Smart Map Search

Smart Map Search allows you to view geography areas that match your criteria. This section shows you how to select your criteria, choose the geographic type, and refine your criteria.

Before you begin using Smart Map Search, you can specify a location on which you want to focus. You can enter a location, such as an address, city, or state, in the Narrow location text box in the Smart Map Search pane and click Go. The location you selected will appear on the map and provide you with the information in your search on the map.

Steps:

1. To access Smart Map Search, click the Explore Community tab.
2. Click Smart Map Search.

   The Smart Map Search introductory dialog box appears.

3. Click Get Started.

   The Choose up to 5 criteria that are important to you dialog box appears.

   Note:

   ACS variables can't be combined with other variables because they are still in 2000 based geography. This data will be updated to 2010 based geography shortly. Click here for more information on geographic differences between 2000 and 2010 when analyzing trends.

4. Choose the criteria you want to use either by clicking the check boxes next to the criteria and click Next or choosing from the full list of criteria. (You can choose up to five.) If you want to choose from a list, do the following:
   1. Click Or choose from a full list of criteria.

      The Change Variables dialog box appears.

      You can select the category and year for the data to search for your variables.

   2. Select the category for the data you want to use.

      The variable you select will determine the options available. Below is a description of the data provided for each button:

      • If you click the # button, it maps the value for the selected variable.
      • If you click the % button, it maps the percentage of the total population, adults or business (depending on the variable selected) for the selected variable.
      • If you click the # button, it maps the value for the American Community Survey (ACS) variable selected.
      • If you click the Reliability button, it maps a measure of the confidence in the values for the ACS variable selected. Reliability reflects the size of the margin of error (MOE) for the selected estimate relative to the size of the estimate itself. If the margin of error is large relative to the size of the ACS estimate, then the estimate is considered less reliable. If the size of the margin of error is relatively small compared to the size of the estimate, the estimate is considered to be more reliable.

      Market Potential Data

      See the Esri Market Potential methodology paper for more information.

      • If you click the # button, the results will be the total number of households or adults who are likely to exhibit the specified behavior or preference to be mapped.
      • If you click the % button, the results will be the percentage of households or adults who are likely to exhibit the specified behavior or preference to be mapped.
      • If you click the Index button, the results will be the comparison of the local propensity to exhibit the specified behavior or preference to the national average. For example, an index of 100 indicates that the households or adults in a given area are on par with the national average with regard to the specified behavior or preference. An index greater than 100 indicates that the specified local preference or behavior is above the national average. An index less than 100 indicates that households or adults in the area are less likely to exhibit the specified preference or behavior.

      Consumer Spending Data

      See the Esri Consumer Spending Data methodology paper for more information.

      • If you select the # button, the results will be the total household spending for the selected product or service to be mapped.
      • If you select the Avg button, the results will be the average household spending for the selected product or service to be mapped.
      • If you select the Index button, the results will be the comparison of the average expenditure for a product locally to the average amount spent nationally to be mapped. An index of 100 is average. An index of 120 shows that average spending by local consumers is 20 percent above the national average. An index less than 100 means spending is less than the national average.
   3. Select the year of data you want to use.
   4. The list of variables appears under Available Variables.

      To search, type the words for the search in the search text box. Click Go.

      The results of your search appear.

   5. Click the variable that you want to use. Use the arrows to add or remove the variables from the Selected Variables list.
   6. Repeat steps b through e to add other Selected Variables.
   7. Click Apply.

   The dialog box appears with the Selected Variables added.

5. Click Next.

The next dialog box allows you to select the geography to be highlighted on the map and refine your criteria.

Steps:

1. Click the Select Geography drop-down menu.

   The Select Geography dialog box appears.

2. Highlight your selection.

   Auto Selection automatically selects the smallest level of geography available based on your map selection. If you don't select a geography, the default will be chosen.

3. Next, you can use Refine the criteria to edit the criteria for the variables you have chosen.
To change the criteria, use the sliders in Distribution to change the minimum and/or maximum for the variable. You can also enter values in the minimum and/or maximum fields.
To change the variables, click Change variables.
The Change Variables dialog box appears and allows you to change the variables.
To save a criteria list, click Save Criteria List.
The Save Criteria dialog box appears. Enter the list name in the Criteria List name text box and click Save.
To access your saved criteria lists, click My Criteria List. All saved criteria lists can be accessed here. The saved criteria list also appears and is accessible on the Choose up to 5 criteria that are important to you dialog box.

Note:

This list only appears if you have saved criteria lists.

4. Click Show results on map.

   A pop-up appears describing the match for your criteria. You can use the Smart Map Search table for more information.

Smart Map Results

The Smart Map Results shows details of the Smart Map Search results. You can change the location, modify your search, change the transparency, and export to Excel.

Change Location

Change Location allows you to change the location of the Smart Map Search.

Steps:

1. Click Change Location.

   The Modify Location text box appears.

2. Type the new location and click Go.

   The map appears with the new location using the same criteria.

Modify Search

Modify Search allows you to change the geography and criteria for your Smart Map Search.

Steps:

1. Click Modify Search.
The Smart Map Search dialog box appears where you can select the geography and change the criteria.
2. Make your changes and click Show results on the map.

Transparency

The Transparency slider allows you to change the percentage of transparency of the map view.

Steps:

1. To change the transparency, use the Transparency slider on the Smart Map Results dialog box.
2. Place the pointer over the transparency line and slide it to the left to decrease the transparency percentage or to the right to increase the transparency percentage.

To export to Excel

You can export the results of your search to an Excel file.

Steps:

1. Click Export to Excel.
2. Select the location to download the Excel file.

Note:

For the U.S., only the first 100 block groups can be exported.

For Canada, only the first 100 dissemination areas can be exported.

The Excel file appears in the location you selected.