{"id":2272142,"date":"2024-03-08T06:38:36","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T14:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2272142"},"modified":"2024-03-08T09:06:47","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:06:47","slug":"using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution","title":{"rendered":"Using hexagons in Business Analyst Web App: Proceed with caution"},"author":321952,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23341,22941],"tags":[26451,773862,23391],"industry":[],"product":[36711,37011],"class_list":["post-2272142","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-analytics","category-mapping","tag-cartography","tag-hexagons","tag-spatial-analytics","product-bus-analyst","product-esri-demographics"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":78361,"user_firstname":"Gemma","user_lastname":"Goodale-Sussen","nickname":"Gemma Goodale-Sussen","user_nicename":"ggoodalesussen","display_name":"Gemma Goodale-Sussen","user_email":"ggoodalesussen@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2020-08-06 15:49:58","user_description":"Gemma is a writer at Esri, focusing on content for the ArcGIS Business Analyst team.","user_avatar":""},{"ID":321952,"user_firstname":"Sarah","user_lastname":"David","nickname":"Sarah David","user_nicename":"sdavid","display_name":"S David","user_email":"sdavid@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2022-11-08 21:39:20","user_description":"S David writes about ArcGIS Business Analyst.","user_avatar":""}],"short_description":"Map with hexagons in Alaska using Business Analyst Web App.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Alaska occupies a unique place in the American imagination. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> the largest state in the country, as well as the furthest north. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> one of only two states unconnected to the mainland United States. Despite\u2014or perhaps because of\u2014these <\/span>idiosyncrasies<\/span>, the nature of Alaska\u2019s size and location remain cartographically mysterious to many people. You see it perching sheepishly on maps, pinned haphazardly somewhere southwest of California, often miniscule in comparison to a state like Texas (which it is three times the size of). <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>Alaska <\/span>as an idea is<\/span> interesting<\/span>, <\/span>and <\/span>its physical reality on the globe is <\/span>also <\/span>fascinating as a case study in mapmaking dilemmas. What can Alaska tell us about the shape of the planet and how <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> drawn on<\/span> map<\/span>s? Or, more germane to the Business Analyst Web App release of February 2024: What can Alaska tell us about hexagons as mapping tools?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>In this article, <\/span>we\u2019ll<\/span> zoom in<\/span> (and<\/span> zoom out) on Alaska, using it to examine the ways Business Analyst hexagons both <\/span>deepen <\/span>and, at times, limit its visual representation. <\/span>We\u2019ll<\/span> look at<\/span> size<\/span> distortion, <\/span>the problems presented by sparsely populated regions, and hexagons that sit on national borders<\/span>. In the end, we hope<\/span> you\u2019l<\/span>l<\/span> approa<\/span>ch hex<\/span>agons with fuller knowledge and realistic expectations for what they can<\/span> accomplis<\/span>h<\/span> in<\/span> your anal<\/span>yses.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

All hexagons are [not] created equal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hexagons <\/span>provide a consistently sized grid across an area that does not change over time. Administrative boundaries in standard geographies do not provide this consistency as sizes can vary across an area and be redrawn over time. However, it can visually appear that a map using hexagons is distorted. For instance, using resolution 2 hexagons in Alaska paints a picture of larger hexagons in the north of the state and smaller hexagons in the south. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272152,"id":2272152,"title":"2024-02-27_12-11-48","filename":"2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","filesize":133108,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-02-27_12-11-48","alt":"Resolution 2 hexagons in Alaska","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-02-27_12-11-48","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:26:36","modified":"2024-03-04 14:26:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":766,"height":709,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","medium-width":282,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","medium_large-width":766,"medium_large-height":709,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","large-width":766,"large-height":709,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","1536x1536-width":766,"1536x1536-height":709,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","2048x2048-width":766,"2048x2048-height":709,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48-502x465.png","card_image-width":502,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-11-48.png","wide_image-width":766,"wide_image-height":709}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

We can verify that the hexagons are consistent in size using the <\/span><\/span>Measure<\/span><\/span> tool<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span>The <\/span><\/span>Measure tool<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/span>lets you measure the distance between points on the map and the polygon area. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, <\/span>let\u2019s<\/span> measure the distance between points in a hexagon in the northernmost compared to a hexagon in the southernmost hexagons in Alaska. <\/span><\/span><\/span>I picked the northernmost hexagon and plotted a point on the West Coast and <\/span>another on the <\/span>East Coast. It measured 208.54 miles across in distance. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272672,"id":2272672,"title":"2024-02-27_12-07-14","filename":"2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","filesize":196382,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-02-27_12-07-14","alt":"Measure the distance of the northernmost hexagon in Alaska","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-02-27_12-07-14","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 18:01:35","modified":"2024-03-04 18:01:53","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1177,"height":762,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","medium-width":403,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":497,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","large-width":1177,"large-height":762,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","1536x1536-width":1177,"1536x1536-height":762,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","2048x2048-width":1177,"2048x2048-height":762,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14-718x465.png","card_image-width":718,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-14.png","wide_image-width":1177,"wide_image-height":762}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Then I picked a hexagon in <\/span>a southern part of the<\/span> state and repeated the process. The <\/span>s<\/span>outhern hexagon measured 209.73 miles across. This confirms that even though <\/span>it visually appears that the hexagons<\/span> in the northern part of the state are larger than the ones in the south, they are measurably consistent in size.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272682,"id":2272682,"title":"2024-02-27_12-07-32","filename":"2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","filesize":194553,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-02-27_12-07-32","alt":"Measure the distance of the southernmost hexagon in Alaska","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-02-27_12-07-32","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 18:02:05","modified":"2024-03-04 18:02:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1180,"height":756,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","medium-width":407,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":492,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","large-width":1180,"large-height":756,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","1536x1536-width":1180,"1536x1536-height":756,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","2048x2048-width":1180,"2048x2048-height":756,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32-726x465.png","card_image-width":726,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-02-27_12-07-32.png","wide_image-width":1180,"wide_image-height":756}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Another way to assess the hexagon size is by comparing the polygon area of two hexagons. I used the northernmost hexagon in Alaska again and measured its area using the <\/span><\/span>Measure tool<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. It measured <\/span>35,918.26 miles squared<\/span><\/span>, with a perimeter of 711.09 miles.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272712,"id":2272712,"title":"Copy of 2024-03-04_09-10-06","filename":"Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","filesize":194629,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06","alt":"Measure the area of the northernmost hexagon in Alaska","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 18:04:51","modified":"2024-03-04 18:05:11","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1158,"height":751,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","medium-width":402,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":498,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","large-width":1158,"large-height":751,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","1536x1536-width":1158,"1536x1536-height":751,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","2048x2048-width":1158,"2048x2048-height":751,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06-717x465.png","card_image-width":717,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-10-06.png","wide_image-width":1158,"wide_image-height":751}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Then I picked the southernmost hexagon in the state of Texas and repeated the area measurement process. This hexagon measured <\/span>38,611.73 miles squared<\/span><\/span>, with a perimeter of 740.58 miles. Visual distortion due to map projection is significant, but the areas are also approximately 10% larger. You should take care when using any calculations that use the hexagon area in custom variables.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272722,"id":2272722,"title":"Copy of 2024-03-04_09-09-27","filename":"Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","filesize":197295,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27","alt":"Measure the area of the southernmost hexagon in Texas","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 18:05:21","modified":"2024-03-04 18:05:38","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1332,"height":758,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","medium-width":459,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","large-width":1332,"large-height":758,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","1536x1536-width":1332,"1536x1536-height":758,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","2048x2048-width":1332,"2048x2048-height":758,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27-817x465.png","card_image-width":817,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-2024-03-04_09-09-27.png","wide_image-width":1332,"wide_image-height":758}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Sparse data presents problems<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hexagons are an exciting mapping option for a lot of reasons, one being that they allow us to see the distribution of data independent of standard administrative boundaries that can distort our understanding of that data. But are there times when using standard geographic boundaries is preferable to hexagon mapping?\u00a0Well…yeah. And here, again, Alaska can help us understand why.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maps are only as informative as the data behind them. When an area is sparsely populated, apportioning data becomes more difficult, especially when not using the administrative geographies along whose lines the data was originally collected.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, I\u2019ve mapped the variable 2021 Pop 3+ Enrolled Grade 9-12, an American Community Survey variable that captures the number and percentage of high schoolers in an area. I map the data at the county level first, then decide to see what it looks like in resolution 2 hexagons.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272182,"id":2272182,"title":"2024-03-04_09-27-46","filename":"2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","filesize":165963,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-27-46","alt":"Alaska mapped using counties and hexagons","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-03-04_09-27-46","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:28:01","modified":"2024-03-04 14:28:08","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1166,"height":376,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":248,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","large-width":1166,"large-height":376,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","1536x1536-width":1166,"1536x1536-height":376,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","2048x2048-width":1166,"2048x2048-height":376,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46-826x266.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":266,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-27-46.png","wide_image-width":1166,"wide_image-height":376}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Initially, <\/span>I\u2019m<\/span> thrilled to see more complexity in the data variation when I use hexagons\u2014there are patterns here that I <\/span>hadn\u2019t<\/span> noticed when using the county data.<\/span> However, as I explore the hexagons, I notice some worrying things.<\/span> For <\/span>example,<\/span> when I hover over a <\/span>hexagon in the center of the state, I see there are 65 high school students living there\u2014plus or minus 93 students. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272192,"id":2272192,"title":"2024-03-04_09-28-22","filename":"2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","filesize":111983,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-28-22","alt":"Large margin of error","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"Large margin of error","name":"2024-03-04_09-28-22","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:28:39","modified":"2024-03-04 14:28:46","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":958,"height":628,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","medium-width":398,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":503,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","large-width":958,"large-height":628,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","1536x1536-width":958,"1536x1536-height":628,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","2048x2048-width":958,"2048x2048-height":628,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22-709x465.png","card_image-width":709,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-22.png","wide_image-width":958,"wide_image-height":628}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Wait, what? <\/span>As Diana Lavery and Lisa Berry point out in <\/span><\/span>The Importance of Margins of Error and Mapping<\/span><\/span><\/a>, such a large margin of error <\/span>indicates<\/span> less reliable data. The coefficient of variation is huge<\/span>!<\/span> When I switch to <\/span>r<\/span>esolution 4 hexagons, I get a clearer picture of the problem.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272202,"id":2272202,"title":"2024-03-04_09-28-59","filename":"2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","filesize":229003,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-28-59","alt":"Sparse data with resolution 4 hexagons","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"Sparse data with resolution 4 hexagons","name":"2024-03-04_09-28-59","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:29:16","modified":"2024-03-04 14:29:22","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1016,"height":658,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","medium-width":403,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":497,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","large-width":1016,"large-height":658,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","1536x1536-width":1016,"1536x1536-height":658,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","2048x2048-width":1016,"2048x2048-height":658,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59-718x465.png","card_image-width":718,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-28-59.png","wide_image-width":1016,"wide_image-height":658}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

There simply <\/span>aren\u2019t<\/span> enough people living in parts of Alaska for the data to be reliably<\/span> collected and<\/span> apportioned.<\/span> Where there is no data<\/span>, there is no hexagon. <\/span>This is not a problem unique to hexagons\u2014standard geographies present similar hiccups for apportionment\u2014but <\/span>large hexagons can sometimes mask the problems hidden in smaller hexagons.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Hexagons across borders<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As of February 2024, hexagons are available as a Business Analyst Web App mapping option in the United States. This means that, at times, hexagons appear to \u201cbleed into\u201d other countries where hexagons are not mapped. For example, Alaska borders on Canada in several spots:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272212,"id":2272212,"title":"2024-03-04_09-29-33","filename":"2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","filesize":686742,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-29-33","alt":"Resolution 2 hexagons crossing the Canada border","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"Resolution 2 hexagons crossing the Canada border","name":"2024-03-04_09-29-33","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:29:57","modified":"2024-03-04 14:30:06","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1016,"height":560,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":256,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":423,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","large-width":1016,"large-height":560,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","1536x1536-width":1016,"1536x1536-height":560,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","2048x2048-width":1016,"2048x2048-height":560,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33-826x455.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":455,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-29-33.png","wide_image-width":1016,"wide_image-height":560}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

While it may look a bit like <\/span>each <\/span>hexagon is summarizing the data in the entirety of the area covered, <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> important to note that the data values displayed are only for the United States. So, although, this resolution 2 hexagon covering part of <\/span>Juneau <\/span>indicates<\/span> that the population living inside the hexagon\u2019s bounds is 35,603\u2014this is <\/span>actually only<\/span> the population inside the Alaska border (shown in blue).<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272222,"id":2272222,"title":"2024-03-04_09-30-30","filename":"2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","filesize":701219,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-30-30","alt":"Alaskan population in hexagon","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-03-04_09-30-30","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:30:48","modified":"2024-03-04 14:31:03","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":950,"height":576,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","medium-width":430,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":466,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","large-width":950,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","1536x1536-width":950,"1536x1536-height":576,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","2048x2048-width":950,"2048x2048-height":576,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30-767x465.png","card_image-width":767,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-30-30.png","wide_image-width":950,"wide_image-height":576}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

It may seem like a footnote, and it will not be true forever (international border-spanning hexagons to come in a future release!), but understanding the data behind the hexagons can be helpful in your analysis. And if you\u2019re interested in one more hexagon oddity, feel free to pan over the southwestern tail of Alaska at resolution 2, to get a peek at the International Date Line! <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The IDL is a north-south longitude line exactly halfway across the world from the prime meridian. The International Date Line marks time as a calendar day; passing eastward decreases the date by one day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2272232,"id":2272232,"title":"2024-03-04_09-31-26","filename":"2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","filesize":247930,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/bus-analyst\/mapping\/using-hexagons-in-business-analyst-web-app-proceed-with-caution\/2024-03-04_09-31-26","alt":"International Date Line on hexagon in Alaska","author":"321952","description":"","caption":"","name":"2024-03-04_09-31-26","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2272142,"date":"2024-03-04 14:31:42","modified":"2024-03-04 14:31:50","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":886,"height":532,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","medium-width":435,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":461,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","large-width":886,"large-height":532,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","1536x1536-width":886,"1536x1536-height":532,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","2048x2048-width":886,"2048x2048-height":532,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26-774x465.png","card_image-width":774,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-04_09-31-26.png","wide_image-width":886,"wide_image-height":532}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Conclusion<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

In this article, we explored some unique ways in which hexagons are applied to Alaska. Hexagons in Business Analyst are an exciting new geography option with countless opportunities for enriched analysis. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"

To learn more about using hexagons, check out: <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n