Category: DataViz Team 2014

For free and user-friendly tools to display a spreadsheet of locations on an interactive map with pop-up info tooltips, and group them by named types using color-coded markers, compare demonstrations of two tools using the same data:

BatchGeo  full-view demo

Google Fusion Table searchable map template with checkboxes (by Derek Eder) full-view demo

BatchGeo
– easy upload of up to 250 rows of addresses and multiple types
– editor can control several settings (but not marker color)
– with each revision, owner receives auto-email with editing link and embed code
– freely hosted on BatchGeo freemium service (pay for more features)
– BUT in practice, data must be stored in an external spreadsheet and manually re-loaded for updates
– overall, a quick mapping solution, but limited control over process and output

Sample BatchGeo embed:

View Early Care Providers & Preschools in West Hartford in a full screen map

Google Fusion Table searchable map template with checkboxes (open-source code by Derek Eder)
-easy upload of thousands of rows of addresses and columns of other data from any spreadsheet to Google Fusion Tables, where owner can grant privileges for anyone to view or edit collaboratively
-initial setup requires following code instructions in template, and novices may require help
-greater control over searchable map controls (such as checkboxes, marker colors) and web page (your own text, images, links)
-option to display same data in other formats (such as a list view) on the same page
-after setup, several code files need to be hosted on a live site (see free web hosting on Google Drive to keep code near the Google Fusion Table data)
-would be better with Google Spreadsheet automatic sync to Google Fusion Tables (in-progress, I hear)
– view sample embed below (layout can be reorganized or resized) OR click to open GFT Searchable Map demo in a new tab/window (full view, mobile-friendly)