualisation container Allowed values:
layout.header_logo_position_inside string
Position. Allowed values:
layout.header_logo_position_outside string
Position. Allowed values:
layout.header_logo_margin_top number
Top.
layout.header_logo_margin_right number
Right.
layout.header_logo_margin_bottom number
Bottom.
layout.header_logo_margin_left number
Left.
Footer
layout.source_name string
Source name.
layout.source_url string
Source url.
layout.multiple_sources boolean
Multiple sources.
layout.source_name_2 string
Source name.
layout.source_url_2 string
Source url.
layout.source_name_3 string
Source name.
layout.source_url_3 string
Source url.
layout.source_label string
Source label.
layout.footer_note string
Note.
layout.footer_text_size number
Size.
layout.footer_text_color color
Color.
layout.footer_align string
Alignment. Allowed values:
layout.footer_logo_enabled boolean
Allowed values:
- true (Enabled)
- false (Disabled)
layout.footer_logo_src url
Image.
layout.footer_logo_link_url string
Link.
layout.footer_logo_height number
Height.
layout.footer_logo_margin number
Margin.
layout.footer_logo_order string
Position. Allowed values:
layout.footer_align_vertical string
V. align. Allowed values:
layout.footer_border string
Allowed values:
- top (Top)
- bottom (Bottom)
- none (None)
layout.footer_border_width number
Width.
layout.footer_border_color color
Color.
layout.footer_border_style string
Style. Allowed values:
