Using the PolicyMap Widget

  • Zooming and Panning on the Map – Using your mouse, you can zoom into the map to see neighborhood level data, zoom out to see regional or national views and pan around to see other locations.
  • Map Title – This simple sentence, located at the top of the map, tells you what data is currently displayed on the map.
  • Details – Select the "Details" button next to the map title to learn more about the data you are viewing. The "see data directory" link will take you to the PolicyMap website for more information on the data source.
  • Click to Identify – You can click on any shaded area of the map to find the exact value for that location. This is called the "Click to Identify" bubble. The bubble will also show you the values for the larger geographies in which the shaded area sits.
  • Ranges – The legend on the map shows you the values for each range on the map. A good rule is: "The darker the color, the higher concentration or value of the shaded area".
  • Change the Year – In the legend, you may be able to change the time period of the data you are viewing. If additional time periods are available, just click on one of them. You may be able to toggle between years, quarters, or months.
  • Change the Variable – In the legend, you may also be able to change the variable on the map. Generally, you can toggle between the number (#) or count related to a data layer, to a median ($) value, or to a percent (%) of the data layer. Depending on the data being viewed, you may have other variable options in the legend as well.
  • Change the Data Layer – If this widget has more than one data layer available, you can use the Add Data Layer menu in the upper left to select a different data layer.
  • Add Sites – You may also be able to overlay point data (or addresses) to the thematic maps available in the widget by selecting a set from the Add Sites menu.
  • Add Boundaries – You may be able to add state, county, tract or other boundaries onto your map. If a boundary is available, it will appear underneath the map. Just click the box located to the left of the boundary name to have it appear on the map.

What is the PolicyMap Widget?

PolicyMap is an online data warehouse and mapping application found at www.policymap.com. PolicyMap now offers its subscribers an exciting new tool, the ability to embed a fully interactive widget on their own websites. Widgets are customizable instances of PolicyMap maps with dynamic features such as the ability to zoom into or pan across a map, click on an area to view the underlying data or toggle between additional data layers and points of data. These maps give visitors to a subscriber's website the opportunity to interact with data relevant to the organization's work. For more information, please contact innullfo@ponulllicynullmap.com.